I Am The Good Shepherd Series

I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:11-18

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

“Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair”

unknown author

We live in a world where trust if often sought, rarely received, and often thrown away in a garbage heap of broken dreams and promises. For example, every 22 seconds, someone is scammed by phone or email into revealing personal information, allowing fraudsters to steal from their present and future. And despite finding their soul mate and saying the words, “to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, until death due us part,” almost one in two marriages end in divorce. Living in this world that is not our home where truth is contingent upon one’s imagination, secrecy and gossiping are weapons to attain power, neglecting others is justified by indifference and coveting for oneself, betrayal is seen a cunning strategy for success, dishonesty in financial matters is often called being shrewd; it is through the eyes of broken relationships that many come to see trust as a commodity far more rare than gold or silver!

If we allow it, this world can become a dark and dreary place filled with self-absorption, idolatry, and covetousness, leaving our souls starved for relationships built on empathy, compromise, commitment, interdependence, respect, and trust. Though cynicism is often justified by our experiences, we must remember that we are created in the image of a loving, kind, gentle, and forgiving God who wishes none to perish. There is hope for us, these jars of clay, to build relationships that are lasting, peaceful, and filled with reciprocal trust. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, knows each of us by name, and we can trust Him fully because He created us and gave His life as a ransom for many. From Him, we learn that the way to build trusting relationships is by emulating His love, grace, and mercy to those around us, even when they do not deserve it. In today’s sermon, I will suggest that by seeking Jesus in the green pastures and by the still waters of life, and keeping our focus heavenward, we can learn from the Good Shepherd how to extend our love and trust to others and, in turn, receive the same.

The Good Shepherd

When Jesus stated, "I am the Good Shepherd," it carried profound significance for the Israelite people, who were familiar with God being depicted as a shepherd in the Old Testament. For instance, the Psalmist declares, "Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture" (Psalm 100:3-4). Therefore, we are to "enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name." It is because the Lord is our Shepherd that we "shall lack nothing," for "He makes us lie down in green pastures, He leads us beside quiet waters, He refreshes our souls." God "guides us along the right paths for His name’s sake," and even "though we walk through the darkest valleys, we will fear no evil, for You are with us; Your rod and staff comfort us" (Psalm 23). When the Israelites heard the phrase "Good Shepherd," they likely thought of God, who promised to "tend His flock like a shepherd, gathering the lambs in His arms and carrying them close to His heart" (Isaiah 40:11).

While most Old Testament references depict God as a shepherd, the Messianic prophecy in Micah 5:2-4 would have resonated deeply with the Israelites. This prophecy speaks of a Shepherd from Bethlehem, whose origins are from ancient times, who would “stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.” Unlike the negligent shepherds of Israel who failed to care for their flock, strengthen the weak, heal the sick, or seek the lost (Ezekiel 34), Jesus embodied the true Good Shepherd. He could not be accused of self-interest, for He “made Himself nothing by taking on the nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:7) and came to “save the lost” (Luke 19:10), giving “His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Jesus sought out all sinners, regardless of their past, wishing for none to perish (Matthew 9:13, 2 Peter 3:9). His love is so vast that, should one of His sheep be lost, He will search tirelessly and, upon finding it, joyfully carry it on His shoulders as heaven rejoices in the sinner’s repentance (Luke 15:1-7). Even if the sheep remains defiant, like Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39), He weeps but keeps His arms open, ready to extend grace and mercy the moment they repent. Like the prodigal son, He forgives and restores, placing His best robe on their shoulders, a ring on their finger, and sandals on their feet (Luke 15:11-32).