John 10- The Good Shepherd

Megan Hutchinson

Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

0 ratings

· 3 views

Notes

Transcript

Good morning!

My name is Megan Hutchinson and I am the teaching leader of our BSF class here at Kenwood.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and are ready to jump into 2024.

I know that for some of you- you just joined our class and for others you are here visiting for our mini study!

We are so glad that you are here.

If you are in our class and you wanted to invite someone to the mini study and forgot, you still have another chance to do that!

So call your friends after class and invite them to come next week.

If they have children- they are welcome to bring them as 1 time guests to our class but after that they will need to wait on placement.

Before we jump into lecture, I want to take just a moment to tell you a little bit about Bible Study Fellowship, or BSF.

‌BSF is an interdenominational and international organization.

Currently, BSF is in over 150 countries with more than 400,000 men, women, and children in classes around the globe.

At BSF, we study God's word using a method known as the 4-fold approach...this is meant to be a layered approach and these steps are meant to be followed in order.

‌

• Step 1: Lesson

• Your lesson introduces you to a passage and is designed to provide daily study in God’s word.

‌• The goal is that you would engage with God's word- it's ok if you don't know an answer- give it your best shot and keep going.

You don't need commentaries or other sources to help you answer the questions. Practice meeting with God- with just him and His word..

‌

• Step 2- Group Discussion- after you complete your lesson, you come to group and discuss it in the context of community.

• Step 3- Lecture- each week following your discussion, you will go a step further in engaging with the passage as you hear a lecture prepared by myself or one of our substitute teaching leaders.

‌

• Step 4- NOTES- this is the final part of the 4 fold approach... The notes are to be read after you listen to the lecture.

‌

• This is just another way to go further into the passage to gain understanding and clarity as you study.

• If you would like to register for our class, you can go to the back after class and our admin. team will be there to help you.

‌

You can also choose to do it later through bsfinternational.org

email our class administrator at BSF-c-nugent@gmail.com.

If you register, you will make an account on mybsf.org—> there you can find lessons, notes, the lecture and other resources

If you register, either a group leader or admin. person will contact you this week.

So look for that phone call…

Our class also has a preschool program with children 6 months through kindergarten

as well as a student program with students ranging from 1st grade through high school.

If you are registering children, we have a very limited number of spaces.

So while we might be able to place you in a group, we unfortunately may not be able to place your child or children.

but please don’t let that stop you from registering- go ahead and register and we can place you on the waitlist if needed.

Even if you are on the waitlist, as long as you are registered you will have access to all of our materials- including the lecture.

Please don't hestitate to ask if you have any questions about registration or BSF in general! Myself, your group leader, or someone from our admin. team would be more than happy to help you!

In-climate Weather

Just a reminder, if we need to cancel in-person class due to in-climate weather- you will find that out from your group leader.

So, be sure to look and make sure you don't have a message from her before coming to BSF on Wednesdays.

If we cancel in person classes, our adult discussion groups will still meet on zoom for discussion and the lecture will be recorded and posted on mybsf.org.

But we will not have any preschool or student program on those days.

Your group leader has more information on this if you have any questions.

and with that, lets pray and then jump into lecture...

Let’s pray...

I. Introduction

Psalm 23 (ESV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Psalm 23 is one of, if not the, most popular Psalm in the Bible.

Christians and non-Christian’s alike have taken to this Psalm, often quoting it at funerals.

and while Psalm 23 is written from the perspective of the sheep- talking about their shepherd.

in today’s scripture…the sheep don’t speak..

Today- instead the Shepherd himself speaks when Jesus reveals himself as THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

Shepherd imagery was a common theme in the OT.

In Psalm 80:1- God is called the Shepherd of Israel

in Isaiah 40, God promised to bring his people back from Exile like a shepherd who gathers his lambs in his arms.

In addition, many Biblical figures like Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David- were all…shepherds...

because sheep need a shepherd.

Sheep actually require more care than any other class of livestock.

They need endless attention and meticulous care.

Despite having rectangular pupils which give them the ability to see up to a 320 degree field of vision…they will often just keep on grazing despite visible and incoming danger.

On the flip side...Sheep also have mob mentality. If one sheep freaks out, they all freak out- even when there is no danger at hand.

It’s no wonder that God chooses the image of a sheep and shepherd to describe his relationship with his people.

As humans- we are in need of attention and meticulous care, we often will keep on doing our thing despite danger in our midst, and mob mentality is most definitely a part of our DNA.

But- Jesus, the good shepherd knows ALL of this about his sheep...

he knows his flock..he loves his flock…he provides and protects his flock...

