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THE GOOD SHEPHERD         

JOHN 10

Jesus the Good Shepherd

7 So Jesus said again, “I am telling you the truth: I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All others who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Those who come in by me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.

11 “I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep. 12 When the hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hired man runs away because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. 14-15 I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me. And I am willing to die for them.

16 There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

17 “The Father loves me because I am willing to give up my life, in order that I may receive it back again. 18 No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free will. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father has commanded me to do.”

What is the background behind these statements? Jesus heals a man blind from birth, but he does this on the Sabbath. This really riles the authorities. They cross examine the man who was healed, excommunicate him because he believes in Jesus. Once again Jesus has had a run-in with the religious authorities. They want to stone him but he escapes from their clutches because his time had not yet come.

Then Jesus tells this parable. I AM THE GATE, I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

I AM THE GATE: At night the sheep were gathered into an enclosure for protection. The only way in and out was through the gate. Jesus said, I am the gate! All who enter the enclosure do so via Jesus. Those who do will be saved. He came to give life, in abundance to all who enter the gate. Once we have entered through the gate we become the responsibility of the shepard. He protects, keeps us safe and takes responsibility for our salvation. The way into the Kingdom of God is through Jesus.

“I am the way, the truth and the life.” JOHN 14:6 There is no other way to salvation - no other path. You can only enter into eternal life through me. I AM the door! The sheep are protected from the thief and the wild animals. These are the false prophets, the one’s who are blind because they will not acknowledge who Jesus is. Our life is now hidden (secure/ safe/ protected, assured) in Christ. When he appears again we will see him as he is and we will be like him. We will appear with him in glory.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD - 3 Lessons

1. HE LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.

The good shepherd is willing to die for the sheep in order to protect them. David the shepard boy had to kill a lion and a bear to protect his fathers sheep. He was willing to die for them. He was not like a hired hand. Who at the slightest threat of danger fled and left the sheep to fend for themselves.

I lay down my life. Jesus is saying, it is my choice. I do it on my own initiative. Yes the Father commanded it but Jesus choose to obey.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

He took our place, he died for us! It was an atonement! He laid down his life for the sheep.

IN THE NATURAL ORDER if the shepherd died while protecting the sheep, they would be savaged by the predator. Without a shepherd they were vulnerable. But Jesus was the Good Shepherd! His death on behalf of the sheep was a substitution. He laid down his life but also had the power to take it up. On the 3rd day he was resurrected. He came out of the grave to gather the scattered sheep. We are told, not one of them would be lost. Our life is now “hidden” in Christ. Just like the sheep in the sheep pen.

2. HE LOVES THE SHEEP

This is why he was willing to die for them. He knows them by name - they know his voice. This is describing a loving intimate relationship. The sheep will not follow the voice of a stranger. They follow the good shepherd.

FALSE SHEPHERDS Many voices can lead us away from Christ. If we have drifted away from Christ, what voices are we listening to? Are we so consumed by business, sports, television, partying, politics, sex, alcohol or other diversions that we have little or no time left for Jesus? Such things, when they crowd Jesus out, become thieves and robbers. They consume our time and lead us astray. Instead of these counterfeits. We need to train our ear so that we recognize a false gospel for what it is: a thief and a robber that will short-change our happiness.

3. HE UNITES THE SHEEP

Who are these other sheep, not of this fold? Non-Jews, Gentiles, any one who was outside of Israel. The Jews believed the Gentiles were permanently outside of salvation and not part of the covenant and promises of God. Jesus is saying, this is not the case. Go into all the world, preach the gospel to every person and make disciples. They will all become one flock, under my protection.

Gal 3 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, we are all one in Christ.

Psalm 23 - A PSALM OF DAVID

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3     he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

    for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Heb 13: 20-21 (read)