The Good Shepherd
John 10:11-18
Introduction: Message about Jesus. (Every message about Jesus) Read it as it appears in
the Message - Eugene Petersons book The Message. Highlight each of these verses as we
go through this morning - Jesus says "I am the Good Shepherd"
> Chapter begins with Jesus explaining a parable of the sheep & the shepherd
> The people did not understand - (not stupid - just never had experienced love like this)
> Good Shepherd - adjective "good" - {excellent-nobel-beautiful-ideal}
> word is KALOS - Implies an inward goodness beyond externals
> Wasn’t the Shepherd concept that they didn’t get it was to good part
> Kings’ shepherded the people -
> Septer of the King grew from the staff of the shepherd
> God had already established in the Jewish heart this
shepherd/sheep relationship was ingrained - David Psalm 23
’my’
> Good and Jesus - to the Jew - God was far away - now He is right here
> Establishes His role as the Shepherd then begins to describe His love for the sheep.
> Begins in verse 11 - a description of the relationship that He desires to have with you
and I - He covers many aspects of that relationship that both He and we long for.
* The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep
> Pre-crucifixion foreshadowing of the days to come - on this side of the cross we
can see clearly that Jesus laid down his life for us - even then he had
begun to do it - set it in motion - gave up heaven and glory to confine Himself to
a limiting shell of humanity - then ultimately gave up that flesh to be
killed.
~ We will come back here but before that - Jesus gives us a contrast to consider
> The Hired Hand
> See’s the wolf - recognizes that the danger to the sheep so great
it could cost him something - A wolf could kill a man - but a committed
man in a fight to the death would have and advantage. No man here Can
fight a wolf at no cost -
> Leave’s the sheep - distances himself form the sheep, wolf wants sheep
see’s me as a threat - will attack me first - get me out of the way
> Run’s away - failed in his responsibility to the sheep, the wolf has won,
he is next so he run’s away
> Picture of exactly what happens whenever we try to follow another shepherd
> any other shepherd - false god of money will desert you in need
> the false god of sensual pleasure will be gone when you lay dying all
alone and miserable
> the false god of religion will leave you cold when you are in need
> The Good Shepherd
> Saw the Wolf that would "pounce" on the sheep - He loved them -
> Gave himself for them - Hireling left the Sheep - Jesus came to us
> Hireling Ran away - Jesus stood between us and the Wolf of sin that would
destroy us - Look at the end of verse12 - Catches - snatches -
& scatters - Teareth - carries some off and scatters
> Jesus is the Good Shepherd & He lays down His life for the sheep -
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Verse 14 - Restates ’I am the Good Shepherd’
* I know my sheep & my sheep know me
> Word for "Know" - ginosko-
1) to learn to know, to come to know, to get a knowledge by perception, to feel, to
become known to understand, to perceive, a Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse
between a man and a woman (compare Gen. 4:1)
> God desires close intimacy - not distant servitude -
- Not a hireling a Good Shepherd
- Can not be a one way street - That kind of intimacy can’t happen with out
2 willing parties
> Jesus Claims us as His own - "MY" sheep
- Bethany at Playland - look for opportunities to say "She’s mine"
> Just like the Father and the Son =
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Wolf of sin = death - Gift of God is eternal life "IN CHRIST"
Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
"they will listen to my voice" - verse 16 - verse 3-5
Hear the voice of the Good Shepherd today
> He laid down His life for you - offers Salvation
> He desires to Know you and have you know him
Embrace the Good Shepherd this morning - gather around the altar this morning
Song - Jesus Lover of my soul