So today in John chp. 10, we are going to look at the good shepherd.

by 1st looking at his care

2 Divisions:

Care of the Good Shepherd 10:1-21

and then....his

Protection of the Good Shepherd 10:22-42

OPEN BIBLES/APP TO JOHN 10

II. 10:1-21- CARE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

in vs’s 1-21 we will look at the CARE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD through his

Relationship to his sheep (1-6)

Provision for his sheep (7-10)

Heart for his sheep (11-18)

i. RELATIONSHIP to Sheep

So let’s start by doing a quick review of where we left off..

in John chp 9, Jesus healed a man who had been blind from birth which pointed to Jesus as the Messiah.

This resulted in the Pharisees being in an uproar.

At the end of chp. 9, Jesus tells the Pharisees that they were spiritually blind because of their own sin.

Now- the OT made it clear that the job of the Pharisees was to care for God’s sheep- or his people...

However- Pharisees were actually hurting them, not helping them.

in the OT book of Ezekiel God actually specifically condemned the religious leaders for the way they were treating the sheep. Listen to his words to the religious leaders in Eze. 34: 4

Ezekiel 34:4 NIV

You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

in other words..they were bad shepherds…they care more about themselves, than the sheep.

So Jesus starts by describing the SHEPHERDS RELATIONSHIP to his sheep in order to show us a picture of his RELATIONSHIP to his people.

and so..with that in mind…we begin chp. 10 which is a continuation of the conversation Jesus was just having with the Pharisees in chp. 9...vs 1 starts out:

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out

So, in those days there were 2 types of sheep folds.

1 was out in the pasture..

But, the 2nd type would have been in a village.

This is what Jesus is describing here.

This fold would have most likely had much sturdier construction.

Also, often in villages there was a professional gatekeeper...

This guy would know the shepherds and allow them into the fold to call their sheep.

But when the TRUE shepherd comes and calls his sheep- his flock responds to his voice.

WHAT he said was not as important as WHO was saying it.

Each shepherd had an individual call, but if another shepherd came- and made the same exact call, the sheep would not come.

B/c the sheep knew the voice of their shepherd.

and while the sheep knew their shepherds voice- the shepherd knew his sheep far more deeply- he knew them each individually by name.

Shepherds at that time, would give each sheep an individual name- something that described them- names such as long nose, or black ear or fluffy- each name was unique because each sheep had unique characteristics.

In the same way- Jesus knows you in the most intimate way.

He knows your dreams and longings.

Your failures and hurts.

Psalm 139 shows that His knowledge of you goes back to before you were born- that you were intricately woven in the depths of the earth...

and before you are even called…you belonged....

One commentator points out that the sheep don’t follow because they WANT to belong to the Shepherd- they follow him because they DO belong to the shepherd.

It’s the relationship that drives the following, not the other way around.

Sheep can’t earn their way into the flock- they are chosen by the shepherd, he calls, he draws, and the sheep…respond..they follow....they let him lead- they put their faith and hope and trust in Him…they enter into relationship-and they follow his voice, wherever he leads.

vs’s 4 and 5 go on telling us that the shepherd goes out ahead of his sheep.

in this relationship- the shepherd does the leading....he goes out ahead of them--making sure the path is clear- and guiding them along the way.

All the shepherd has to do is call as he goes on ahead, and as long as they hear his voice- they will follow.

Do you hear the voice of the shepherd?

Do you take time to actually sit and listen- putting away the distractions of your phone, the TV, music-

the constant noise all around so often blocks us out from HEARING his call.

His relationship with his sheep is intimate and personal…

Through the working of the Holy Spirit- as you read God’s word- he speaks.

As you take time to sit in silence…to listen..he speaks...

It’s why your discussion groups are so beautiful and why we ask you not to read commentaries or bring up podcasts or preachers during discussion. Those things aren’t bad- but what your group wants to hear is not how God spoke to someone else, what they want to hear is how he spoke to you personally.

But you can’t stop there...to benefit from your relationship with the shepherd, it’s not enough just to hear his voice and do nothing.

You have to actually DO what he says!

It would be absolutely ridiculous for a sheep to hear the shepherds voice and not follow him— they would be utterly lost and have no clue where to go and constantly be in danger

Do you FOLLOW the voice of the shepherd by DOING what he says?

if not- what voices are you following instead?

vs 6 tells us that the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling him. It wasn’t that they didn’t understand the role of a shepherd and sheep- but they weren’t able to see the relationship they could have with him…they weren’t his sheep…b/c they didn’t want to be.

Instead, they were too busy being thieves and robbers, aiming to pull the sheep away from the shepherd.

