THE I AM… STATEMENTS OF JESUS. There are many things about the Gospel of John that are unique and sets it apart from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. One of the distinctive characteristics of John’s Gospel is the highlighting of the “I AM…” statements of Jesus. These “I AM…” statements are significant and recorded in the canon of Holy Scripture for our benefit as they reveal to us who Jesus is. Jesus said “I AM the bread of life…” Jesus said “I AM the light of the world...” Jesus said “I AM the resurrection and the life…” Jesus said “I AM… the vine…” Jesus said “I AM the way, the truth and the life…” All of these “I AM” statements are packed full of meaning and significance as they reveal to us who Jesus is as the Promised Messiah who has come to accomplish salvation for His people. Not only do the “I AM” statements reveal to us who Jesus is as the Savior of His people but they also reveal to us how He relates to His people.
JOHN 10—THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHAPTER. The “I AM” statement of Jesus I would like for us to consider today is found in John 10. This chapter is chocked full of theological significance as Jesus speaks about life, death, salvation accomplished, sovereignty defined, His divine nature, etc… and all of this within the context His statement to the crowd about being the Good Shepherd to those whom He has come to save and those are His sheep.
JOHN 10:11-18, 27-28
SHEEP NEED A SHEPHERD. Throughout the Scriptures people, especially God’s people, are referred to as sheep. In JOHN 10 alone Jesus uses the word “sheep” 13 times and every time it is used as a reference to His people. While, as I said earlier, this passage of Scripture is chocked full with great teaching, for the sake of the intent of this message I want to focus on three aspects of the passage that describes how the Good Shepherd relates to His sheep. In each teaching we are going to look at a how the Good Shepherd relates to His sheep through the lens of what it means to be sheep. Sheep need a good and committed shepherd who will lead, guide, protect, provide and care for them in order to survive and thrive in life. The fact that Jesus says that He is the GOOD SHEPHERD is GOOD NEWS to us who are sheep in need of leadership, protection and cleansing. As we have considered characteristics of sheep let us consider the person and work of our Good Shepherd. THE GOOD SHEPHERD…
LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP John 10:11b
While shepherds would take great risks for their sheep it is only the GOOD SHEPHERD who gives His life for His Sheep. While the crowd that day may not have understood the weight and implication of Jesus’ words at the point in which He spoke them we, because we have the record of God’s full plan of redemption, know that Jesus was speaking of the fact that He was going to GIVE HIMSELF TO DEATH ON BEHALF OF HIS SHEEP IN ORDER TO CLEANSE THE SHEEP OF ALL THEIR SIN.
A SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH. The phrase “lay down His life” is unique to John’s Gospel and always refers to Jesus’ voluntary, sacrificial death. Jesus willingly gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sins. Furthermore, Jesus’ death was not for His own sin but for ours—His sheep. Therefore, when we consider the death that Jesus died we understand that not only did He die a voluntary death but He died a substitutionary death. On the Cross Jesus endured the wrath of God for the sheep and in their place so that the sheep are no longer seen in their filth and sin but as clean and righteousness because the Good Shepherd died for them and in their place.
• DIRTY RAGS. Jesus’ death on the Cross was necessary should we be made clean before our Holy God. Outside of Christ and His finished work on the Cross we stood before a Holy and Perfect God guilty and filthy because of our sin and like sheep there was nothing we could do about it. ISAIAH 64:6 says “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” Even the best of our “good works” before God without Christ are like dirty dish towels at best. Because of sin we are filthy before God and there is nothing we can do about it.
