The “I am,” Statements of Jesus Christ (3)
The “I am,” statements of Jesus Christ • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The gate (John 10:1-10)
The gate (John 10:1-10)
Growing up in a neighborhood as a young child has it’s perks.
(v.3-4)
The shepherd leads his sheep to “pasture,” where they receive nourishment from the grassy fields around them; they are free to graze and be nourish b/c the shepherd protects them/guards them/and leads them. The sheep are content b/c they trust the shepherd—-the shepherd has “proven” himself to the sheep, has become “personally” involved with his sheep (knows them by name), and has persevered with the sheep (has and goes with them).
Sheep, which tend to go their own way, will often times find themselves wandering and going astray—
“Pasture” carries the idea of comfort, care, and rest. If you were to watch a shepherd tend his sheep, you would see this among his flock. In comparing this with Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd,
Sin creates discomfort in our lives—it burdens us with feelings of misery and yokes us our hearts with guilt; in other words, sin weighs on our souls, it weighs us down—
Salvation is rich in God’s mercy and all-sufficient grace; mercy so rich is removes our misery and grace so sufficient if removes all our guilt—which brings comfort to our hearts and souls
Sheep when they wander, do not receive the care they need for their life to be sustained—the longer they wander, the more care they need—their wool becomes overgrown, bugs/insects begin to infest their wool, their hooves break down, they are malnourished—eating of things that are far from the rich nourishment the pasture offers; they will partake of anything to sustain their lives and find care for themselves (sounds like a lot of work)
Many people disagree with this statement, but it’s a statement we all need to hear—we are sheep—we are prone to wander and walk off—we need direction, we need correction, and we need protection—from the enemy and from ourselves. While it’s true the enemy (wolf) may come prowling around a sheep’s pasture, the greatest threat to the sheep—is the sheep.
We do have an enemy, who has come to steal, kill, and destroy—an enemy who prowls around like a hungry lion, seeking to devour (1 Peter). And it is true we must be aware of him—yet the greatest threat to ourselves—is ourselves. Why? Because if you are like me, you don’t need any help when it comes to sin/evil. We are prone to it, it’s the nature we are born with and into; (Psalm 51:3; James 1:14)
What does all this mean? We need the care of the Good Shepherd. We need soul care. We need the wounds of our wandering to be mended and healed. We need the nourishment of the pasture, the nourishment the Good Shepherd provides.
Sometimes—like sheep—we need are legs broken; sometimes, like sheep we need to be carried back to the pasture. Sometimes our wandering has left us so weary, we think we’ve gone too far for the Shepherd to come and find us. But what does Luke 15 teach us? The Good Shepherd will leave the 99 to go after the one. How far will He go? As far as needed. How far is needed? He went to the cross to bring you back, to buy you back.
Why would He go that far? Because He loves His sheep, He’s the Good Shepherd. Did He know who He was going after? Yes! He knew exactly who He was going after when He went to the cross