John 10:11-18
September 30, 2007
The Good Shepherd
Can you hear Him calling?
There are things in life you want to remember, moments that you do not want to forget. So you document them with pictures. A family picnic, a vacation, a romantic evening, your first dance, your daughter or son’s first dance. There are events in your life that you photograph so that you can remember them. Some events get more photographs than others. You take more pictures at a wedding than you do of your first house because the one is a bit more meaningful than the other.
The image of a shepherd is riddled throughout scripture especially in the Old Testament. This was an image familiar to the Jews…something they were well aware of. This image is not only deep in its meaning and implication but very commonly used. This is not a single picture that we see in scripture in passing, this is the wedding photo album of scripture.
Continuing on with the imagery we saw last week in the first 10 verses of chapter 10 Jesus will shift his focus from two different images. In his first exposition of the parable Jesus presents himself as being the gate for the sheep to enter through. In His second exposition of the parable Jesus presents Himself as being the good shepherd. These are two seemingly unrelated images. However, in Jesus day it would be quiet common for the shepherd would lay down at the entrance to the pen at night and serve as the gate for the sheep. The shepherd is the gate through whom the sheep enter into the pen. Last week we focused on the gate, this week, we are going to take a look at the shepherd. If you want to turn to John 10:11-18 that is where we will be today. We are still in Chapter 10 in the same context as last week but these verses show a lot more of the shepherding image.
Jn 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Jn 10:12 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. Jn 10:13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. Jn 10:14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— Jn 10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. Jn 10:16 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. Jn 10:17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. Jn 10:18 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.”
Can you hear Him calling? This image of Jesus as the shepherd is one of the most predominant depictions of Jesus in scripture. Even in modern artwork it is very common for Jesus to be portrayed as a Shepherd. With a proper understanding of culture this image gives us a greater and deeper understanding of our relationship with Jesus Christ. This is a brilliant and poignant look into the character of Jesus.
In the Old Testament the frequent and primary reference to Israel was they were ‘sheep that had gone astray’. Time and time again the OT depicts Israel as the lost sheep and the promised future king as the shepherd. The people are commonly referred to as Sheep and their leaders as shepherds. In fact Ezekiel 34 is an entire chapter that uses this imagery to describe the people of Israel, their current wicked leaders, and God’s future coming to be a shepherd for the flock. We heard Tim and Jamie reading the first 10 verses of this chapter, here is verse 11:
Eze 34:11 “ ‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. Eze 34:12 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. Eze 34:13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. Eze 34:14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. Eze 34:15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. Eze 34:16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. Eze 34:17 “ ‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.
Skipping down to verse 23:
Eze 34:23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. Eze 34:24 I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.
Skipping down to Verse 31:
Eze 34:31 You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.’
Can you hear Him calling? With the prominent use of this image throughout the OT the reference Jesus is making is very clear. The Jews were waiting for a Messiah to come along, a man like David to lead them. Israel belongs to God. They are His. The Israelites are the sheep and God will be their shepherd. Psalms 23:
Ps 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Ps 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, Ps 23:3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Ps 23:4 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. Ps 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
This idea that God is the Shepherd of Israel…is not a new one. In fact the shepherd was the first profession named in the Bible. The Shepherd was a common metaphor for leadership throughout Scripture. The Israelites have had many leaders, some good…many bad. But God has spoken against the leaders of Israel. He promised that He would send a new leader a new Shepherd. This shepherd would be like David, a liberator of His people. The Israelites should naturally connect Ezekiel 34 the Messiah that they were waiting for with a shepherd God promised to send them. This shepherd will come deliver the people of Israel and bring to them many blessings. The point Jesus is making is subtle…but very powerful: I am the Messiah. The man who you are waiting for to come has arrived…I AM HE. I am the one you are waiting for. I am the one who will give you life. I am the one who will liberate you. He doesn’t come out and say it directly, but He is certainly alluding to it.
Last week we talked a bit about sheep…let’s flip the coin over and take a look at the shepherds. Shepherding was no easy job. Sheep are curious and stupid animals. They are often unable to find their way home even if the pen is within their sight. So a shepherd can never take his eyes off sheep. He must watch them always to make sure none are wandering off. Sheep will often wander into rough bushes or fall over a cliff in the Palestinian hills. When this happens a shepherd must search for his sheep and when he finds it, carry it on his shoulder to safety.
