John 10 - The Good Shepherd
What's a good to see all of you? Me. Go ahead and pray before we jump into God's word.
Father, I pray that you would open our hearts and Minds to receive your word now.
We need you to work in our hearts. Because without you, my words are useless. I certainly can't change anyone's heart for the better by my own effort least of all my own heart.
Father, we want to be changed into the likeness of your son. In righteousness and holiness. And love and forgiveness. And we need you to do that.
To please father. Come in and use the preaching of your word to accomplish this. We thank you and praise you in Jesus name, amen.
Do you ever wonder why people join gangs?
The outside. It seems kind of Foolish kind of like why would anyone do that? But from the inside, it's a little different story. I don't know this from personal experience, but I imagine, it's something kind of like, Joining a yacht club or a bocce ball league.
People gravitate to these kinds of groups. Because they offer a sense of belonging.
A sense of being known and knowing others.
All these different kinds of groups in the world are all led by people who don't really care. About the people in the group, though.
They're all led by people who only really care about themselves.
Sometimes there are people in these groups that don't really belong in the groups in the first place.
I think of the guys who try out for the voice or American Idol, they can't carry a tune in a bucket.
Well, I'm selfish leaders and followers who don't be long. Their real problem. The world offers a false sense of belonging. Apart from the church.
It entices Believers away from the church to follow bad leaders, bad Shepherds. And people join the church for a sense of belonging, kind of like a a gang or Social Club. But sometimes they aren't really Christians to begin with. Starfall sheep.
Because of the prevalence of bad Shepherds and false sheep. We need Jesus to give us discernment to reject them and embrace him as a good shepherd. And Jesus does this in our past is here in John chapter 10, he describes his relationship with his sheep and then John describes Jesus. His interaction with bad Shepherds and false sheep or strangers. and John places these two accounts back-to-back, so that we will see The very obvious difference between them and respond accordingly. The first Jesus describes, the relationship of the shepherd and his sheep in verses 1 through 21. This relationship is kind of one-sided. The shepherd takes all the risk, does all the work and the Sheep don't really contribute, anything of significance. But we're actually more interested in how the shepherd interacts with his sheep and how his sheep interact with him in this relationship. Christian verses 1 through 6, a beautiful relationship of belonging and intimacy.
Verses 1 through 6, say truly truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the Sheepfold by the door. But climbs in, by another way, that man is a thief and a robber but he who enters by the door, is The Shepherd of the sheep to him. The gatekeeper opens, the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own Sheep by name and leave them out. When he's 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. This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
The shepherd belongs in the Sheepfold. And he intimately knows his sheep. Likewise the Sheep belong with the shepherd and no one else. And they intimately know their Shepherd. This is a beautiful relationship of intimacy and belonging. But why is Jesus saying this year? Jesus had just killed a man. Who was born blind to display the glory of God in that miracle. And that man have been turned out of the synagogue for defending Jesus before the religious leaders though, he didn't know it was Jesus at the time. And then Jesus revealed himself as the Christ to that man and the religious leaders began questioning him. The Jesus is here, explaining his relationship with people who believe in him like this man. And how different that relationship is from how the religious leaders had treated him and his family in the previous chapter, the religious leaders obviously do not have any love. For people who believe in Jesus. They do not belong in the Sheepfold. And they do not know the Sheep. Those actually good thing for the man born blind to be put out of the synagogue. I can see if he's run away from the stranger and he's run to his Shepherd Jesus. It's actually a pretty amazing thing. How sheep recognize the voice of their Shepherd. I heard a story once of two Shepherds that met in the countryside one. Shepherd and colored all of his sheep with a blue spot and the other had colored all of his sheep with a red spot. Nice Shepherds were talking about whatever Shepherds talk about. And the Sheep began mingling so that soon they were all a jumbled, mess of red dots, and blue dots. After the Shepherds went their separate ways. They walked ahead of their individual flocks and each called to their sheep.
And wouldn't, you know it they all began to follow the voice of their Shepherd. And not one blue. Was found among the red and not one red. Was found among the blue.
How does that happen? How does sheep learn to recognize the voice of their Shepherd?
