The Good Shepherd
John 10:1-21
Prayer-
Father as we prepare our hearts for your word, may our hearts be open to receive the blessing that comes to us from your word. Your word is powerful and your word brings healing. May you accomplish all that you intend for each of us. In Jesus name. Amen.
This morning if you could turn to the book of John chapter 10, we will be looking at Jesus being the Good Shepherd and we will look at the sheep that follow him.
John chapter 10:1-6
We see the red letter words, we know that these are the words of Jesus Himself and he is directing his words to the Pharisees who were taking one of the many rebukes that Jesus had with them about their teachings.
The Pharisees supported their actions against Jesus because they said they were the pastors and shepherds to the church.
Jesus having no commission from them was an intruder and an imposter.
In the minds of the Pharisees, the people’s duty was to stick with the Pharisees and oppose all that Jesus said and did.
In opposition to the Pharisees, Jesus himself describes who are the false shepherds, and the ones that are interfering with the plan of God.
Jesus shows evidence of a thief or a robber coming to do damage to the flock.
(Illustration – paints a picture of a thief trying to get in by alternate way than the gate)
Coming in by way of deception and not coming in by the gate as designed but coming in by a breach in the wall, a window, or a broken board, or under something.
He is not coming in by way of an entrance as designed by a gate with a shepherd to guard the gate.
The thief or robber has no reason to enter because he is not invited. His plan was unlawful and only desires to harm the flock or stealing from the owner.
The Pharisees didn’t get it- they did not understand his figure of speech parable and Jesus has to get a little more forceful.
Not the first time that Jesus had to get into the face of religious people and share the truths of God with them
(V 7-21) Clearly Read Scripture
There are two paths of life-
One leads to life, that is in Jesus Christ.
The other leads to death and destruction- life without Jesus.
You are given a choice which path you will take.
There are two kingdoms,
One of light and one of darkness.
Every human being has a choice which road they will go and who they will follow.
“Jesus says that “He is the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by him.”
Jesus says of Satan and deceivers “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”
Jesus says that “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Clearly we have a choice-
Will you accept the truth of God found in salvation through Jesus Christ?
Will you choose to be deceived into believing it is all about you and allow the enemy of your soul to steal what God is offering you?
Jesus says- I have come to give you life… full life, abundant life. Life worth living!
Which road will you decide to travel and who will you follow?
The Bible talks a lot about doors.
Some doors are to be opened and some are closed and need to remain close.
Doors paint a spiritual picture of what and how we are to approach them.
Jesus in the painting here in the sanctuary is standing at a door and knocking and wanting to come into our hearts and lives.
It is an invitation where you must open the door.
He does not slam on the door like a bill collector or demand a hostile takeover.
The door of our hearts is controlled by us- when He knocks will we let him in?
“Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
The gate from our text is a form of a door in which Jesus the Good Shepherd says that he stands by for us to enter.
Jesus says- “I am the gate for the sheep. All who come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.”
Jesus as the Good Shepherd makes us some pretty radical promises-
Jesus promises to protect His sheep (The emphasis on His!)
Whoever enters through me, the narrow gate will be saved.
Narrow road unto salvation
Broad road that most will take unto destruction.
For those that enter the right way-
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Matthew 7:13
“I will never leave you nor forsake you” I will not be like the hired hand that abandons his sheep at the sign of danger.
I am not in sheep’s clothing- I am the real deal!
“I know my sheep.” I am the good shepherd that will leave the 99 and go after the one in danger.
“I lay down my life for my sheep-
At the cross I proved how much I love each of you.
Song-
Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph over his foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain, and he lives forever with his saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah Christ arose!
“I have been given authority by my heavenly Father to keep all my promises and protect the sheep that have been given to me.”
Song-
There’s no God like Jehovah! There’s no God like Jehovah!
Illustration-
Jesus was amongst a group of people needing a healing and they ask him if he could heal- Mark 9:23-24
If I can? said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes. Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, I do believe, help me with my unbelief.”
Lord help us with our unbelief!
Help us to know the promises of God so that we can receive them with gratitude instead of attitude!
Help us Father to know the authority we have in Jesus!
Help us to know how blessed we are even when we are in a mess! Blessed in the mess!
Jesus promises to meet the needs of the weak (Good Shepherd)
Ezekiel 34-
“The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds (or pastors) of Israel; prophesy and say to them; this is what the sovereign Lord says: woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves. Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, cloth yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill.”
Just like those sheep- The Good Shepherd desires the shepherds He calls to protect the weak from those that desire to eat them, harm them or lead them astray.
