The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-5-“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

A Sheepfold was a circular wall with only one opening that served as a door. They could put as many as two flocks in the sheepfold at night, with one of the shepherds lying in the opening to serve as the door. Nothing could get into, or out of the sheepfold without having to go through the shepherd. Jesus is telling people, that only thieves and robbers seek to enter the sheepfold by another means besides the door. The shepherd, however, always comes in the right way!

Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise from God, Here are signs that Jesus is the Messiah!

He had been virgin born-Isaiah 7:14-Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

He had been born in Bethlehem-Micah 5:2-“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

He had come in the fullness of time-Galatians 4:4-5-But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

He had come to set the captives free-Isaiah 61:1-“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

He possesses all the credentials necessary to prove that He is the Good Shepherd!

Sheep Hear His Voice-We need to make sure that we are listening to voice of our Shepherd!

Every been around a lot of sheep? It is noisy, a lot of Baah, Baah going on!

In our life there are a lot voices trying to get our attention, we need to be focused on listening to Shepherd! (Just like a mom can pick out her baby crying in a room full of crying babies!)

He Calls His Own Sheep By Name-See how well the Shepherd knows us, He calls us by name! Millions, no billions of people and yet He calls us by name. (I couldn’t remember someone’s name the other day, I’ve been to their house, had supper with them, meet their kids and grandkids, so I am at awe the He calls us by name!)

Leads Them Out-He doesn't have to drive them, that is for goats. He just leads them out and they follow!

When a person is saved, they will have a desire to follow the Good Shepherd!

When their heart is right with God, they do not have to be begged to come to worship, to tithe, to share their faith, etc. They have a burning burden to worship Him!

He Goes Before Them-How many people get ahead of God?

How many people make their own plans, without see what God wants them to do!

The Sheep Follow Him-Are following Him or are we going our own way?

It is a choice!

If we want to follow Him, we must stay close to Him! Ever tried to follow someone? It is hard when there becomes a distance between you (Cars, Curves, blocking your view of them).

He who is the Bread of Life began His ministry being hungry.

He who is the Water of Life and He ended His ministry thirsting.

Christ hungered as man, and yet He fed the hungry as God.

He was weary, and yet He is our rest.

He paid tribute, and yet He is the King.

He was called a devil, and yet He cast out devils.

He prayed, and yet He hears prayer.

He wept, and He dries our tears.

He was sold for thirty nieces of silver, and yet He redeems the world.

He is the Good Shepherd and yet He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.

He died, and gave His life, and by dying destroys death.