He is Protection and Pasture. the new has come 12. 8.24

Scripture

John 10:1–10 NIV

“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. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 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. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Pray

What is the good life?

I used to think it was wealth and fame. With a name like John Wayne, I thought I was destined to be a professional athlete, or a politician, or successful entrepreneur. All of that involved a certain level of financial success, big house, blah blah.

Later it was 3 kids, health, probably a certain level of financial stability. I have to tell you, leaving the Christmas event last night with three sugared up and yet not content children, I did not think I was living the good life. The good life is not a grand narrative but a peaceful saturday haha.

We also have this seasonal thing that happens to us where we imagine the good life. Families together and happy. Grandkids running through the house. All of the disfunction somehow evaporated or put on pause. Everything and everyone in it’s perfect place.

Context

When reading through John’s gospel, immediately preceding this text is this back and forth about the healing of a blind man. Some have thought the transition is too abrupt and maybe there was a translation error or something is missing between chapter 9 and 10 but that is a poor interpretation. As a matter of fact, what happens in chapter 9 actually provides the groundwork to understand what Jesus is talking about with all this stuff about being the “gate” and the “shepherd.”

In chapter 9, there is this great scene:

Jesus finds man born blind

There is this great commentary about sin and infirmities....

Healing of blind, Restating “I am light of the world.”

Investigation that includes the man’s parents

This disdain for Jesus and Jesus showing the hypocrisy of the religious people. There are people with sight that are actually blind.

That is the backdrop.

There is three points I want to make this morning from John 10:

Jesus is the Shepherd AND the Gate

The thief is not the devil

Jesus is protection and pasture

Jesus is the Shepherd AND the Gate

This passage in John 10 is intriguing because two of the self-revelatory statements are wrapped up here. They are so intertwined that it is difficult to teach on one and not the other. Jesus is the Shepherd and the gate, they overlap and are intertwined here. I believe they overlap for reason....we do not like them because they mess with our model:

Jesus is the shepherd, and then the undersheperd or watchmen lets him in because he knows his voice but the watchmen opens the gate for him....oh but Jesus is the gate so the watchmen hears Jesus voice coming and opens him, the gate at the same time. Wait what?!

Jesus is the shepherd. He is the one who leads. He is the one whose voice we yearn for and the one that we recognize. He is the one that knows us by name. We want to follow.

Jesus is also the gate.

Look at verse 9 again:

John 10:9 NIV

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Please think about the context again…Jesus is speaking to the religious folks. To be in the flock is to have entered through the gate. There is no other gate.

John 10:7 NIV

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

I know that we do not like to talk about faith as being exclusive....we want it to be wide open and for much of our mission we are called to be relentlessly generous… but when it comes to the message of true salvation lets not get weak knees about declaring the true gate to folks.

I am challenged by this because sometimes we in the church like the idea of shepherd…it is nice. Right leaves the 99 for the 1. Feeds, protects, guides, but other images like the exclusivity of the gate are too much.

He is the shepherd and the gate

The thief is not the devil!

Secondly, the thief is not the devil in this context. It could be you!!! I am just kidding, but again, think about the context. Everything in this context, every commentator, talks about the robbers and thieves as people that are standing around listening to this teaching.

Craig Kenner:

Jewish law distinguished thieves from robbers: the former broke in, whereas the latter often lived in the wilderness and assaulted passersby. Shepherds continually had to guard against losing sheep to either kind of enemy.

Thieves that work their way in, plotting and scheming. Robbers that will harm you just passing by. Unfortunately both can be found around us all the time…even in the church.

Student ministry…a kid did not want to come to church because someone talked about what they wore.

Shepherds in your life must be measured by the shepherd

I dont want to press the analogy too far but here is what I take away from this.....I dont want to let any voice, any teacher, any preacher, anyone to detract how I listen to the shepherd’s voice. Only those that come through the gate get my ear fully....

here is an example: financial planner, but they will not make me compromise.

Medical recommendations, good and true wisdom, but I will not doubt my God

Jesus is protection and pasture

Lastly, Jesus is protection and pasture. He is both. He is the gate of protection. He is the one keeping away the thieves and the robbers. Look at it one more time:

John 10:9 NIV

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Protection:

In the sheep pen there is a narrowing of what you see.... no longer the huge world around, but what is right in front of you. You inside the protection of the shepherd and now you do not have to fear what is going on out there.

Pasture

but also, through Jesus you will find pasture.

Psalm 23:1–3 NIV

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

It is through the gate, it is by the shepherd that you will find abundance, that you will find blessing, that you will find rest, that you will find nourishment.

When you are feeling fearful, retreat into him so that it is only his voice you hear. When its time, we go into pasture with the security of ones following the shepherd.

Marks of the abundant life:

Resurrection not Prosperity

Not prosperity. These disciples by all accounts would not have the life that many of us would choose. These men and women, nearly all of them, would be beaten, ridiculed, betrayed, and murdered. And yet, they found life worth living for. Or better yet, life found them.

Mary Magdalene: demon possessed woman, the disciple among disciples

Peter: betrayer of Jesus. Preached to thousands and saw the church birthed in his day and through him.

2. A life following the Shepherd’s voice

One of the characteristics of the abundant life is also what it is not. It is not one that is full of noise. To hear the shepherd’s voice, we must have margin. The shepherd would have names for the sheep or they would have a unique call for them.

Example for me this week….Recently, I could not hear his voice.

3. Protection and Pasture

I think the Christian life is the experience of both of these realities.

Protection:

The Christian life is not absent of peril. As a matter of fact it is often full of it, but it is not defined by it. Maybe you are here today and you need protection. Follow the Shepherds voice into the safety of the pen. Where only his voice is there. Allowing the other voices to disappear.

Pasture:

Or if you are in a season of green pastures. He desires for you to experience all that is there for you. Acknowledging that he is the provider, the guide, and the sustainer of all things. It is in these season where healing and growth takes place. Where you are invited to share with others.