It’s interesting that Jesus doesnt just give up here…he doesnt just say to the Pharisees- well you didn’t get it, I’m out…instead, he goes on...

ii. to Provide (7-10)

vs 7...Therefore, Jesus said AGAIN...

this time, he is going to show how he PROVIDES for the sheep.

now, instead of being in a village, this time Jesus is talking about a sheep pen that is most likely out in an open field.

This pen would have no roof or solid structure, just walls enough to keep out predators..

there is no door…no gate....just a small open space to go in and out......

why?

because the shepherd is the gate…

One shepherd said, 'When the light has gone, and all the sheep are inside, I lie in the open space, and no sheep ever goes out but across my body, and no wolf comes in unless he crosses my body; I am the door."'

so Jesus- inserting himself into the illustration says in vs 7....I AM the gate..

this is the 4th of 7 I AM statements in the book of John..

with each ‘I AM’ Jesus draws us back to Exodus where God game himself the name “I AM” to Moses...

and with each I AM statement, Jesus makes a declaration that he is God.

and God himself, Jesus, came down, made his dwelling among us and provided A WAY to be to be in relationship with God the Father....

Notice he didn’t leave that job to anyone else- you were too important..

and under his care and his leading his sheep would find…pasture.

and as verse 10 says....through Jesus-the good shepherd- they would have....life..

Jesus gives life by PROVIDING for his sheep…all they could ever want or need is found in and through him....

iii. His Heart

in vs.’s 11-21 the shepherd now reveals his heart for his sheep.

All he does for them comes from a place of deep love for each of them.

in vs. 11 he makes yet another I AM statement when he says...“I am the good shepherd.”

and 4 x’s in vs’s 11-18 Jesus says that he lays down his life for his sheep.

Now- in normal circumstances- this isnt the best news.

cuz...If the shepherd dies- the sheep now have no shepherd..remember they will NOT follow the voice of another.

But Jesus is no ordinary shepherd because as THE Good Shepherd…Jesus laid down his life for his sheep and after 3 days he was resurrected- so that…you would hear his voice loud and clear…so that his sheep would be saved…

in Exodus, before the people were freed from slavery in Egypt, they each had to put the blood of a lamb on their doorpost…and only with the blood of a perfect lamb would they be saved from death entering their home.

And after that dreadful night during the final plague on Egypt, each of God’s people, his precious sheep- walked through the threshold...the gate of their home and walked into freedom.

Jesus has and always will be the gate…but he is also the shepherd-and through the blood of the lamb he led his people out of Egypt to the promised land and today through his own blood, he leads his people to eternal and abundant life with him....

‌yes…the Good shepherd is also…the perfect lamb.

he is the only one who knows whats its like to be the shepherd and the sheep...

This is the story of the Bible…this is the gospel- the good news…That Jesus saves lost sinners through his death and resurrection- and he offers eternal life forever in Him to those who put their faith in Him and follow Him.

and as he shows his great love for his people- by giving his life- we see the shepherds heart for his sheep.

Principle: Jesus, the good shepherd gives abundant life to those who follow Him.

FULL or ABUNDANT life is only found in Jesus.

Abundant life is not a life filled with more possessions, entertainment, money and earthly comfort...

It’s living today fully satisfied in Christ no matter what life brings…

It’s living today with a spirit of joy and thanksgiving because your shepherd has given you more than enough....

It living knowing that you belong to Him..that you are his treasure....you are known..you are loved..

Psalm 23…the Lord is my shepherd- I LACK NOTHING.he makes me lie down in green....PASTURE....he leads me beside still waters…he RESTORES MY SOUL....

This pasture is rest for your soul…it’s where life is found...

Where do you need rest for your weary soul today?

Where are you longing for greener pasture?

Follow the shepherd- and find ABUNDANT LIFE in Him…

III. 10:22-42: PROTECTION OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

a. 22-30- LIFE

As we move into the final 1/2 of chp. 10-

We are going to see the good shepherd protect LIFE and protect TRUTH.

It’s now time for another Jewish Festival- the Festival of Dedication- or as we know it today- Hanukkah.

Now- before the Macabeen Revolt., false teachers had led the people of Israel away from God, but Macabee came in and brought them back to God...

and Ezekial 34- an entire chapter about the Lord as Israel’s shepherd- was a part of the Hanukkah liturgy.