Sheep need fresh pasture and water daily and in the desserts of Palestine that can be no easy task. A shepherd will search for water sometimes for hours every day. He carries a pail with him that he will fill over and over again for any sheep who cannot access the water. A shepherd will lead his flock to water he will lead them to good pastures. He will protect them, watch out for them, guard them, tend to their wounds, care for them, brings back strays, and seeks out the lost. A shepherd carries a rod and a six foot staff. A shepherd will sometimes throw his rod at a sheep who is wandering and refuses to heed the shepherd’s voice. This is a discipline that can hurt the sheep but is done out of love to protect it. Other times instead of the rod a shepherd will nudge gently the stray to bring it back to the flock. Both the rod and the staff are protection for the sheep. The life of a shepherd is not an easy one, but it is vital for the life of the sheep. Without the shepherd the sheep have little hope for survival. They will wander aimlessly searching for water but likely will not find it. They will be harassed and killed by wild beasts. Sheep need a shepherd.
Ezekiel says that the people of God are without a Shepherd. Matthew 9 Jesus notices the same thing:
Mt 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Can you hear Him calling? All of that is just what makes a shepherd though. That does not even make the shepherd a good one. Jesus doesn’t claim just to be a shepherd He claims to be the implying singularity or exclusivity, good shepherd. So what makes Him good? That He lays down His life for the sheep. While other leaders may tend to the herds and may honestly care for them, only the good shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep. The hired hand will flee when he sees danger approaching, but the shepherd will give up his own life to save his flock. The man runs away because he is getting paid. The flock is not his and he does not care for them. You can’t get paid if you are dead. Adversity tests the true motives of a shepherd. When trouble comes along, do they stay and risk their life…or do they flee to safety leaving all those who were depending on them to fend for themselves.
The difference between Jesus the good shepherd and the shepherds of men is that Jesus is willing to lay down His life for the sheep. We may romanticize to ourselves that we would give up our life to save our friends but we can never really know that. As strongly as you may believe you would, odds are in a situation to make that choice…you wouldn’t. That doesn’t make you evil…it just makes you human.
Jesus also shows us a bit of His power. His life is not something that will be taken from Him by force. He will not have His life stolen away. He will lay it down according to His timing for His purpose. Jesus will be given up not by Judas for greed, or the Jews for jealousy, or the Romans for fear, but by God…for love. Jesus will lay down His life to save his sheep. Though He is innocent He will give up His life for those who are guilty. His life is not taken…it is given up.
Jesus is the good shepherd. He laid down His life for you. Though you fall short, though you fail, though you reject Him, and continue to sin time and time again Jesus still gave up His life for you. Knowing all that you would do, knowing every mistake you would make Jesus still chose to give up His life for you. There is no greater love than this. God loved you so much, that while you were still sinners Christ gave up His life for you! Do you understand what that means? The Son of God left the throne of Heaven to come here to suffer and die for those who would reject Him anyway. The God who spoke the universe to existence without lifting a finger came to earth to die for you.
Jesus didn’t have to come for you. You are not His sheep. The sheep in the pen are the Jews. They are the chosen people of God. But God did not leave us out in the fields to be stolen away by thieves or hunted by wild beasts. Though we are not worthy, our shepherd comes and calls to us. Jesus calls each of us by name…can you hear His voice? Can you hear Him calling?
When you are at the end of your rope and can’t take any more can you hear him calling? When the world seems to be caving in on you can you hear him calling? When everything in your life falls apart can you hear him calling? When you are having problems at home can you hear him calling? When you are having problems at work can you hear him calling? When you can’t find the funds to get by can you hear him calling?
When your body aches all the time can you hear him calling? When there is no hope can you hear him calling? CAN YOU HEAR HIM? Jesus Christ the king of the universe is calling you by name. He is beckoning you to follow Him. He wants to take you down the road that leads to life. He wants to walk you through the gate and take you into the pen where you may have abundant life. Can you hear Him calling? Jesus Christ the good shepherd and the lamb of God. He lays down His life for the sheep and His is the sacrificial lamb that was slain. He died for our sake, for our sins, for our failures. And three days later He rose again so that you while dead to sin, may rise again with Him into life. Can you hear him calling? Your Lord and God is calling you. He is seeking you. Hoping to find you…hoping you will follow. For His sheep know His voice, and when they hear it…they follow. Your shepherd is calling…do you hear His voice? He is calling for you…will you follow Him?
