He is the Lamb of God and the Lion of the tribe of Judah
Jesus is the King of kings and the Suffering Servant
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega
Jesus is the first and the last
Jesus is the one who died and who lives forever
Jesus is the son of man and the son of God
Jesus is the omnipresent Creator of the universe and the tiny baby in Mary’s arms.
Jesus is the Savior of the world and the Judge of the living and the dead.
Jesus is the Door of the sheepfold and the Good Shepherd of the sheep.
Jesus is the Lamb of God and the Shepherd of God’s people.
Jesus is the author of life and the crucified Messiah.
Jesus gave us the Word of God and Jesus lived the Word of God and Jesus is the Word of God.
Though he was rich he became poor.
Though he had all power he became weak.
Though he knew no sins he became sin for us sinners.
He was cursed so we could be blessed
He was killed so we could live
He came to earth so we could go to heaven.
By His stripes we are healed
We go astray and Jesus has to pay.
Jesus us the crown jewel of heaven, before whom angels tremble with fear and joy, and yet Jesus is the despised and rejected lowly one of earth, before whom his own people cried, “Crucify Him!”
Jesus is the one and only way, the truth and the life.
He left the Father’s side, came here to be born of a virgin named Mary, grew up in poverty and hardship, entered his ministry at about 30 years of age, baptized by John the Baptist, anointed by the Holy Spirit, declared by God to be His Beloved Son, He demonstrated his power in miracles and signs, He demonstrated his wisdom in teachings and truth, He demonstrated his glory by laying down his life and taking it up again. He declared his universal authority and commissioned his apostles to go everywhere and make disciples, He ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit and is building His church to this day!
Jesus is calling followers to come, take up a cross and follow him. Now! Today!
He is calling his sheep to follow him. Those who are not his will not listen. Those who are his will listen and follow. Those who follow, Jesus will protect and keep.
John 10 records Jesus’ claim to be uniquely the one true way to enter salvation and the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:1-21 is simple. Jesus describes different characters and relationships in terms we can all understand. In verses 1-6 there’s the thieves and robbers, the shepherd, the watchman, the stranger and the sheep. What do the thieves and robbers look like? How do you know them?
What does the shepherd look like? How is he known?
How do the sheep react to the stranger? How do they react to the shepherd? Why?
This little teaching section is important. The shepherd knows what a thief and robber looks like. He knows a stranger when he sees one. The sheep don’t recognize them. Thieves and Robbers and strangers make the sheep uncomfortable. But Jesus they know. Verses 3-4 are key to understanding our relationship to Jesus. Jesus is telling us that he knows his own and his own know him.
That speaks volumes about what it means to belong to Jesus Christ. Who do we listen to?
Who’s voice to we recognize and obey? If Jesus is teaching anything here, he is teaching that his people know Him and listen to him and follow where he leads. Is that not what this says?
Maybe verse 6 applies here. Maybe we don’t understand what Jesus is trying to tell us... Let’s look at verses 7-10 and see if they clear up any misunderstandings. (Read)
Jesus is the what? The gate. All who came before Jesus were what? Thieves and robbers. But the sheep... what did the sheep do? Did they listen to these thieves and robbers? No. Now Jesus repeats himself. I am the what? The gate. Whoever enters through me will be what? Be saved. Be what? Saved. How? By entering through Jesus, the gate. Right? Right. Coming and going through Jesus we find pasture. What do the thieves and robbers come to do? They do what thieves and robbers do best... they steal, kill and destroy the sheep. What about Jesus? What does he come for? Jesus came that the sheep may have what? Life. What kind of life? Abundant life. Jesus is the gate. That means that we go through Him to get salvation. We go through him to find pasture. We go through him to have life and have it abundantly. Through Jesus... through the gate.
Is that true? What are people going through today to try to find life? How many people do you know who look for life through anything and everything EXCEPT Jesus? How many people do you know who follow anyone and everyone EXCEPT Jesus, who are searching anywhere and everywhere to have ABUNDANT life EXCEPT Jesus. Is the life Jesus gives abundant enough for you? Our definition of abundant life may tell us whether or not we are His sheep.
Jesus continues by defining his commitment to his sheep and his willingness of his sheep to respond to him. Verses 11-18.
Think about the level of commitment Jesus has for his sheep! To what extent will he go to protect and care for us? There is something in this that should also give us a clue as to the true definition of abundant life. Would you say that Jesus has abundant life? How so? Jesus laid down his life, but he took it up again. Jesus’ life is eternal. That’s pretty abundant!!! That is the life Jesus gives to his sheep. It’s not about having all the thrills and fun you can get while you can and then dying. In fact, we follow Jesus for this abundant life, but most of the abundance is beyond what we experience here and now. Paul said, “If only in this life we have hope in Jesus, we are to be pitied more than all men!” That doesn’t sound very abundant to me, does it to you? But God’s word makes it clear that this world is not our home. We’re just a passing through. Our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
Jesus said in John’s gospel, “In this world you will have tribulation!” That’s not abundant life! Jesus also said, “I go and prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also!” Paul said, “I consider our present sufferings not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us!” Listen to 1 Peter 1:3-9.
While Jesus was on this earth he experienced sufferings and death. It was for the joy set before him that he endured the cross, despising the shame. We should expect that we who follow this Good Shepherd will also walk in paths of tribulation and trials for a while. Look at Romans 8:12-17.
Say the 23 Psalm with me...
Is the Lord your Shepherd?
