Worship Our Wonderful Shepherd Jesus Christ Series

Worship Our Wonderful Shepherd Jesus Christ

The Gospel of John

John 10:11-18

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - March 15, 2017

(Revised November 1, 2019)

BACKGROUND:

*Tonight, we will focus on some great reasons why everyone should worship the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. It all centers around the Lord's statement in vs. 11. There Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."

*In vs. 1-2, the Lord had already reconfirmed that He was the promised Messiah, the only true shepherd for God's people. As He spoke to the Pharisees, Jesus said, "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."

*Jesus Christ is the one and only Good Shepherd for God's people. He had strongly established His credentials by fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the promised Messiah.

*John Phillips noted some of the evidence in God's Word. For example, Isaiah 7:14 promised that the Messiah would be miraculously born of a virgin, and Jesus was. Matthew 1:21-23 and Luke 1:30-35 both confirm this truth. Micah 5:2 prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and Jesus was. God's Word confirms this fact in Matthew 2:1-6 and Luke 2:1-6. Hosea 11:1 prophesied that God the Father would call His Messiah Son out of Egypt. And we see the fulfillment in Matthew 2:13-15. Also, Galatians 4:4-5 tells us that Jesus came "in the fulness of time." Therefore, Jesus surely is the one and only Good Shepherd of God, born the right way, in the right place, at the right time. Jesus isn't a spiritual thief or robber! He is reliable, dependable, faithful! And we can always count on Jesus, because He is the Good Shepherd of God. (1)

*Moreover, it was also crucial for the Messiah to be a descendent of King David. For example, Psalm 132:11 tells us that "The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: 'I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body.'"

*Then in Jeremiah 23:5-6 God's Word tells us:

5. Behold, the days are coming,'' says the Lord, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

6. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

*It was crucial for the Messiah to be a descendent of King David. That's one key reason why the Holy Spirit led Matthew and Luke to include genealogies of Jesus in their Gospels. Matthew traced the Lord's birth line through His adoptive father Joseph. He was descended from King David through his son King Solomon. Luke traced the Lord's birth line through His virgin mother Mary. She was descended from King David through Nathan, another son of David. (2)

*The Messiah King Jesus surely was a descendent of King David. That's also why Jesus is called the "Son of David" 12 times in the New Testament. Other Scriptures also clearly state that Jesus was the promised eternal heir to David's throne. For example, in Luke 1:30-33, the angel Gabriel told Mary:

30. . . "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

32. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

33. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.''

*Years later, in Romans 1:1-3, Paul opened his letter to those Christians by saying:

1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

2. which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

3. concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.

*Another great example is one of the last things Jesus said in the New Testament: "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.'' (Revelation 22:16)

*With this background in mind, let's read vs. 11-18, and as we read, please think about why we should worship the Good Shepherd and King of Kings, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

MESSAGE:

*One of God's greatest goals is for us to truly worship Him. But what does it mean to "worship" God? In the Old Testament, the main word for worship is a word picture of us bowing down before the Lord. That's good. We should humbly bow down to give God reverence and honor.