The Characteristics Of A Good Shepherd

Sermon: The Characteristics of a Good Shepherd

John 10:1-10 ““I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” 6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Introduction: After being labeled as a sinner and deceiver because he healed a man blind from birth on the Sabbath Day, Jesus sets the record straight. In John 10, Jesus introduces an allegory describing the true nature of his ministry. An allegory, like a proverb, is a natural story, full of hidden meaning designed to reveal a great spiritual truth. Jesus is the good shepherd. To understand this allegory, we must understand God’s relationship with his covenant people. In the Old Testament, Psalms 23 and 80, God reveals himself as Israel’s shepherd and Israel as God’s little flock. The Psalmist David and all Israel were very familiar with this concept.

John Chapter 10 is a continuation of the discourse with the Pharisees from John 9:39. Jesus is represented as the Good Shepherd who offers up his life to save his sheep. The truth of self-sacrificing love set forth. This is the center characteristic of a good shepherd. This allegory of the sheep, the sheepfold and the Good Shepherd seek to reveal us the spiritual truths taught by Jesus about who He is, who we are and whose we are. When Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd, his listeners, steep in middle eastern culture recognized that Jesus was presenting himself as Israel’s good shepherd and long-awaited Messiah. At the same time, Jesus’ references to the hirelings or hired hands was an unmistakable attack on the Scribes and Pharisee who looked the part but conducted themselves as hired hands.

It was not a new concept. It had been introduced by Ezekiel and Jeremiah. They described hirelings as those who cares nothing for the flock, but cares only for themselves and what they can get. The characteristics of a good shepherd are revealed in Joh 10. 1. The good shepherd comes honestly and uprightly to the door of the sheepfold. 2. The good shepherd is known by His sheep, and he has an intimate relationship with them. 3. The good shepherd carefully guides the sheep, and his sheep follow him. 4. The good shepherd is alert and keeps his sheep alert to dangers all around.

Just as the good shepherd takes care of the sheep, the Lord take care of his people. All these characteristics are found in Jesus Christ. Jesus not only described himself as the true shepherd, and furnished hints for distinguishing the unfaithful guides of the people at that time, and those who may appear in all subsequent ages. Make no mistake about, those who claim God’s authority, should walk worthy of their calling.

The first outstanding attribute of the good shepherd is that they honest and upright who enter by the door. Anyone who choose to enter not by the door into the fold are thieves and robbers. In the East sheepfolds are enclosures built to protect the sheep during the night. The surrounding wall has only one door, through which the flocks are driven into the fold at evening and a porter was assigned to keep the way. True shepherd entered by the door. Jesus the Christ is our Good Shepherd because he entered by the door.

1. The Good Shepherd Is honest and upright in his approach. He enters by the door. Generally, we understand that anyone choosing to enter our home without permission is up to no good. To enter by the door means that someone has given assess. Jesus enter humanity according to the will of God and according to the prophets. He became flesh and dwell among by the will of God. Jesus alone is the door through whom all must enter to become a part of his family. Israel was God’s covenant people and were under his protection. The natural sheepfold was a place of protection and care during the night in a world full of thieves and robbers. Some bible scholars see this passage as referring to Christ and his entry into the world verses Satan and his entry into the world. Spiritually, the sheepfold refers the God’s Church as a haven in this present dark world, exposed to deceivers and nonstop persecution. The good shepherd refers to self-sacrificing leaders God sends who knows his sheep, guards them, guides them by his word and leads them by his Spirit, goes before them into green pastures, allows them to follow in his step and quiets all their fears. The Good Shepherd Is honest and upright in his approach because entered by the door and was given access. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”