“At these words they were all overcome with rage, and began to shout, `Great is Diana of Ephesus!’ Their uproar filled the whole city, as they ran by common consent into the theatre , carrying with them Gaius and Aristarchus, who were companions of Paul from Macedonia . When Paul had a mind to show himself before the people, his disciples tried to prevent it; and some of the delegates of Asia, who were his friends, sent a message to him, imploring him not to risk his life in the theatre” (Acts 19, 23-31).

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

The opposition against Jesus increased as the days went by. All the time He knew what would happen to Him. He knew what the very people whom He loved so much would do to Him. But He loved them – even the ones who attacked Him. He would show what real love is. But let us hear His own words on this: “Believe me when I tell you this; the man who climbs into the sheepfold by some other way, instead of entering by the door, comes to steal and to plunder. It is the shepherd who cares for the sheep that comes in by the door. At his coming the keeper of the door throws it open, and the sheep are attentive to his voice; and so he calls by name the sheep which belong to him, and leads them out with him. When he has brought out all the sheep which belong to him he walks in front of them , and the sheep follow him, recognising his voice. If a stranger comes, they run away from him instead of following him; they cannot recognise the voice of a stranger.”

“This was a parable which Jesus told them, but they could not understand what He meant to say to them. So Jesus spoke to them again: `Believe me,’ He said, `It is I who am the door of the sheepfold. Those others who have found their way in are all thieves and robbers; to these, the sheep pay no attention. I am the door; a man will find salvation if he makes his way in though me; he will come and go at will, and find pasture. The thief only comes to steal, to slaughter, to destroy. I have come so that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.’

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep, but the hireling, who is no shepherd and does not claim the sheep as his own, abandons the sheep and takes to flight as soon as he sees the wolf coming; and so the wolf harries the sheep and scatters them. The hireling, then, takes to flight because he is only a hireling, because he has no concern over the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd. My sheep are known to me and know me just as I am known to my Father and I know Him. And for these sheep I am laying down my life. I have other sheep, too, which do not belong to this fold. I must bring them in, too, and they will listen to my voice; so there will be one fold and one shepherd. This my Father loves in me that I am laying down my life and take it up again. That is the charge which my Father has given me.’

“These words of His led to a fresh division of opinion among the Jews. Many of them said, `He must be possessed of a devil; he is a madman; why do you listen to Him?’ While others said, `This is not the language of a man who is possessed by a devil. Has a devil power to open blind men’s eyes?” (John 10, 1-21).

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