Yesterday was Anzac Day. One of the most endearing stories of Anzac is the one about a soldier who did not bear arms and did not fire a shot in the conflict. I am talking about Private John Simpson. Simpson and his donkey. Simpson was assigned to fetch the wounded from the frontline, and this he did faithfully and fearlessly. Time after time he ascended the hills of Gallipoli to the front line and brought the wounded down to the seashore. He was killed by machine gun fire while doing this work. Jesus said, Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus said that, and Jesus did that – for us all. Today on this Good Shepherd Sunday we take into our hearts Jesus’ own words: I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. We gathered here as some of those sheep.
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
26 April 2026 • Pastor Dean Zweck
Bible Passage: John 10:1-11
+ expandA Story about Sheep
10 Jesus said:
I tell you for certain only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. 2-3 But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.
4 When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. 5 The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away.
6 Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7 Jesus said:
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. 9 I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.
10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully. 11 I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.
Contemporary English Version (CEV) - for other versions see BibleGateway.com