How can we learn to recognize the distinct voice of Our Shepherd? Jesus,
The answer. Is multiple exposures over time.
Kind of like how bank tellers are trained to spot counterfeit bills. They spend every moment of their workday handling the genuine currency. So that when the counterfeit shows up, it's glaringly different from what they've been used to handling all day long.
Sheep spend their entire lives, listening to the voice of their Shepherd as he leads them. Feed them cares for them and protect them. The associate his distinct voice with those things that he does for their benefit. When I get used to his voice because it's constantly in their ears from the moment that they are born. And we can learn to hear Jesus's voice above the din of voices, clamoring for attention. By spending every waking moment, listening to him. As he leads us. And feeds us and cares for us and protect us. We do this by reading and listening to his word, the truth of who he is, and how he loves and cares for us.
Can you hear the voice of Jesus?
Can you hear him in the pages of scripture?
Listen to it. Steep yourself in it. Find comfort and care for your soul in it. Because Jesus, loves and cares for you and every page of scripture shouts that love like a trumpet blast.
In fact, that love that sacrificial, love is the next thing. Jesus talks about in the relationship between the sheep and the, and the Shepherd in versus 7221
So Jesus again, said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep all who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the Sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and we'll 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. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd, lays down his life for the Sheep. He was a Hired Hand and not a Shepherd who does not own. The Sheep sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and fleas and the Wolf, snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he's a Hired Hand and cares, nothing for the Sheep. 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. 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 down and I have authority to take it up. Again, this charge I have received from my father There was again a division among the Jews because of these words, many of them said, he has a demon and is insane. Why I listened to him. Others said, these are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon Open, the Eyes of the blind.
Did the religious leaders didn't understand when Jesus was telling them?
Usually Jesus would teach in Parables so that the truth of God's kingdom would be hidden from unbelievers. but this time, this time Jesus wanted these unbelieving religious leaders to get it. So, he explained the sacrificial. Love, the shepherd, has, for his sheep in contrast, to thieves, and in contrast to hired workers. Jesus is the door in contrast to thieves and robbers. Now, these thieves and robbers, all who came before Jesus. Are these religious leaders who had made such a mess of the law. Are there added rules and regulations and their hypocrisy. They're essentially trying to steal God's people away from him. The door is the proper way to go in and out.
Jesus is the only way to be a part of his flock. And when you're part of his flock, he takes care of you, he saves you. You can go in and out and find pasture. Gives you life Abundant Life.
But the thief only wants to steal kill and destroy. you see, Jesus, the door sacrificially gives himself out of love for you so that you may have life and access to his provision for salvation and for whatever you may need,
But the thieves the religious leaders. Only care about themselves.
When Jesus makes another comparison of the sacrificial love of a good shepherd and unloving self-preservation of a hard worker.
This is where I see Ezekiel 34 fitting in perfectly.
These religious leaders are the bad Shepherds. You were eating the Sheep, rather than caring for them. Jesus says that he is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the Sheep.
I want you to catch this in Ezekiel. God said that he would be the shepherd of his people.
Jesus is claiming to be God here by saying that he is the Good Shepherd.
He also explains his sacrificial, love to show how much he values his sheep.
Picture of the scene, a shepherd and a hired worker are both watching over separate blocks in the same area. A pack of wolves shows up for a buffet and they're going to tear apart anyone who gets in between them and their lunch. The Hired worker says to himself. I don't get paid enough to risk my life for these sheep. I'm out of here.
But the shepherd says to himself. I love these sheep. They are worth risking my life for them.
So the shepherd stays and fights off the Wolves. Now the shepherd didn't just throw his life away. He risked his life. So that his sheep might live because they're valuable to him. That's the point. It's an illustration of the love. Jesus has for us and the worst key places on us.
Because I want to explain the reality of this illustration. Again, Jesus says I am the Good Shepherd but this time This time he explains the depth of his intimate love for us and the lengths, he would go to save us. Look at what he says in verses 14 and 15.
He says, 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.
He knows his sheep. He knows us. Just like, he knows the father. And how the father knows him.
This is a depth of intimacy that the world has never seen never understood. The Trinity shares the most intimate relationship and that intimacy is extended to us his sheep.
is people who have faith in him even to us, gentiles That's what he says, Jesus says that he has other sheep. Not of this fold, that's us.
