I Am The Good Shepherd Series

IDENTIFYING JESUS

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHARD

VIDEO

JOHN 10:14-16 (NIV) "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; I KNOW MY SHEEP AND MY SHEEP KNOW ME-- 15 JUST AS THE FATHER KNOWS ME AND I KNOW THE FATHER--AND I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. 16 I HAVE OTHER SHEEP THAT ARE NOT OF THIS SHEEP PEN. I MUST BRING THEM ALSO. THEY TOO WILL LISTEN TO MY VOICE, AND THERE SHALL BE ONE FLOCK AND ONE SHEPHERD.

INTRODUCTION: STILL KEEPING IN THE SAME VEIN AS LAST WEEK, JESUS CONTINUES TO DESCRIBE HIMSELF THROUGH THE USE OF THE “I AM” STATEMENTS, THIS TIME TURNING TO HIS MINISTRY AS THE GOOD SHEPHARD.

ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECTS OF IDENTIFYING JESUS IS THAT WE COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE TRUTH THAT JESUS IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT. AND THE “I AM” STATEMENT WE ARE LOOKING AT TODAY HELPS BRING THAT INTO FOCUS.

JESUS BY DEFINING HIMSELF AS THE GOOD SHEPHARD IS INTRODUCING US TO THE RELATIONSHIP HE DESIRES TO HAVE WITH US, AND THE SPIRITUAL FACETS OF OUR LIFE THAT WE SHOULD BE DEVELOPING

I. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE GOOD SHEPHERD

a. FOUR TIMES IN THIS CHAPTER WE SEE THE PRIMARY QUALITY OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

b. John 10:11 (NIV) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:15 (NIV) just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:17-18 (NIV) The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

c. THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP

II. WHAT A GOOD SHEPHERD DOES

a. LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE

i. BIBLICALLY THIS IS THE PRIMARY REASON JESUS CAME TO EARTH – TO GIVE HIS LIFE FOR US

ii. SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT – JESUS DYING IN OUR PLACE

1. ACCEPTING THIS ACT SAVES US – REDEMPTION

a. JESUS PAID A RANSOM FOR US

b. JESUS REMOVED US FROM THE SLAVE MARKET

c. JESUS HAD US FULLY RELEASED FROM OUR DEBT

2. WE ARE SECURED

b. THE GOOD SHEPHERD DOES WHAT HE DOES FOR THE SHEEP

i. YOU WILL REMEMBER FROM LAST WEEK THAT THIEVES AND ROBBERS ARE INTENT ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SHEEP

ii. HIRED HANDS ARE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY

1. ONLY DOING A JOB

2. ARE GONE WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

3. ALLOWS THE SHEEP TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF

a. ATTACKED – SNATCHED AWAY

b. SCATTERED – INTENT IS TO DETROY THE FLOCK

iii. IN CONTRAST THE GOOD SHEPHERD IS WILLING TO DIE FOR HIS SHEEP

1. NOTICE HIRED HANDS LEAVE THE SHEEP

2. OTHERS MAY BE WILLING TO TRY AND PROTECT THE SHEEP

3. CHRIST DOES MORE THAN BEING WILLING TO RISK OR ASSUME SOME RISK FOR THE SHEEP

4. CHRIST ACTUALLY LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP

a. VOLUNTARY

b. SACRIFICIAL

iv. IN CONTRAST THE GOOD SHEPHERD LOVES HIS SHEEP

1. HE KNOWS THEM AS GOD THE FATHER KNOWS GOD THE SON

2. INTIMACY

3. AWARENESS OF WHO THEY ARE

4. A RELATIONSHIP PRECIPITATED BY LOVE

a. THE REASON THE SHEEP KNOW HIM

b. THE REASON CHRIST GIVES OVERSIGHT TO THE SHEEP

v. IN CONTRAST THE GOOD SHEPHERD UNITES THE SHEEP

1. PERHAPS THIS IS ONE THING THAT CHURCH HAS FORGOTTEN TODAY IS THAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT JESUS

2. SHEEP IN THE FLOCK FIRST

THE GOOD SHEPHERD TELLS US WHO HE IS, AND THE GREAT SHEPHERD TELLS WHAT HE EXPECTS

III. OUR RESPONSE AS HIS SHEEP

Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV) May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

a. ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE EQUIPPED

i. THE WORD HERE MEANS TO BE PREPARED

1. ADJUSTING

2. SHAPING

3. MENDING

4. RESTORING

b. ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE USED

i. TO DO WHAT PLEASES GOD

ii. TO BE A CONDUIT FOR JESUS