Welcome
Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Today we look at that passage again where Jesus tells us that he is the Good Shepherd, and there are a lot of references to sheep, so I warn you before hand, ... it has a powerful ending though.
The 23rd Psalm is obviously in there somewhere, but I really want you to go home today knowing without a doubt, that Jesus is your Good Shepherd and he wants a personal relationship with you every single day and at any time that is relevant.
This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 26th February 2015 by Gordon McCulloch; St Oswalds is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries.
Acts 4:5-12 Psalm 23 1 John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18
Our Gospel reading this morning comes from John 10, verses 11 to 18
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-- and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
Short Prayer
“Please be seated, and join me in a short prayer.” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord. Amen. (Psalms. 19:14).
What is a Shepherd?
Maybole is a market town, and so we all know that a shepherd looks after sheep, but, … what does a typical shepherd look like?
This is a strange question because shepherds to us are pretty normal human beings, and they wear the same clothes we would wear if we were working in fields all day, in all weathers; ... but this was not the case at the time of Jesus, because shepherds were really poor despicable creatures. They were treated as outcasts, being the scum of the earth; considered unclean, … and so was anyone associated with them.
There were in fact nobodies, not wanted nor desired by society, and they certainly were not welcome in any church; ... yet, it is amazing that God the Father choose shepherds to be the first to witness the light, and announce the birth of Jesus.
So not only was Jesus birth humble in a manger, but the announcement of his birth was also done with humble means by these lowly Shepherds who lived most of their lives in the fields. ...
And when I thought about that, I just loved it, … because to me that is saying that Jesus was so outstanding, that he needs now grand ceremony announce his presence, ... his majesty was so powerful, it just could not be hidden. "If ye have got it, you don't need to tell everybody, because they know it", and Jesus certainly had it.
The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep.
And this brings us to our Gospel reading this morning where in verse 11 Jesus boldly says, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep, ... you know after what I have just said, Jesus is comparing himself with these unclean lowly outcasts, ... but this time he is saying, … I recognise the good work they do for the sheep, but I am the shepherd for all mankind; in a similar way he described himself as he said to Peter, I will make you fishers of men, … but here Jesus is going further by saying, I will even lay down my life for them.
And did you notice that Jesus said it three times in this short passage that he will lay down His life for us in verses 11, 15 and 17. Jesus wants us to hear that fact that he loves us so dear, ... and he wants us to know that His death is not a victory for His enemies, ... his death was a voluntary sacrifice for us.
And voluntary it was, because we read of occasions in the gospels where Jesus avoided capture and execution; he knew how to escape, but when his "hour had come", he willing submitted life for us as act of obedience. … Some people think it was Judas, or Caiaphas or Pilate who decided the time or the events of his death, … but we know it was God the father himself.
A hireling will shoot the Craw at the first sign of danger.
Next, verse 12 goes on to say, "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose sheep are not his, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep.
Jesus is now contrasting himself with the hired shepherds, meaning the so called religious leaders of the day, who were more concerned in their own importance, ... and how they are seen by society, ... rather than spreading the word for God.
They were arrogant and looked down on the people, … and that is why they became so upset at with Jesus because he could see through them, ... and worse, … he is letting others know how selfish and self important and powerless they truly were. ... And I am sorry to say there are people like this in the Christian church today, men and women whose concern is not the welfare of the sheep, but their own promotion and self image.
Verse 13, in a similar vane goes on to say, "The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep". So by definition almost, a hired hand will never sacrifice his life for sheep belonging to somebody else. ... It is not because he doesn’t do his job properly he does, he does but it up to a point; he looks after the sheep until danger presents itself, … and then he is off.
And by saying this, Jesus is again contrasting His own attitude to that of the religious leaders with whom He has just clashed. 1 Peter 5 verses 2 says, "Feed the flock of God which is among you willingly; … not for filthy lucre, … but of a ready mind". This is saying that a hireling's chief concern is their wages, or what they can get out of something, ... and not what they can give.
The Good Shepherd
Let us now look at the expression the “Good Shepherd” in more detail, ... because the Old Testament has so many men of God who were shepherds. Abraham, ... Moses, ... and David to name a few, they were all shepherds, … with constant references to as both ‘good’, and ‘bad’ shepherds.
In fact Jeremiah 23 verses 1 to 3 says "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! ... Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: ... behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, ... And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase".
God speaking through Jeremiah here condemns the false shepherds who have scattered His people, … but he then promises that one day He will gather his people like a (Good) shepherd gathers the flock. … Obviously Jesus knew the writings of Jeremiah.
Look also at Ezekiel 34:12 to 15 also, and I paraphrase again, "As a shepherd seeks out his flock ... that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, ... and I will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered ... And I will gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them". These verses go on a bit, but clearly God is promising to gather His people like sheep and to provide pasture and rest for them; and again Jesus obviously knew the writings of Ezekiel as well.
Psalm 23
But probably the most familiar, and every bodies favourite Psalm concerning the Good Shepherd is Psalm 23, where we see a picture of Jesus as the ‘Good Shepherd’, ... who seams to do everything.