As we have seen before, Jesus uses big feasts and celebrations to make claims about his identity...

so Jesus is at the party and in vs. 34, the Jews, or religious leaders, point blank asked him: “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

and while some time has passed from when he claimed to be the gate and the good shepherd, Jesus again here uses shepherd-ry imagery because it was part of the Hannakuh liturgy…

in vs’s 25-27 Jesus says…I did tell you..but you are not my sheep…my sheep listen and then they act....they FOLLOW…you hear the words- but you dont follow...

She then shows his protection of his people:

vs 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

don’t miss those words…NO ONE CAN SNATCH THEM..

The religious leaders were trying so hard to pull the people away from Jesus- but Jesus said- you can’t..they are mine…They are protected by me because I and the Father are one and there is no greater protection.

so often I think we see a shepherd as this meek, quiet soul wandering through the fields…but shepherds were warriors..

they fought off bears and lions..

in the OT King David, who was 1st a shepherd, was not afraid to take on a giant because he had fought wild animals.

1 Samuel 17:34–35 (ESV): “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

In Psalm 23 the word for ROD that the shepherd uses to lead and guide is also the same word for weapon…and he doesnt use his weapon on the sheep- he uses it on those who attack the sheep.

No one can snatch his sheep because if they try- then he will attack them…and win.

and because of this…God’s people can rest assured knowing that they are protected by the Father.

Salvation is a one-time event that is protected in Jesus’ work on the cross and those that are saved can rest assured that they are secure in Him.

Verses 28 and 29 remind us that Jesus’ sheep will have eternal life, they will never perish.

This is not a false sense of security like we find in this world- in Jesus, we have true and lasting security.

In the Father you are safe. You are protected.

A dictionary defines “Security” as a: freedom from danger, freedom from fear or anxiety, and freedom from the prospect of being laid off.

Did you catch the repeated phrase in the definition...freedom from…

This means that you have freedom from the danger of eternal punishment for your sin.

You have freedom from fear or anxiety that you will lose our salvation, because in Christ, you are secure, you are protected- you are free. and with this freedom comes rest for your souls.

TRUTH 31-42

In vs’s 31-39- Jesus is rejected, once again, by the Jewish leaders- but Jesus protects the truth of God’s word in the midst of their accusations.

And for the first time- they officially charge him with blasphemy.

But Jesus responds to their charge with a challenge to believe, inviting them to the sheepfold...by offering God’s word..

Jesus begins by quoting Psalm 82:6, where God refers to human rulers made in god’s image as gods…prophets in the OT were often referred to as gods...

so if sinful men could be honored with such a title, then Jesus argues, why couldn’t a perfect man- the one truly deserving of that title!

Jesus is protecting his claim to be the Son of God..by using the words of God they had already been given.

Finally, in vs. 35 he points out that what they are really doing- is pushing scripture aside- they are pick and choosing the parts they like and don’t like.

But you can’t do that..you can’t just cancel out scripture like our culture cancels out people.

Jesus protects the Father’s words- Scripture is inerrant, authoritative, and binding- and those who try to warp it or cancel it for their selfish gain will be held accountable.

The pharisees are the thieves and robbers trying to pull the sheep away and Jesus does not let these leaders off the hook.

He is the protector of his sheep. The protector of his precious words to them…He is the protector of Truth.

but, instead of hearing what he said and hearing the invitation- they instead tried to seize him.

but the shepherd is always in control…his time had not yet come..and so, he escaped their grasp

and in vs 40-42 he goes back across the Jordan- back to the pasture- a moment of refreshment- he knew his sheep were there - he called…they came…they followed…

Principle: Jesus, good shepherd, protects those who follow Him.

-This protection offered by the Good Shepherd does not mean that following the shepherd means an easy life.

Jesus’ protection is deeper- it’s lasting- his protection is eternal.

The shepherd often takes his sheep through deep valleys and difficult places because he knows what is on the other side.

It’s often in the deepest and darkest valleys- where we have nothing left that we hear the shepherds voice the loudest…calling us to Him...

One author said: “Numbered by Jesus, we are led by Jesus, led by Jesus, we are protected by Jesus, and protected by Jesus we are comforted by Jesus”

Are you living under the protection- receiving the comfort of the good shepherd?

IV. Conclusion

If you are a follower of Jesus - one of his sheep- then when you hear good shepherd-you at the same time can say, he is my shepherd...

Sadly- many in this world read Psalm 23, without knowing the shepherd because they have not made the choice to follow Him....

if Jesus is not your shepherd…would you respond to his voice today?…listen to his call…come into his fold?

let him lead you into green pastures…let him restore your soul....

and together, may each and every one of us be able to say with confidence that because we are his we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever...

So let’s end our day today reading Psalm 23 together allowed…

Read Psalm 23 together out loud as our closing prayer...

Psalm 23