I Am the Good Shepherd- Week 2

I Am the Good Shepherd wk 2 JOHN 10:22-30

INTRODUCTION

ILL-- following in confidence- Tara and I during spring break ten years ago in Atlanta. Following the GPS from Ikea to where we were staying. Took us right through some of the scariest part of Atlanta. The GPS was not going to take a bullet for me.

Who do you follow in confidence?

Religious leaders refused to follow Jesus and yet blame him for it.

John 10:22–30 ESV

22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 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. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Change of Setting from previous verses- but continues same topic.

Feast of Dedication/Lights= Hanakkah

8 Days- 8 lampstands- 1 lit daily.

unlike most Jewish holidays it was allowed to be celebrated at home.

remembers when Judas Maccabeus cleansed and rededicated the new Temple in 164 B.C. after Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Temple which was prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 11:31)

"It is Winter"= time of year (December)- but in John also points to condition of heart.

Solomon's Colonnade= East court- large pillars with roof- more protected- the place to be in bad weather.

Same analogy of sheep used in discussion.

2 Responsibilities of the Sheep

1. Believe the Shepherd (24-26)

John 10:24 ESV

24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

"Tell us plainly"=

Hanukkah was about looking to the future coming of a political messiah. The lights in lampstands pointed to future Messiah. But what they really wanted was for Jesus to give them a reason to arrest him.

"How long do you intend to annoy us?"

They were asking for clarity of speech-- literally- Be Bold- be brave and say it clear.

Figurative speech was very much a part of their religious training.

They knew but wanted it to be clear to the average follower of Jesus that he was claiming to be God.

They were blaming Jesus for their inability to believe.

They always wanted more.

ILL- men who came to Jesus after feeding of 5,000. - only wanted more food and miracles.

ILL- Being pulled over for speeding and telling officer that having 3 speed limit signs was not enough. It is not the signs fault.

John 20:31 ESV

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We have all we need to believe.

The problem is not what Jesus has told us or shown us. The problem is that we do not like what he is telling us so we ask for him to say it again in a different way until we can manipulate his words to go our way.

John 10:25 ESV

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me,

- He has told us and shown us.

His teachings - I Am Statements

Works- The 7 Signs- Signs all had deeper meanings in order to communication truth.

John 10:26 ESV

26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.

WE cannot believe if we are not his sheep.

We cannot be his sheep unless we believe.

We are called to belief through the Holy Spirit who gives understanding.

John 10:37–38 ESV

37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

(Jesus clearly calls to them to put away unbelief and believe.)

2. Follow the Shepherd (27)

John 10:27 ESV

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

ILL- leading the cousins to explore their new land.

When I came back to them and told them to follow me they returned to the fence. When asked why, they said, because we knew we were safe here and that you would come and find us.

They wanted to feel safe more than follow.

Psalm 23-"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death i will fear no evil."

We must trust the Shepherd to keep us safe. If we do not feel safe it is our own problem with trust.

2 Responsibilities of the Shepherd

1. Know the Sheep (27)

John 10:27 ESV

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

God knows us

Psalm 139:1–6 ESV

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

Psalm 56:8 ESV

8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

Matthew 10:29–31 ESV

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

We can follow him

2. Protect the Sheep (28-30)

John 10:28–30 ESV

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 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. 30 I and the Father are one.”

eternal life- it cannot end. it begins at salvation.

We did not earn it through works and we cannot lose it through works.

Christians are Overcomers

1 John 5:4–5 ESV

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Proof is in the fruit.

2 Peter 2:20–22 ESV

20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

We can live in confidence because God has guaranteed salvation.

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 ESV

21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

God is stronger - he will not let you go.

God and Jesus serve the same purpose- to protect our salvation.

Jesus again boldly and clearly proclaims he is God (31)

John 10:31 ESV

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.

vs 31- They are ready to kill him.

CONCLUSION

Religious leaders responded with hate to Jesus.

How will you respond to Jesus?

Believe and Follow.