"I Am…. The God Of Israel”

In Jesus Holy Name Easter IV 2020

Text: John 10:11 Redeemer

“I Am…. The God of Israel”

Last week I began with a quote from the great newsman, Paul Harvey who told his listeners the “rest of the story.” Today we find Jesus telling some stories which people in Israel were familiar. Everyone knew about shepherds and sheep. They were familiar with a sheep pen. A sheep gate. Much like Paul Harvey Jesus supplied a hint as to his identity, which of course is “the Rest of the Story.”

Some might think Jesus was reminding their listeners of the shepherd boy who became a king. David. In Israel a shepherd spent days and nights with the flock of sheep. He would protect them from robbers, bears, lions, any animal that would harm the flock. David, himself said that he had killed bears with his slingshot. He was not afraid of the giant Goliath. Raise your hand if you remember the story of David and Goliath.

In America when we see flocks of sheep they are moved from pasture to pasture with Border Collies. Not in Israel in the first century, nor today. The shepherd in Israel would lead his flock to new pastures. The sheep knew their shepherds voice and they followed him.

One of the most common and popular images of Jesus is that of a Good Shepherd. This image has dominated Christian art for two thousand years. Many churches have a stained glass window of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Those of us who have grown up in the church can close our eyes and envision the picture of Jesus the shepherd with a sheep slung around his neck.

The image of the Good Shepherd is caring, inviting, and personal. The image resonates with our desire for a vibrant relationship with God. Here at Redeemer we have our own stained glass window that shows Jesus the Good Shepherd.

John Stott in his book “The Contemporary Christian” (p. 284) writes: “There is an old story about a tour group in Israel. The tour guide had been explaining to the group about the close relationship a shepherd has with his sheep, and how he is able to walk in front of them, call them, perhaps whistle or play a pipe, and they will follow him. During the tour, the group came upon a shepherd. They spotted a man in the distance driving a small flock of sheep with a rather menacing stick. Was the guide mistaken?

The guide immediately stopped the bus and rushed off across the field. A few minutes later he returned, his face beaming. He announced, "I have just spoken to the man. Ladies and gentlemen, he is not the shepherd. He is in fact the butcher!"'

Jesus knew the Jews were looking for a new King, a new Shepherd, like David or Solomon. They wanted the Romans gone. They wanted their independence. Who better than Jesus. If Jesus can feed 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and two fish, then He could easily feed an army. Jesus constantly healed people, and raised people from the dead… Who better than Jesus to heal every Jewish soldier injured in battle, or raise back to life those who were killed.

If you have been reading the book of John then you remember that in John 6 after feeding 5000 people the crowds wanted to make Jesus king by force.

Now in John 10 we come to the “rest of the story”. Jesus said, “I am the gate”. “I am the Good Shepherd”. This is where Jesus looks at the crowd and says: “Raise your hand if you remember the story of shepherd boy, who became a King.” “Raise your hand if remember the words God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel. They did.

Each week I have been sending out a “Thought for the Week” and encouraged you to read a chapter in the Gospel of John. and watch the video series “Stuff They Didn’t Teach Me in Sunday School. If you have, then you understand that in this passage Jesus is claiming to be the only “gateway to peace with God”. He is claiming to be “The One”, The King of the Universe, The Yahweh of their bible who has come in flesh and blood with judgment, justice and redemption. He said “I Am the true Shepherd” of Israel. It did not go over well.

I must admit that I get very excited when talking about the theology of this passage. In Ezekiel 34 God, the “Intelligent Designer of the Universe”, is the same God who rescued Israel from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. This is the same God who allowed human kings like Saul, David, Solomon and others to become “shepherds” of His people, Israel. (I Samuel 8) The Kings and Religious leaders of Israel were to care for God’s people, not misuse them, not steal from them. The kings were expected to stop the worship of false gods. They were to protect people from their enemies. A few like David, Josiah, and others did… but most failed in their responsibilities as “good shepherds”.