Jesus, the God Man: The Gospel of John
“What Makes a Good Shepherd?”
John 10:11-16
Introduction: Do you know a good mechanic? All of us have probably asked a similar question at times to another person. We ask the same about doctors, dentists, restaurants, schools, etc. The question implies more than just one that is capable, but also do they do the little extras like working for a fair price.
In our text today Jesus tells more about why He is a good Shepherd. Like the comparison of the mechanic He will tell why He is not only a good Shepherd, but the only Shepherd that should be trusted. He has already demonstrated why the Pharisees are not to be trusted and now He helps us to know “what makes a good Shepherd?”
A good Shepherd…
1. Sacrifices His life for the sheep. (vv. 11-13)
“I am” – This is His fourth “I am” statement about Himself.
The phrase literally reads “I am the shepherd, the good.”
“good” – kalos. Doesn’t mean morally superior, but noble, preeminent, surpassing all others. Jesus is not just adequate, but He is the greatest, far surpassing all!
The term good was a term that was used only of God.
Listen to this question, Jesus poses to the rich young ruler in Luke 18:19:
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. Luke 18:19 (NIV)
By calling Himself good He was claiming to be God! But not only that the term Shepherd was reserved for God alone as well. We looked at Psalm 23:1 last week where David says the Lord is my shepherd, but note Psalm 80:1:
Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth.
Psalm 80:1 (NIV)
Once again Jesus makes His claim as deity very clear and also takes away one more person that the Jews would have held in high regard – David. He claims His superiority even over their beloved king.
“gives His life for the sheep.” Note the voluntary nature of the sacrifice. The sheep don’t beg the Shepherd for protection. He offers it freely.
Also the word for life is not bio or even zoe, but psyche (pronounced sue khay). It means soul. Jesus poured out His own soul for us when He went to the cross.
Then He makes the comparison to the Pharisees… “hireling” was one paid to look after the sheep. Jesus gives us their characteristics as well:
• Not the Shepherd
• Does not own the sheep
• Sees the wolf, leaves and flees leaving sheep alone to the wolf
The hireling was only in it for the money or what he could get from the sheep. He did it for the loot not love. He only wanted the paycheck but not the personal relationship with the sheep. He wanted the money not the work.
Example: Working as a security guard while in seminary.
It’s the difference between the way you treat your car and a rental. There is no ownership so there is no responsibility.
Jesus explains the reaction of the hireling reflects the character of the man. “He is a hireling.” He flees because that is who he is. Who you are is shown by your behavior.
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Acts 20:28-29 (NIV)
He does not sacrifice because he does not care.
2. Knows and cares for His sheep. (vv. 14-15)
Reiterates that He is the good shepherd and tells another reason why.
“I know MY sheep.” The word “know” is ginosko. It means knowledge gained through intimate experience. If you read the genealogies in Genesis you see the word “know” repeatedly which means the physical act of procreation. The same word applies in our relationship with Jesus. We come to know Him by a close, intimate, personal love relationship.
The shepherd was familiar with his sheep because he spent time with them. He would say, “Oh that is the one with the crooked tail, that is the one with a black spot on his ear, there’s the one that tore part of his ear.”
Jesus knows everything about you and still loves you. Listen to your Shepherd as He speaks tenderly of you: “That one has a problem with his tongue, she suffers from depression, there’s the one that broke their foot, that one has anger issues, he struggles with his faith, that one’s timid, BUT I love them anyway and I will never leave them and I will always love and care for them because they are MY SHEEP!”
BUT the reverse is true. If He does not know you are lost!
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:22-23 (NIV)
“They know me.” This changes everything. He not only knows His sheep, but His sheep know Him too. You can know Jesus even as you are known by Him! You must know Him and He must know you for salvation to occur.
He gives the example of how intimate the relationship must be. Just like He knows His Father and His Father knows Him.
Then He shows how much He cares for the sheep by once again saying He lays down His life for the sheep. The proof is in the sacrifice of His own life for that of the sheep.
“He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay.”
--Ellis J. Crum, He Paid a Debt He Did Not Owe
You cannot look at the cross and say, “He does not care!” He sacrifices because He cares for and loves the sheep.
3. Unifies His sheep. (v. 16)
“Other sheep” – Gentiles (you and me). This is not talking about Mormons, Indians, or space aliens!
“this fold” - Literally this court. He would have been in the temple complex and so He gestures and say my other sheep are not from here but from another fold and perhaps pointed to the Court of the Gentiles.
“I MUST bring” – It was imperative that He bring the other sheep. Why? Because He died for ALL not just the Jews but for the whole world!
“Hear my voice” - They will also hear the voice of the Shepherd and respond in faith to the message of Christ! Aren’t you glad He said that? Aren’t you glad you heard and responded?
The purpose is to make one flock with one Shepherd – Jesus! If your translation says one fold, it is a bad translation. The word for fold and flock are two different words in the Greek. We come from different folds, but we are all part of the same flock – the flock of Jesus as our Shepherd! One flock! One Shepherd!
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles… were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he… has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Ephesians 2:11-14, 16 (NIV)
That which divides us has been removed and now we are united under one Shepherd in one flock for the glory of God!
Conclusion: Let us only take heed that this office of Christ is not set before us in vain. It will profit us nothing at the last day that Jesus was a Shepherd, if during our lifetime, we never heard His voice and followed Him. If we love life, let us join His flock without delay. –J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) Expository Thoughts on John
That is the invitation today. Hear the Shepherd and follow Him.
He gave His soul and life for you because He loves you. He wants to know you on a personal intimate level. He wants to care for you and He desires to bring you into his flock.
Will you say yes?
If you are His, do you follow and obey Him? Do you know Him and His care?
That is “what makes a good Shepherd.”
