THE GOOD SHEPHERD
JOHN 10:1-15
Psalm 23
Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ
July 04, 2021
Video Link: https://youtu.be/wUnbno3rOZo
INTRODUCTION:
A favourite passage of Scripture with many people is the 23rd. Psalm.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 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.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
As we look at Jesus as the Good Shepherd, I believe that in many ways he is revealing himself as the one David spoke of when he said: “The Lord is my Shepherd.”
Today I want us to see teachings of Jesus the Good shepherd.
I. JESUS IS THE GATE. (10:1-10)
We see the picture of the sheep pen. (10:1-6)
A.) During the time of Jesus sheep and shepherds were a common scene.
aa.) Many times, Jesus used sheep and shepherds as illustrations in his teachings.
ab.) In John 10 Jesus speaks of a sheepfold.
aba.) This would have been a common picture in first century Israel, and even today is a common scene over there.
ac.) During the daytime, Shepherds would be grazing their sheep in various places where there was adequate pasture and water.
aca.) As I think on this, I hear the words of David:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
ad.) At night the shepherd, or even numerous shepherds would bring their flocks to an open-air pen to keep their sheep in safety for the night.
ada.) This enclosure could be at the end of a canyon enclosed on three sides.
adb.) At the entrance there would usually be a door or gate that could be closed after they had entered the fold.
B.) In the parable some have climbed into the sheep pen through some way other than the door.
ba.) Jesus describes these as thieves and robbers.
bb.) From the context it becomes obvious Jesus is referring to the Pharisees, and other religious leaders as the thieves and robbers.
C.) In contrast to this the man who enters the sheepgate by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. (10:2)
ca.) “The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.” (10:3a.)
caa.) Those religious leaders were not the true Shepherds of the flock of God, but Jesus was.
D) " He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” He goes on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (10: 3b.- 4)
da.) Some of these shepherds would play flutes and even sing to the sheep.
db.) Many of these men would have special calls by which they would call their sheep.
dc.) These sheep became used to the special call and voice of their shepherd and would follow his voice.
dd.) There in the fold there might be different flocks of sheep and their shepherds.
E.) “They will not follow a stranger in fact they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (10:5)
ea.) When morning would come each shepherd would use his special call, and those of his sheep would follow him while other sheep would not listen to that call or follow that shepherd.
F.) The people did not clue into what Jesus was saying so he gives them another illustration.
Jesus identifies himself as the gate for the sheep. (10:7-10)
“I am the gate for the sheep.” (10:7)
aa.) I want you to picture in your mind this picture.
aaa.) Jesus is describing himself as the very gate for the sheep.
aab.) Sometimes these sheep folds might not have a gate on them.
.01) In that instance the shepherd would lay down at the entrance of where there would normally be a gate and would himself become their gate of security and protection from predators, and harm.
.02) For Jesus to be our gate, it gives us a wonderful image of how our Lord deals with his sheep.
.04) Jesus is the protector of the sheep, just as we see in the words of David from Psalm 23.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4?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.
“All who came before me were thieves and robbers.” (10:8)
ba.) Again, Jesus is referring to the Pharisees and religious leaders.
baa.) These men were not the true shepherds of the flock of God.
bb.) The sheep would not listen to a stranger. (10:8b.)
bba.) This blind man who had just been put out of the synagogue would not listen to the voice of the Pharisees, and religious leaders, but chose to be rejected by them because he heard and responded to the voice of Christ.
C.) “I am the gate” (10:9a.)
ca.) “Whoever enters through me will be saved.” (10:9b)
cb.) In as much as Jesus gives love, care, and protection for his sheep, Jesus makes it clear that as the gate he is also the gate or door of our salvation.
cba.) There is no other way. Jesus is the door of our salvation.
.01) John 14:6
.02) Acts 4:12
cb.) “He will come in and go out and find pasture.” (10:9c.)
D.) “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy;” (10:10a.)
E.) “I have come that they might have life and have it to the full.” (10:10b.)
ea.) Jesus is the one who brings life to each of his own.
II. JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD (10:11-15)
As the Good Shepherd, Jesus is both giving and caring. (10:11-13)
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (10:11)
aa.) This was in the final year and even the final four months of his ministry.
ab.) Jesus makes it clear to them his mission, and purpose would be completed when he would lay down his life as a sacrifice for mankind.
“The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep.” (10:12)
ba.) He has no loyalty to them.
baa.) “When he sees the wolf, he abandons the sheep.”
bab.) He runs away.
bac.) “Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.”
bb.) “The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
bc.) Again, Jesus is speaking of the religious leaders.
bca.) While they were over the people they had no great love for the people, in fact they considered themselves superior to the people.
bcb.) Certainly, none of the Pharisees, or other religious leaders would ever have laid down their lives for the people, and to be honest it would not have been of value for salvation even if they had.
.01) Only Jesus and his sacrifice could atone for man’s sins.
The Good Shepherd both knows and is known. (10:14-15)
A.) He is personal, and in a relationship with the sheep.
aa.) We can rejoice that Our Shepherd knows us and loves us in a personal manner.
ab.) Even this morning as we have come here with sorrowful and heavy hearts over the tragedy of losing ______ this week, our Shepherd is here, and is caring for us.
aba.) Some of the last words which Jesus said as he ascended into heaven was “I am with you always even to the end of the age or the world.”
abb.) With the sorrow and pain in this congregation today, what a comforting assurance it is knowing that even now Jesus is here with us.
B.) He knows he Father, and the Father knows him.
C.) The Good Shepherd would lay down his life for the sheep.
ca.) You want to talk about love. It just blows our minds to think that God loves us that much that his own son would give his life for us.
The Good Shepherd has other sheep. (10:16-18)
A.) “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.” (10:16a.)
aa.) “I must bring them also.” (10:16b.)
ab.) Certainly in the immediate context this blind man who has just been excommunicated from the synagogue would be one of those sheep who had heard the voice of |Jesus.
ac.) But even more than that Jesus was telling them that one day the Samaritans, and even Gentiles would become part of the fold of God.
aca.) Truly today we can rejoice that as the Gentiles we have heard the voice of the Good Shepherd and have become part of his fold.
B.) “They too will listen to my voice,” (10:16c.)
ba.) “And there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.” (10:16d.)
bb.) What a blessing that both Jews and Gentiles can become part of the family of God.
bba.) This had been prophesied all through Scripture, but you can be sure many of these religious leaders were not pleased to hear this from Jesus.
bc.) Perhaps we need to be reminded of this truth today just as the Jews of old did.
bca.) An old motto from our past stated: “We are Christians only, but we are not the only Christians.”
bcb.) While we may not agree with every church and doctrine, we still must remember there may be genuine and true Christians in every church and denomination.
.01) That does not mean we are to get wishy-washy on doctrine but must realize that it will be Christ who decides who is part of his fold, and who are his sheep.
C.) The Good Shepherd had a mission to carry out. (10:17-18)
ca.) Jesus would lay down his own life. At the time of the crucifixion:
caa.) Satan thought he had been the one to have Jesus put to death.
.01) He was not.
cab.) Rome thought they had given the authority to put Jesus to death.
.01) Jesus made it clear to Pilate his authority had ultimately come from God, Pilate did not have the control over Jesus’ life or death.
cac.) The religious leaders felt they were the ones to put Jesus to death.
.01) They were not; the authority of Jesus was far greater than theirs.
cad.) Jesus made it clear that he alone could make that decision.
.01) In the Gospel of John there were at least a good half dozen or more times that attempts were made to take Jesus’ life.
.02) No one had been able to take it because his time had not yet come.
cb.) Jesus would also have the authority to take up his life again.
cc.) No one would take his life from him.
cca.) H alone had the authority to lay it down.
ccb.) He alone would have the authority to take it up again.
CONCLUSION:
1.) As the final verses of our text ends Jesus was speaking of salvation which is available only through him.
2.) As we read this, again we hear echoed in our minds the words of King David Psalm 23:
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6?Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the?Lord?for ever.
3.) Let us rejoice that the Good Shepherd has come.
A.) Truly, Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