The Sheepfold, he's talking about his Israel but he will bring in Gentiles through the same sacrifice. Nepal talks at length about this in the second half of Ephesians 2 but he sums it up nicely in Ephesians 36. He says this mystery is at the Gentiles. Our fellow heirs members of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus Through The Gospel. we get to be a part of his flock to and all because Jesus laid down his life for all of us. So that we would all be one flock with one Shepherd,
The depth of Jesus's intimacy with us as our Good Shepherd, is the same as his intimacy with the father and the lengths. He would go to save us. Would be death. He laid down his life for us.
Jesus says that this is why the father loves him.
God, the Father loves God the son because the love they share doesn't stay between them. It overflows to us.
How does that love? Jesus laid down his life like a good shepherd.
Sin and death had their Hungry Eyes trained on us, but Jesus placed himself between us and that threat.
he died on the cross so that we wouldn't have to
But he couldn't stay dead because he's God. He has authority to lay down his life and he has authority to take it up again. See, Jesus is foreshadowing the cross and the empty tomb.
That hasn't happened yet.
These religious leaders he's talkin to. They don't know that. They can't know that. So, they moved from confusion to division. Jesus clarified, his Shepherd illustration, but because it was based on future events People thought he was crazy.
But others Place more weight on the Miracle. He had just done in the previous chapter, then on his seemingly crazy illustration. Now, it's not crazy to us. Because we have the benefit of hindsight. We get to read ahead. And see how Jesus is illustration was the perfect explanation of how he would die and Rise Again, to pay our penalty and secure, our eternal life in his family and his flock forever.
Do Jesus explained through an illustration about the intimate and loving relationship. He has with his people. The relationship of the shepherd and his sheep. Now, let's look at vs22 242 to see the interaction of the shepherd and strangers. You see the way Jesus interacts with these religious leaders is very different from how he interacts with those who truly believe in him. Jesus was patient. And loving with Sinners, who humbly came to him to be saved.
But the religious leaders were full of Pride and hypocrisy and Jesus was short and condemning of their unbelief because they were the strangers, the thieves, the hired workers, who only love themselves. They were the bad Shepherds who ate and Scattered God's sheep.
The religious leaders respond to Jesus here in rejection and unbelief which culminates in selfish hostility. As Jesus interacts with his people in belonging and intimacy. So these strangers interact with Jesus in rejection and unbelief. John 10, 22 through 30. At that time, the Feast of dedication took place a Jerusalem, it was Winter and Jesus was walking in the temple in The Colonnade of Solomon. 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. 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. But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me. 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 and no one is able to snatch them out of the father's hand. I and the father are one
now, about 2 months have passed, Since Jesus had his last hostile encounter with the religious leaders, after the Feast of booths. Back in chapter 8, and then Jesus healing the man, who was born, blind and chapter 9, and his illustration of the Good Shepherd that we just looked at that happened, not long after the Feast of booths, But now it's the Feast of dedication. Also known as Hanukkah. In the dead of winter. It's probably raining. So it makes sense for a whole bunch of people to be crowded under the roof of Solomon's Colonnade. And Jesus was walking there and a group of these religious leaders, surrounded him and began. Badgering him about whether or not he was the Christ. How long will you keep us in suspense?
That is phrase in Greek is actually woodenly translated how long will you take away our life?
It's an idiom. The sort of illustrates how consumed these religious leaders were by the question of whether or not Jesus was the Christ. All the conversations all their thoughts. All their lives were bent toward finding the answer to that question. Their lives were taken up by that Pursuit. And this is a very important question to answer. Problem. The problem is that Jesus had already clearly answered that question for them and they refused to accept his answer.
So, Jesus answers the question again, but he does so explaining why they didn't get it before and why they will continue. Did not get it.
Jesus already told him that he's the Christ and the works that he does bear witness about him.
That sounds a lot like John chapter 5.
I Think Jesus was referring back to that interaction with the same religious leaders. Back in John 5 verse 36, he says, but the testimony that I have is greater than that of John for the works that the father has given me to accomplish the very works that I am doing bear witness about me that the father has sent me in a few verses later and 39 and 40. He says you search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life and it is they the bear witness about me yet. You refuse to come to me that you may have life. You see these religious leaders. These strangers did not refuse to believe because of a lack of information.
