Key verse, 11.
1. His Diety: "I am", the old testament name for God.
2. His Desirability: "Good", (Kalos) beautiful, good, virtuous, valuable.
3. His Dedication: "Shepherd", (Not an easy life. Difficult, lonely, and painful suffering).
I. The Danger: He gives His life for His sheep. (11-13)
* A good shepherd risked his life every day for the sheep.
* A good shepherd gave up his goals and ambition for his sheep.
* Jesus went a step further and prophesied (told the truth of the future) that He would die for the sheep.
* It was beyond a risk, and became a certainty.
* Now, notice the sad plight of the sheep when the hireling watches them.
* The hireling will not risk his life for the sheep, but seeks to preserve his own.
* The hireling dreams of something better, views this stop in his career as a stepping stone.
* Then, a wolf comes and the hireling’s dreams are at risk.
* His life is also at risk, as well as his future.
* He runs.
* What happens to the sheep?
* Some are caught by the enemy, killed and devoured.
* Some are wounded and will die of their wounds.
* The rest are scattered to be the enemy’s meal on a future date.
* Does this not describe Desdemona? May God have mercy on this town!
* Side note: Often times a church is looking for a youth pastor and finds one who is working on a degree or waiting for another position.
* His ambitions are to be a pastor, a church planter or an evangelist.
* He takes the job as a source of income and an opportunity for ministry while he prepares for his dreams and future. (CAUTION)
* I have seen some who have served faithfully and with full commitment.
* I have seen others who abandoned the sheep when the wolves showed up.
* Vs. 13 - The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. NKJV
II. The Demand. (12-13)
* We have to bring this back to our level. What about our level of commitment to the flock God has placed us in?
* There is a unique characteristic about the flock of God.
* It begins with Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not [only] for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Holman)
* It continues with the "one another" statements.
* "have peace with one another", "love one another", "bear one another’s burdens", "pray for one another" "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another".... On and on....
* This is very "unsheep like".
* Do you sense the audacity here? The Shepherd is actually teaching the sheep how to act, how to have a better flock! That is a unique concept.....
* Sadly, I see another "one another" characteristic too many times in selfish, satisfied, unresponsive Christians.
* Matthew 24:10 - "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." KNJV
* I know. I know. That’s just the way we are.
* Don’t you see, that’s the way sheep are.
* But the Priceless Shepherd is calling us to another nature.
* He says, "I don’t care what you believe your nature is and how you say you are! I am the Lord! I said to change! I died to give you a new nature."
* He gives the command for the sheep to change, the model for change and the power to change,
* Each of us has an area we need to change. Many of us have tried and tried to change an area, and have given up.
* And yet, the Good Shepherd says, "Change."
* I have had to change a lot in my life. News flash: there is still a lot in my life that needs changing.
* That’s why the Good Shepherd still nudges, and sometimes shoves me in the right direction.
* That is why you may be somewhat uncomfortable today. The Spirit of God is speaking.
* The Demand is, "stop acting like sheep and start acting like God’s sheep."
* There are some who have abandoned this flock.
* There are some who are considering abandoning this flock.
* God has provided our needs, and we are sick worrying about His provisions.
* Where has "trust and obey" gone?
III. The Desire (14-16)
* Jesus said, "I know my sheep and they know me."
* He is not speaking of a casual knowledge.
* Speak to me of Micheal Jackson, Tiger Woods, Joe Biden or Paris Hilton.
* Do I know them? Well, yes, I know them. I read or hear about them on a weekly basis.
* But the Greek word for "know" here is ginosko. "to "know" (absolutely), intimately and thoroughly. To completely understand."
* Did I ginosko Michael Jackson? Hardly. He was a mystery to me.
* Tiger Woods? Joe Biden? Paris Hilton? Billy Graham? Not really.
* The one on earth I "ginosko" most is my wife. Many times we know what each is going to say.
* This is the word. Jesus said, I have complete and absolute knowledge about every detail and characteristic of each one of my sheep. And they get to know me intimately.
* He further stated that same knowledge level existed between Him and our Father God.
* When you speak of God, you speak of limitless knowledge and intimacy. What love!
* Listen to the desire the Good Shepherd has for the sheep.
* Vss 14b-16 - "I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." NKJV
* May I give my translation on this?
* "I love you so much I would die for you, and I will. I have other sheep also, and I love them, and long to bring you all together, to have you safe and loving one another. My other sheep recognize when I call them, too. We will all be together one day, with no divisions. And I will be the one shepherd, there to love and keep you."
* Oh, Jesus loves you so. His guiding hand is never a lack of love but evidence of it.
* The path He leads you through is not punitive, but to show you to greater knowledge of Him.
* If you gather one thing from this sermon, I hope it is the great love the Valuable Shepherd has for you.
* He knows you. He loves you. He guides you. Do you follow Him?
* Some of you have been listening to the call of God so long, you are no longer listening.
* I am there sometimes, too.
