I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro/Recap:
Intro/Recap:
I AM the Gate- John 10:9-10
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Within the pasture there is fullness of life, salvation, safety
Jesus exposed the Pharisees
The Pharisees thought they were the gate keepers
They kept gate according to the law- “we are disciples of Moses”
Not only were they not the gate keepers but they were thieves and robbers- seeking to steal kill and destroy
The Pharisees thought they could see
They didn’t think they were born blind like everyone else outside of the pasture- “Are we blind too?”
The testimony of those in the pasture is “I was blind but now I see”
Not only is Jesus the gate- through him is entrance into the pasture of life but he is also the shepherd of the flock
What does the Shepherd do?
What does the Shepherd do?
1. Lays down his life for the sheep
1. Lays down his life for the sheep
The shepherd lays down his life
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Pastors as shepherd
Pastors as shepherd
The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, within the truth of Jesus’ statement about himself I learn something about myself as a pastor- I am NOT The Good Shepherd
Here is the charge given to pastors
shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
“When the chief shepherd appears...” pastors are shepherding sheep
We are hired hands, we are going to let you down, disappoint you etc. because we are human and because we are not the Good Shepherd
The biggest indicator of this truth is, as Jesus explains, our willingness/ability to lay our lives down
Asked the question in Jr. High youth what does it look like to be a disciple of Jesus- some responses were along the lines of- being willing to give your life up for someone else- anyone else? Well maybe not just anyone
Here is the reality I might be willing to lay my physical life down for you but even if I did I might save your physical body but I can save your soul
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep, and His death and resurrection bring eternal life
2. Protects his sheep
2. Protects his sheep
Practically speaking a shepherd keeps his sheep from external harm- lions, bears, wolves, cliffs etc.
The Good Shepherd provides protection from eternal harm
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
3. He knows his sheep
3. He knows his sheep
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
The Good Shepherd knows his sheep, but that knowing is reciprocated by the sheep- the shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know him
His sheep know him
His sheep know him
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
How do the sheep know who the shepherd is- by his voice
Here comes Jesus- the word became flesh, Emmanuel, the Messiah, the Light of the world- he is speaking and teaching and performing miracles- his voice is going out, his message is being spoken and some are following- but not all
How do you know you are a sheep- if you follow His voice
“If you don’t follow ever you never were and if you do follow you always were”- Piper
4. The shepherd seeks lost sheep
4. The shepherd seeks lost sheep
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
Not of this fold in its immediate context would be the Jewish fold, but Jesus I have other sheep from outside the Jewish fold and I MUST bring them also
How are they brought?- By his voice, and when they hear his voice they WILL come
How does this happen today?- How are they brought?- His voice, the Word of God- its me preaching, its you speaking, they are brought by His voice
So there will be ONE flock, One shepherd
Revelation 5:9–10 (ESV)
And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
The story of the Muslim man who became a christian I heard on the radio
Closing
Closing
Those whom the Father chose for himself, he also gave to the Son.
And for those who belong to the Son, he also laid down his life.
And those for whom he laid down his life, he also called to himself.
And those whom he called heard his voice and followed him.
And to those who followed him, he gave eternal life.
And those to whom he gave eternal life can never be taken from his hand.
And there will be one flock and one shepherd forever.