The problem is more fundamental.
They couldn't be argued into believing because they were predisposed not to believe.
the same way with, Everybody really apart from Christ. We just won't decide to believe in him.
That seems kind of like a catch-22. Write only Christians believe in Jesus. But you have to believe in Jesus, to become a Christian.
Like which came first the chicken or the egg, right? But that's kind of the point. The Catch-22 is kind of the point because there's nothing that we can do to save ourselves.
Left to our own devices. We're hopelessly lost. Locked out of this Catch 22.
The only way to be saved, is for Jesus, to make you one of his sheep, rather than a stranger. For the preaching of his word and the work of the Holy Spirit. Only then will you believe and be saved from sin and death brought into the catch-22? The Jesus explains that these religious leaders don't believe because they are not of Jesus's sheep. then Jesus goes on to tell them exactly what they're missing out on
The implication is that the opposite is true for these religious leaders. And it might be true. Love you, too.
Jesus is sheep. Hear his voice.
Are you deaf to Jesus's calls?
Jesus is sheep know Jesus, and he knows them. Are you a stranger?
Jesus is sheep follow him.
Are you following the lies of the world? The lies of Satan.
Jesus is sheep have eternal life and will never perish.
Are you awaiting Eternal separation from God and hell because of your sin?
Jesus is sheep will never be snatched out of his hand. Are you lacking comfort and security?
Will Jesus bases. His claim for the security of his sheep on the security of God? The father is sovereignty.
And then Jesus makes a very bold claim that was sure to stir up these religious leaders. He says, I and the father are one
I and the father are one.
With that statement, he's claiming to be God. Very similar to how we did back in. John 8:58, where you said, truly, truly, I say to you before Abraham, was I am.
I'm both there and here the responses, the same.
Did Jesus is sheep the reality of his deity and his Selfless Love produces worship. Like the man who was born blind, But as real seeing verses 31 to 42 to strangers, it produces selfish hostility. Don't n3142 says, the Jews picked up stones again to Stone him. Jesus answered them. I have shown you many good works from the father for which of them. Are you going to Stone me? The Jews answered him. It is not for a good work that we are going to Stone you but for blasphemy because you being a man make yourself, God Jesus answered them. Is it not written in your law? I said you are God's. If he called them Gods to whom the word of God came and scripture cannot be broken. Do you say of him? Whom the father consecrated and sent into the world? You are blaspheming because I said I am the son of God. If I'm not doing the works of my father, then do not believe me. 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. Again, they sought to arrest him but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John have been baptizing at 1st and there he remained and many came to him and they said John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true and many believed in him there.
So they pick up stones to kill Jesus. Right there in Solomon's Colonnade on the temple grounds.
This is now the second time and John's record that the religious leaders tried to kill Jesus in this way. They tried to do the same thing back in chapter 8. And here they are again. Picking up stones to Stone him to death because he said something they didn't like
This time, Jesus asked them why they're trying to kill him though. Not because he didn't know, he absolutely, no, because he knows what is in man. And we saw that back in John 224 225 No, he wants them to think about what they're doing and to help them think through it a bit. They're trying to kill him because of what he just said. He claimed to be God. They think it's blasphemy and for any mere man, it would be A Jesus is not just a man. Is the god, man.
They don't believe that.
They've already decided that he is lying. And they're ignoring the evidence because they're not of Jesus's sheep.