SHEEP ARE FILTHY ANIMALS. The picture we draw in our minds of fluffy, white and cuddly sheep is not formed by observing sheep in their natural environment but by pictures, stuffed animals, television, etc… Sheep, in and of themselves, are dirty animals. They, much like pigs, root and roll around in their own mess and because they cannot clean themselves their wool smells to high heavens. At least pigs are washed off by rain from above but sheep, due to the nature of their wool, are not washed by the rain.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD ACCOMPLISHES FOR HIS SHEEP WHAT THEY COULD NEVER ACCOMPLISH FOR THEMSELVES. His spilled blood was for the purpose of our cleansing and all who, by grace alone through faith alone, trust in Jesus and His finished work on the cross are clean before God. Finish off this verse of the famous hymn “Nothing But the Blood”—what can wash away my sin…NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
PROTECTS AND PRESERVES THE SHEEP John 10:12-14, 28
SHEEP ARE DEFENSELESS ANIMALS. Nearly every animal in the animal kingdom has some sort of defense mechanism about them. Some have talons. Some have fangs. Some can run fast. Some can fly. Some can blend in with their environment. Some have horns. Some can kick. SHEEP HAVE AND/OR DO NONE OF THESE. They are defenseless and rely upon a shepherd to fend off and protect them from predators that seek their harm.
PROTECTION FROM THE EVIL ONE. Our GOOD SHEPHERD cleanses and saves us through His substitutionary death on the Cross. Even though we are saved by our Good Shepherd the enemy of our souls—Satan—loves to steal, kill and destroy, for that is who he is and what he does, and just because we have been saved does not mean that the enemy still will not attack us. The GOOD NEWS of the Gospel is not only does our Good Shepherd save us but He protects us. Using the shepherding illustration Jesus points out the fact that only He, the Good Shepherd, fully protects His sheep. He does not leave us out on an island by ourselves after saving us but continually protects His sheep. The enemy has no power over us any longer and his attacks against us are ineffective because of who our Shepherd is and what He has given to us—EPHESIANS 6:10-12. The sheep is defenseless in nature and we have a Good Shepherd who defends us from our enemies.
PRESERVED TO THE END! The implication of the Good Shepherd’s protection of His sheep is their preservation. The enemy attacks Jesus’ sheep in efforts to steal them from His flock, kill their bodies and destroy their hope in Him. The GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL is that our Good Shepherd cleanses, protects and preserves His sheep. What this means is that HE SAVES US COMPLETELY. When the enemy wants to attack you and make you question your salvation or question Jesus’ goodness to you remind yourself and him the promise of His words found in JOHN 10:28 that nobody—even the enemy—can snatch us out of His hand. Those who, by grace through faith, have been saved by the Good Shepherd are saved to the end from sin, death, the grave and Satan. He is our GOOD SHEPHERD! Here the beautiful words of 1 PETER 1:3-4.
LEADS AND GUIDES THE SHEEP John 10:27
SHEEP ARE DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED ANIMALS. Shepherding sheep is a hard job and in my study I found that when sheep were led across plains from one location to another a shepherd would have to lead them and others would have to travel beside and behind the flock in order to guide sheep that “wondered off track” back to the flock. Sheep are directionally challenged and frequently get lost.
SHEEP NEED GUIDANCE. In our sin and self we are naturally inclined to wonder around in this life and the last path we will choose is the path of righteousness and holiness that glorifies God. We will naturally choose the path of pride, self, complacency, apathy, etc… ISAIAH 53:6 says “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;” However, our Good Shepherd leads us in the in the paths of righteousness as He calls to us as His sheep to lead, guide and direct us as His sheep and this all for our good and His glory. Earlier we considered how shepherds would surround flocks of sheep on all sides as they guided them through the terrain in order that none would wonder off course. The sheep recognize the voice of their shepherds and when the shepherd would call out to them they would respond by following the sound of his voice. In the same way, Jesus’ sheep know His voice and follow Him as He lovingly leads, guides and directs them along the narrow way of righteousness. Jesus speaks to us through His Word as His Holy Spirit gives us ears to hear and hearts to obey.
THE DOOR TO THE SHEEP PEN. John 10:7-9
Having heard all that you have heard today it is important to understand that there is only one way to enter the flock of the sheep who are Jesus’. Jesus accomplished salvation for His sheep when He laid down His life for them and in their place. Therefore, He is the door for His sheep. Only those who enter the door that is Jesus are given the right to be His sheep.