Jesus leads them, ... or us whom we call Lord to greener pastures and still waters. Jesus alone restores our soul and He leads us in the paths of righteousness. … And did you note that at the very beginning of this Psalm the term ‘my shepherd’, the Lord is 'my Shepherd', meaning that the writer of this psalm, probably David, had an intimate relationship with the Lord, ... “my” Shepherd.
And then in verse 4 there is the protection of his sheep, ... "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me". And do you notice that even while walking through the valley of the shadow of death, the psalmist has no fear because this Good Shepherd is with him and watching over him.
Verse 5 goes on to say, "Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runneth over". …This table the shepherd prepares is furnished with riches in the very presence of the enemies of the sheep.
Question, why do some people take an instant dislike to us for no apparent reason? ... Is it because they can see this table, even though for some reason we cannot? ... I will let you ponder over that one, ... but the Psalm has a brilliant ending, it says that goodness and mercy will follow us all our lives, and … when we are finished, we will dwell in the house of the Lords forever. Is that not comforting?
I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.
Returning to John 10 verse 14, Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, ... and my sheep know me.
This is getting deeper now, because Jesus is clearly eluding to the personal relationship we must have with him. … We are loved individually by the shepherd, ... and that is why He was prepared to lay down His life for us, whether we deserved it or not. … And this verse harkens back to verses 3, 4 and 5 which we did not read, but which Jesus spoke about the sheep recognising and responding to His voice, in the exact same way he had a relationship with God his Father.
Verses 3, 4 and 5 and I paraphrase again, "the sheep hear his voice, ... and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ... And the sheep follow him for they know his voice. ... And a stranger will they not follow. … Clearly we are being told to establish this relationship also. … Yes it is difficult, but we must learn to hear his voice. … I will leave you with that one also, ... but to move on …
Verse 16 Jesus continues, to speak of ‘other sheep’ from another ‘sheep pen.’
My Sheep know me and follow me.
"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, … and they (too) shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
To understand the meaning of this verse we need to understand the context in which it was spoken, and that was said by Jesus in Jerusalem, … to people who have just witnessed the healing of the man born blind. … People who not only include the everyday Jews but the Pharisees also, who have just excommunicated a man from the synagogue, … so Jesus here is making a direct reverence to other sheep from another sheep pen meaning the Gentiles, which indirectly means us. Jesus came first to the Jews, but he is clearly making a reference to the fact that the gospel will be taken outside of Israel, to Samaria and then to the ends of the earth.
Verses 17 and 18 finishes off by saying "Therefore, my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. ... No man can take it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
In these two verses Jesus is again tells us that he will lay his life down for us, ... but this time he adds that He will also lift it up, ... and this is a clear reference to the resurrection.
Jesus wanted them, and us, to understand that the cross will be no accident, but part of the divine plan as a means of our salvation; … the cross was no defeat for Christ, and the resurrection was no afterthought by God.
And it could only be done by the sinless son of God. ... Jesus was no helpless victim here, ... and that is why he obediently went to the cross and fulfilled the will of his Father, … to restore mans relationship with God.
Satan by Contrast.
Now this has been a difficult passage to give a clear exposition, and I believe I have done that to an extent, ... but to really hit this message home, I will now show you the enemies stance take on this, ... and it is quite shocking by contrast. Prepare yourself …
Satan is known for his deception, and unlike the Good shepherd, … Satan does not want any relationship with us at all. … He doesn’t even want our attention, and this may surprise you, but let me explain, ... ... many of us here have been led to believe that our entire existence is in the centre a conflict between good and evil, where God and Satan are constantly fighting for our allegiance.
But that is wrong; yes God wants our attention, and in particular he wants us to have a relationship with him, but Satan does not. ... Satan couldn’t care less about us, ... the devil is not the slightly bit interested in us, he does not want our allegiance, ... because an allegiance would implies a relationship, … and a relationship is about give and take, … and we all know Satan isn’t into giving, he is only into taking.
Our gospel reading today started at verse 11, but verse 10 says, "The enemy comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly". … Satan only wants to steal from us, and by doing that, our lives are destroyed, which directly leads to death. … Satan doesn’t relate well to people, he is only interested in himself, ... and he would never trust any of us to follow him, even if we tried.
Satan only wants to consume us, ... he wants us only for his benefit, to be used and abused. … He wants everything we have, and when he has taken it all, ... we will be thrown away or discarded. ... Satan is a hunter, and we simply his meat.
What stops him from destroying us, well I have said repeatedly, ... our only protection is our relationship with the Good Shepherd himself, Jesus Christ our Lord who defeats him time and time again.
I therefore cannot emphasise enough our relationship with Jesus, the Lamb of God who took away sins of the world, … so that we may be able to hear his voice, … and answer His call. … Is that not Shepherd worth getting to know? …
Amen, please join me in a short prayer.
Father, we thank you again for Jesus, that he is our Good Shepherd and that he wants a relationship with us.
Father we want that relationship too, so please teach us how to do that, how speak to you or speak to him, … and more important how we can to listen to you, … and learn to recognise your voice.
Father teach us these things, and make time for us to do this. … Encourage us Father, to want to talk with you, and even to look forward to our time we spend with you each day, … and at times when we need your help.
Father, allow us to hear your voice, allow us to listen when you tell us you love us, … allow us to listen when you warn us, … and allow us to listen when there is something you want us to do.
Father we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