the Jesus, argues his case with them, by appealing to scripture, he says, is it not written in your law
It's interesting. You says you're not the law. He sort of distances himself from it for some reason. But it's also interesting that the part of scripture that he cites as your law is from the Psalms, not from the Torah. The first five books of the Old Testament, commonly called the law besides psalm 82:6. Which in contacts refers to angels in the Divine Council. I got the father said you angels are gods. So Jesus is argument is not that men are referred to as little G God's, but that Angels God's Messengers are called. And he's the ultimate messenger. From the father. You see it's a lesser to Greater argument, similar to the beginning of the book of Hebrews. Jesus is better than the angels. Psalm 82 calls, the Angels little G God's but Jesus is actually Big G. In the Flash. And The Works. Jesus has been doing well and will continue to do bear witness to that fact whether they believe it or not, you see it's objectively, true. That's what Jesus is getting at here. Believe the works. It's objectively true and they would do well at the very least to recognize that the works. He does are from the father Whether they believe his claim or not. What was argument at least stayed their hand from stoning. Him. Right? Then and there but they did still try to arrest him. They tried and failed. Again. John doesn't give us any more details on how Jesus evaded arrest in the crowded Colonnades, but he does tell us that he went back to where his gospel accounts started.
Across the Jordan to where John the Baptist was baptizing. It first And people came to him and reasons that John did no sign to prove, his claim to be sent from God, but they still believe John. And everything that John it said about Jesus had come to pass. You see that was the test of authenticity for a profit. If what they said came to pass, then they were a true prophet. And everything that John had said had come to pass. So he must be a true prophet. and he said that Jesus was the Christ there for Jesus must be the Christ, these country folk got it because they were of Jesus's sheep. Other religious leaders in Jerusalem, refused to connect the dots because they were not of Jesus's sheep. The Jesus showed us what a relationship with him looks like as our Good Shepherd. We belong with him and he with us and we intimately know him and he knows us. And all of this is because he loved us enough to lay down his life at the cross. So that we wouldn't have to die for our sin and he took his life up again, 3 days later so that we could spend eternity with him.
and Jesus also showed us what his interaction with strangers looks like Those who are not his sheep, reject him and unbelief. And he likewise rejects them. And that rejection and unbelief results and selfish hostility.
So, there are two positions that we must consider now. The believer and the unbeliever.
If you're one of Jesus is sheep, if you believe in Jesus for the Forgiveness of your sins, then trust your Good Shepherd to be good and to do good. Even when it doesn't feel like it.
Daily hourly. Moment-by-moment listen to the voice of your Good Shepherd. That way, you'll know when a stranger's calling and you can run away back to your loving Shepherd.
And remember, how much?
Your Good Shepherd loves you.
He laid down his life for you.
So that you may have life and have it abundantly.
This world is full of false sheep. Bad Shepherds that all want to lead you astray. So listen to the voice of Jesus in scripture telling you how much he loves you and trust him to lead you and care for you better than anyone else.
now, if you're not a believer,
then consider what you're missing.
Only Jesus is sheep. His people Believers, listen to Jesus's voice. No, Jesus follow Jesus have eternal life in Jesus and we'll never be lost. You see, unless you believe you cannot know the love of Christ, you cannot keep his voice. You cannot follow him in righteousness, you cannot have eternal life. And you cannot have any real sense of security, in life, and especially in death.
Apart from faith in Christ. You're just like these religious leaders who wanted to kill Jesus. Just because they didn't want to hear what he had to say. Stop resisting the truth. Stop fighting against the Good Shepherd. Stop trying to get in another way. Just stop. And believe.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
He is the door. He is the son of God. His flock enjoys eternal life security. Peace love, joy. Hope.
Those not in, his flock are doomed to a self-inflicted Eternal separation from God, hostility hatred, pain, and fear.
If you want to be in his flock, you got to go through him. Believe in him, believe what he has said. He is the Son of God who died on the cross to pay for your sin so that you wouldn't have to. And then he rose again on the third day, securing your eternal life. All you have to do is believe and submit to him as your Good Shepherd.
Father, thank you for sending your son. MPR Good Shepherd. To lay down his life for us.
Thank you for loving us and caring for us. Lord, you know us. Intimately, you know all things.
you know, us to our very core because you made us You know, the depth of our sin. But you love us anyway.
you sent your son Jesus to pay for our sins so that we could know you even as you know, us
Are the your sacrificial. Love is more than any of us can really comprehend. Pray that you would reveal more and more of that love every day from now to Eternity.
Probably, there are lots of people in this world who are not your sheep. I pray that you would give us boldness and compassion to share the good news of what Jesus has done on the cross so that they might become your sheep and Believe by the power of your Holy Spirit.
We ask all this in the name of our Good Shepherd. Jesus Christ. Amen.
