The Good Shephard (Part 1)

Healed the Blind

Last week we saw how Jesus healed the man blind from birth.......That’s a big problem for the Jews...

He was preaching what they didn’t understand, and sounded like blasphemy.

He was doing things that could only be done with God’s power and authority.

The Good Shepherd

John 10:1–6 NASB95

1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 “But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

Explain the reference to the Sheep, door, guard, shepherd, etc.

What is the door?

Who is the thief and robber, stranger?

who are the sheep?

who is the doorkeeper?

who is the shepherd?

The Door

John 10:7–8 NASB95

7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

Who came before Him?

Jewish leaders that led the people away from God.

Jeremiah 23:1–2 NASB95

1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord.

Jesus calling out these “bad shepherds” is a fulfilment of prophesy.

Ezekiel 34:2–5 NASB95

2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? 3 “You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. 4 “Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them. 5 “They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered.

Back to John

John 10:9–10 NASB95

9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

We will come back to the abundant life part.

The Shepherd

John 10:11–15 NASB95

11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

John 10:16 NASB95

16 “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

Jesus’ sacrifice:

John 10:17–18 NASB95

17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

The Abundant Life

Prosperity gospel preachers will tell you it is stuff..........

Having stuff doesn’t provide you with an abundant life.......

Having an abundant life will allow you to enjoy the stuff you have, weather a little or a lot.......

The world will tell you, similarly, it is to fulfil all your desires.

(Seek pleasure and avoid pain)

Confession ..........When I started dating my wife....I only wanted to use her to fulfil my emotional and physical desires.

Love, harmony, and peace

Being loved is a basic human need.....

We have a need to be known and loved!

Gary Chapman:

Gifts, words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, and quality time

Romans 5:8 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Harmony

God’s love language is obedience.

John 14:15 NASB95

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Peace

Philippians 4:11–13 NASB95

11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,   In the light of His glory and grace.

Well fed, safe and content.....