John 10:1 - 10: “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (NRSV).
WHY DO WE NEED JESUS AS OUR SHEPHERD?
Text: John 10:1-10
A man came close to the edge of the Grand Canyon, lost his footing and plunged over the other side, clawing and scratching to save himself. After he went out of sight and just before he fell into space, he encountered a scrubby bush which he desperately grabbed with both hands. Filled with terror, he called out toward Heaven, “Is there anyone up there?” A calm powerful voice came out of the sky, “Yes there is.” The tourist pleaded, “Can you help me?” The calm voice replied, “Yes, I probably can. What is your problem?” “I Fell over the cliff and am dangling in space holding on to a bush that is about to let go. Please help me.” The voice from above said, “I’ll try. Do you believe?” “Yes, I believe!” “Do you have faith?” “Yes, yes I have strong faith .” The calm voice said, “Well in that case simply let loose of the bush and everything will turn out fine” There was a tense pause, the the tourist yelled”Is there anyone else up there?” (James S. Hewett. ed. Illustrations Unlimited. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1988, p. 480). You would think that the tourist would be a man of faith. That is one angle you could throw at this story, but there is also another. The other angle you could use to look at this story is given to us in John 10:4: “… the sheep follow him because they know his voice” (NRSV). What would you have done if you had been that tourist?
Shepherds were known for their devotion to the sheep in their care. This parable illustrates the of Jesus love for us as the shepherd of our souls who laid down His life for us. His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.
If you were to focus three simple things from this parable what would they be? Here are three that I suggest, the gatekeepers, the sheep and the Shepherd.
GATEKEEPERS
Why did Jesus speak speak about the lifestyle of the shepherd?
1) Shepherding industry: Jesus spoke about the lifestyle of the shepherds for two reasons. First, the imagery of shepherds was a common and secondly, because in many ways we are a lot like sheep who need the protection of a shepherd. Jesus also spoke about the role of gatekeepers and the sheepfold to illustrate how we are vulnerable just like sheep. Gatekeepers monitored the gateway so that they could let the sheep into the sheepfold---sheep pen.
2) Gatekeepers: If you have ever been to the movies, then you have encountered a gatekeeper. In a movie theater there are employees that will not let you in unless you have a ticket. If you were to try to get in the movie through the fire escape at the back of the theatre, then you obviously would not be an honest person but a thief. In this parable Jesus tells us that there are gatekeepers who keep watch at the doorway of the sheepfold.
3) Sheepfold: A sheepfold was a walled in structure that had no ceiling. The only way into a sheepfold other than through the door kept by gate keepers was to climb in over the wall which the way in of thieves and bandits.
Would you say that intentions determine integrity or that integrity determines one’s intentions?
1) Impostors: Jesus tells this story about the integrity of those who watch after sheep in such a way that it could be tied to the previous chapter. In the previous chapter Jesus healed a man who was born blind. There was opposition from the Pharisees who were supposed to watch out for those who were vulnerable. Jesus rebuked them for their blindness as leaders. Gatekeeper leaders like the Pharisees obviously had a religious role to be honest and dependable.
2) Renege: There are two great Biblical examples of how leaders sometimes renege --break their promises to do the right thing. The first one is In Ezekiel 34 where we hear God condemn those who were supposed to watch out over the sheep of His flock . Ezekiel 34:1 -3 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? :3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep (ESV). The second one comes from John 9 where Jesus confronts the Pharisees because how they refused the man who was born blind but healed by Jesus entry into the synagogue. John 9:39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains” (ESV). We can see where their intentions determine their point of view on integrity.
SHEEP
Have you ever wondered why we are compared to sheep in God’s Word?
1) If the shoe fits: We often hear the expression, “If the shoe fits then wear it.” Unfortunately, the shoe fits very well. Sheep can be naive, gullible, easy to scare, and easy to stray from the rest the flock.
2) Other candidates: In a Darwinian comparison, some say we are like monkeys. Research biologists say we are a lot like rats or mice which would explain why they use lab rats for testing. Some scientists say we are a lot like bees because we too are social creatures in a structured society. Some psychologists have compared us to dolphins “…because of the similar ratio of brain mass of body size.” (Earl R. Allen. The Great I Ams of Jesus. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989, p. 82). Out of all the candidates the Bible gives us the best comparison to how we are like sheep.
Have we gone astray? Isaiah says 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (ESV).
1) Traits of sheep: Sheep are vulnerable, gullible and timid. In his work called 12 Characteristics of Sheep DAVID MURRAY (of Head Heart Hand) https://www.facebook.com/476503949062344/posts/478660482180024/?d=n tells about those twelve characteristics. As we go through these characteristics, I will insert scriptural references where they apply.
