“Trusting the Shepherd”
The I Am Statements
FCC – August 26, 2007
Text: John 10: 11-18
Introduction: During our recent sermon series, we have been looking at the “I AM” statements of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. So far we have looked at Jesus’ claim to be “The Bread of Life”, “The Light of the World”, and “The Door.” This Sunday we will look at possibly the most beautiful of all the “I AM” statements in John 10: 11:
I AM the Good Shepherd
The image of Jesus being the Good Shepherd has brought encouragement to millions. This metaphor of Jesus has its roots in the Old Testament. This week I read many passages referring to God as our Shepherd. Here are a few of them:
In Genesis 49: 24 we find an important phrase. Jacob is blessing Joseph and says: But his (Joseph) bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.
Jacob would also say in Genesis 48: 15: Genesis 48:15 (NIV) Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day…
Isaiah would say this about God in Isaiah 40:11. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11
And in Ezekiel: As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. Ez. 34: 12
When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9: 36
The picture of a shepherd tending sheep is so foreign to us, yet somehow still conjures up images of comfort, courage, and concern. We often feel the need for the Good Shepherd at funerals, but He wants to guide us, protect us, and give us life for this life! Jesus stepped into that first century to make His bold claim...I AM the Good Shepherd. It is my prayer as we prepare for Sunday worship that those who are scattered, helpless, or hopeless, will give their life to the Good Shepherd.
We can trust the Shepherd because…
1. Our Shepherd is Good (v. 11a, 12-14a). John 10:11 (NIV) "I am the good shepherd. There is much comfort in knowing that our Shepherd is good. Most folks find comfort at funerals in the 23rd Psalm, even if they don’t follow Him in their daily life. They want to be reminded that our shepherd is good. Some in this room might struggle with this concept. When thing are going good, we say that God is good. When things are going bad, we wonder where God is…but as it is often said: “God is good! All the time!!”
The OT describes bad shepherds. Ezekiel 34:2 (NIV) "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ’This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? A bad shepherd is one that looks out just for himself or herself and doesn’t take care of the sheep in their care.
Ezekiel 34:5-6 (NIV) So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. Ezekiel is saying that without a shepherd for the sheep, the sheep become scattered…and a bad shepherd doesn’t even look for them.
Jesus says in John 10:12-13 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. In other words, bad shepherds don’t care for the sheep. Like Ezekiel’s words, we are told that a bad shepherd is only in it for them-selves and doesn’t care for the sheep. When bad stuff happens, bad shepherds leave.
But Jesus says in John 10:14 (NIV) "I am the good shepherd”
Rodney Whitacre writes (in John IVP) – “This word (good) refers in such a context to that which is beautiful, noble, honorable, worthy of praise. In other words, Jesus is fulfilling his job as a shepherd in an exemplary fashion so that such goodness is able to be perceived. He is the admirable shepherd, and there is something admirable, heroic and attractive in His death. Consequently, it is in His death that He will draw all men to Himself.”
We can trust the shepherd because He is good, and because…
2. Our Shepherd Defends Us (v. 11b, 17-18) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. This was the mark of a good shepherd…one who would give his life for the sheep. Did you know that the Jewish law required an accounting of shepherds: Exodus 22:13 (NIV) If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, he shall bring in the remains as evidence and he will not be required to pay for the torn animal. The idea being that the shepherd had to bring proof that the sheep had died and that he had done everything in his power to save the sheep.
To give the sermon some grit, I’ll share from Amos 3:12 (NIV) This is what the Lord says: "As a shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites be saved…" Shepherds fought lions, bears, wolves, and robbers. It was part of the job description for bring a shepherd! It was bloody for a shepherd to defend sheep. Even to the last leg bone…a shepherd would fight the attacker of the sheep. A good shepherd defended the flock.
John 10:17-18 (NIV) “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 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." Notice that Jesus makes the claim that no one took His life, but that He willingly gave His life on the cross. This pleased the Father…and the Father loved the Son for His obedience and sacrifice. The Shepherd had the authority from heaven to give His life in death, but He also had the authority from heaven to come back to life.
I love what Ezekiel 34:11-12 (NIV) says: ’For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. He not only defends us, but He looks for us when we are in trouble. He rescues us from all the places they were scattered on the day of clouds and darkness.
There are people in this room today who have had their emotions scattered and shattered on the day of clouds and darkness. Do you remember when the cloud came over you and you became vulnerable to the wolves of this world? Do you know that your shepherd wants to defend you? He wants to shepherd your heart and your life.
We can trust the shepherd because He is good, because He defends us, and because…
3. Our Shepherd Knows Us (v. 14b-16) Notice that He knows us, and we know Him. There is a relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep.
I know my sheep and my sheep know me—John 10:15-16 (NIV) just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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.
This knowing is not just simply a knowledge about one another or merely just an acquaintance…it’s an intimacy that is love. This oneness…this unity is based on His death, as He laid down His life for us. It’s significant to note that Jesus was not content for knowing the Jews, but His death made a way for the Gentiles as well. He was going to take both Jew and Gentile and make one flock: the church.
Ephes. 2:14-16 (NIV) For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
I love what Ezekiel says in Ezekiel 34:11 (NIV) ’For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.’ The good shepherd does an all out search for the sheep and initiates a relationship with the sheep.
Luke 15:4-7 (NIV) Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Ezekiel 34:29-31 (NIV) I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ We know the shepherd because He is our God and we are His people!
Conclusion: Some in this room has had their emotions scattered by the cares of this world and you are vulnerable to the wolves that want to devour your soul. You feel scattered, helpless and hopeless…Let Jesus shepherd your heart…your life. Maybe you could say with Jacob: “I want Him to shepherd me all the days of my life.” We can trust the shepherd because:
1. He is good.
2. He defends us.
3. He knows us.
Let’s personalize it and repeat Psalm 23:1-6 (NIV) together: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