This should be a humbling verse to anyone that desires to do kingdom work for the Lord. It should demand each one of us to do an evaluation of where we are with what the Lord has asked us to do.
He takes his job serious and he demands that his shepherds who he has put in charge be of the same mindset.
In a poll last year, the 5 top things they thought of a Good shepherd or pastor was;
Love of their congregation
Effective preaching
Strong in character
Good work ethics
Cast vision and lead
5 things they believe would tear a congregation down;
Leadership immorality
Lack of love for the people
No vision
Uninvolved members
Lack of Finances
We see the picture of a good shepherd as one who will protect his sheep.
One that will go after those who go astray.
He will be the one who will carry those who have been injured by carrying them on his shoulder.
Jesus says follow me.
He leads by example and his promises are true and you can bet your life on them to be fulfilled.
HE RAISED THE STANDARD FOR WHAT A SHEPHERD LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT PROMISES A SHEPHERD MUST KEEP.
The Pharisees and many Jews were ignorant to what Jesus was telling them.
I went to Bible School Jesus! –
I have a degree in Religion Jesus!
I not only know the rules, but I set the rules!
Jesus don’t you tell me what I need to do!
Those who were wise, elegant, those unaware of what he meant by thieves and robbers.
Did not understand why going in the right gate was important to their salvation.
I think we live in that day and age today also-
The things of God are not important enough to let the Lord change your life.
The things that God wants to do is only hindered by those that will not let Him do it in their lives.
I think it is a great danger that the word of God is preached all over the world and many have turned a deaf ear to Him.
The Pharisees had great intelligence and they were too proud to have their intelligence challenged.
What you talking about Willis! What are you talking about Jesus!
I am a good person
I don’t hurt anyone
I am not as bad as that person!
1 Corinthians 1:18-
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
For those of us who know Christ as savior, we must respond quickly to the things of God and the leading of God’s Word for our lives.
For those that know Christ, We must be aware of the enemy seeking to deceive us, to destroy us, and cause us to live far below the standard that the Lord desires for our life.
For those that do not know Christ- we need to be praying for them because until their eyes are opened they cannot grasp the Word of God for their lives.
They have blinders on and the Lord may use us to get them off
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Comparative- the thief offers to kill, steal, destroy-
Christ offers life! Life like a criminal who is offered a pardon.
Christ came to vindicate divine truth- heal the sick, raise the dead, bind up that which was broken.
Christ specializes in broken things
He can raise a person to a higher level.
He can raise a church to a higher level in the community He has called them to.
Justified- just as if I did not sin
Sanctified/ empowered to live life the way life was intended to be lived by a child of God.
Glorified- Spending eternity with your savior.
That they may have life to the full- Someone ought to be praising the Lord right now!
Full abundant life is eternal life. Life without the fear of death.
Are we good sheep?
Those under the care of Jesus Christ- who know who Jesus us!
Those that were under the care of the shepherd know their shepherd.
They did not follow just anyone! They would not go to strangers/ many voices did not distract.
They responded to their shepherd.
The one that was willing to lay down their lives for them.
The one who had proven himself in the past.
Do we listen?
Do we go after the word of God with a hungry to hear what God has to say to us?
Do we do the things we know to do and wait for God to give answers for the things we don’t know?
Today technology is everywhere. There are so many distractions that can keep us from hearing the Lords voice for our lives.
People sitting around a table and manhandling their phones- many people but none is talking or listening… they are just existing.
We need to be listening to the shepherd
Lastly,
Do we enter by the right gate?
The Good Shepherds sheep enter through the narrow gate. (His way)
God gives us direction on how to follow and how to enter into a right relationship with the Lord.
Are we good Sheep?
Are we doing things that please the Lord?
Are we doing what He has called us to do and we know to do?
Close,
We have to sometimes be reminded how good God is to us.
We have lead back to the shepherd by the gentle hand of God wanting to embrace you and love you.
We also have to be reminded to be good sheep-
Not stray away- if we have to return quickly to be back in the fold.
To be listening for His voice to speak to us- individually and as a church.
To be so distracted that we are not longer hearing his voice.
So caught up in life that we are no longer speaking to him.
He desires to be our shepherd- He wants to be your Lord and your Savior..
The wolf out there is not meant to scare us- it should just draw us closer to the shepherd. Amen?
Last thought
Some testify to past experiences of God working in their life- The Lord was my shepherd! (Past tense)
Some plan to get close to the Lord one Day!- The Lord will be my Shepherd! (One day)
Today I take Him as my shepherd- thanking Him for what He has done and what He will do-
The Lord is my Shepherd!
Amen. Let’s pray!