1.Sheep are foolish. They pause in front of a stream because they can’t swim but will jump in anyway. That is why sheep love to be led beside still waters (Psalm 23:2).
2.Sheep are slow to learn. If they get caught in barbed wire today. They will do it again tomorrow. Like sinners they are repeat offenders.
3.Sheep are unattractive. They lack agility and dignity.
4.Sheep are demanding. From the moment they are born they have an insatiable appettite.
5.Sheep are stubborn. If they came into a gate, it is hard to get them to get back out of it. David Murray says “Ever watched a shepherd try to manoeuvre a sheep into a fold or a dip-tank. It’s like trying to wrestle with a devil”. How fitting that Moses a former shepherd once wrote in Exodus_32:9 saying “And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people” (KJV). Stiffnecked is a metaphor for stubbornness.
6.Sheep are strong. “They are physically strong enough to knock a man off his feet” (David Murray)..
7.Sheep are straying. Isaiah says 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;
8.Sheep are unpredicatble:
9.Sheep are copy cats.
10.Sheep are restless. They don’t sleep much and won’t lay down unless they have freedom from fear. Psalm 23:2 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures” (KJV).
11.Sheep are dependent. They are lost without a shepherd to depend on. “… when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 KJV).
12.Sheep are the same everywhere.
https://www.facebook.com/476503949062344/posts/478660482180024/?d=n
2) Human behavior: We as humans are the epitome of sheep because our personalities and behavior are just like that of a sheep.
"A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. >>>> "Why on earth didn't you come to us first?" the official asked. "Didn't you know about the Better Business Bureau?" >>>> "Oh, yes," said the lady sadly. "I've always known about you. But I didn't come because I was afraid you'd tell me not to do it." >>>> The folly of human nature is that even though we know where the answers lie--God's Word--we don't turn there for fear of what it will say." Jerry Lambert. http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/h/human_nature.htm If we think something might be bad for us and do it anyway, then are we not just like the sheep we read about in the Bible?
SHEPHERD
What do you think of when you hear the word shepherd?
1) Answers: We can all think of several answers. Do you think of a shepherd as a leader, a teacher, an authority, a protector, a clergy man? These are all good answers that are true. We need someone to give us guidance like a shepherd does for sheep.
2) Shepherd: John 10:10 explains John 10:11! In John 10:11 Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd. What did Jesus mean? Jesus meant that He is our protector, our leader and the guardian of our souls. One of the Greek words for a shepherd is “pastor”. That’s why clergy persons who watch out after the spiritual care of a congregation (a church) are often referred to as pastors and their congregations are referred to as their flock. Pastors are supposed to be Christlike.
Why do we need Jesus as our Shepherd?
1) Savior: We all need a savior who cares for us like a shepherd cares for his sheep. We need a Shepherd who can help us with our fear of death.
2) Beating the enemy: As our Savior, Jesus goes beyond beating the odds because he beats the enemy! We need a savior who can help us face our enemy: A) Psalm 23:5 tells us “Thou [God] preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over”. Charles Spurgeon said “ When a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, if he eats at all he snatches a hasty meal, and away he hastens to the fight. ….. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at the door and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. Oh! the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances!” (Spurgeon’s Treasury of David). B) Paul tells in the New Testament “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians_15:26). Jesus destroyed death through His resurrection. In fact at the cross Jesus destroyed sin, death and the fear of death!
Do you know the voice of the Good Shepherd?
1) Knowing the Shepherd’s voice: Remember our story of the tourist hanging from a cliff at the beginning?
2) Lost sheep: How many people do you know who are calling for help?
3) False prophets: There are two types of people in this world. There are pretenders (Jesus called them hirelings in John 10:12,13) who pretend to care. Jesus once said that we would know people by their fruits (Matthew 7:15 -20). They [false Prophets] prey on the sheep they are supposed to defend. They flee when danger comes. Again John 10:11 explains John 10:10!
4) The Voice in the Wind: Jesus once had a conversation with Nicodemus about salvation in John 3:7 - 8: “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (ESV). Bob Hartman, the guitarist for the Christian Rock Band Petra put it this way in a song known as “Voice in the Wind”.
"Voice In The Wind"
Words and music by Bob Hartman
Based on John 3:8
Wind may come, wind may go
Where it blows noone knows
Chill the bone, fan the fire
Lead the soul to hearts desire
There's a voice in the wind that calls your name
If you listen you'll never be the same
There's a voice in the wind that points the way
Gently beckons to follow and obey
Spirit comes, spirit goes
Whence it comes no one knows
Giving life, making new
Filling hearts, calling you
Jesus laid down His life for His sheep so that through His resurrection He could give us abundant life here on earth and eternal life in Heaven! Jesus will not leave you hanging!
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
