Untitled Sermon (2)

The Divine Shepherd: Jesus Revealed as God

Bible Passage: John 10:22-33

Summary: In John 10:22-33, Jesus declares His unity with the Father, asserting His divine nature and mission as the Good Shepherd. The passage emphasizes the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, illustrating the claims of His deity and the rejection faced from those who refused to believe.

Application: This passage encourages believers to understand and affirm the divinity of Jesus in their lives. In times of doubt or pressure from worldly views, recognizing Jesus as God can empower Christians to stand firm in their faith, find peace in His protection, and embrace their identity as His sheep.

Teaching: ultimately this portion of scripture can teach that Jesus is not just a great prophet or teacher; He is God incarnate who offers eternal security to His followers. By understanding His divine authority, we can grow deeper in our faith and reliance on Him as our Shepherd.

How this passage could point to Christ: The theme of Jesus being God connects to the wider biblical narrative, with Old Testament prophecies of God as a shepherd and the New Testament's affirmation of Christ's divine nature. His claim to be one with the Father fulfills the promise of God's presence and guidance throughout Scripture.

Big Idea: Embracing the truth that Jesus is God reassures us of His protective shepherding in our lives, calling us to trust Him fully despite opposition.

1. Setting and Skepticism

John 10:22-25

So from the very beginning here we find that Jesus comes to the feast of the dedication.

This Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) commemorated the cleansing of the temple under Judas Maccabeus in 164 BC. After Antiochus Epiphanes had defiled it by sacrificing a pig on the altar of burnt offering. It was celebrated toward the end of December. This is also the present day feast of lights or Hanukkah

But now we see Jesus uses this backdrop to highlight His authority and fulfillments as the Messiah.

Now we come to where we see these jews ask this questions and say hey were tired of waiting if you are going to tell us you are the Christ just do it already

But boy are they in for a big shock in what is to come

Now stop and note for a minute Jesus never point blank says that he is God in black and white but if we pay attention to the context he shows us plainly all over the Gospels

And Jesus affirms this in verse 25

So we have now seen the setting and the skepticism but now I want you to see

2. Security in the Shepherd

John 10:26-29

Here we find a clear distinction Jesus makes between His true followers and those who refuse to believe.

And its interesting how he refers to us as sheep

Those who follow him are his sheep and simply those who dont are not

and its interesting how Jesus refers to us as sheep but I want to read you this quick little article that I found on this topic where it says:

5 ways we’re sheepish people

As a Christian, you have to wonder if God was giggling when he formed these fluffy balls of fur.

Perhaps he made them just so we would see ourselves in a nonthreatening way and realize we too can’t make it without a shepherd.

Check out these five characteristics of sheep and see what I mean.

A: Sheep follow others blindly

Many people say sheep are stupid. Perhaps they are just “challenged.”

I’ll be nice.

For example, I read about a farmer who stretched a rope across the door of a barn and called the sheep out. He let a few sheep jump over the rope as they exited the barn door. He then cut the rope. The remaining sheep continued to jump over the “invisible rope,” not thinking twice.

Here’s another true story: About 1,500 sheep were left unattended for a while. They got scared and started running until they ran off a cliff. The first 400 died while the other 1100 were saved. It turns out the first 400 broke the fall for the remaining 1100.

It’s funny to listen to stories about sheep—until we realize Jesus was talking about us.

We are compared to sheep because we will follow anyone without thinking, we have no sense of direction, and we cannot defend ourselves in times of trouble.

B: Sheep are emotional and recognize the shepherd’s voice

Sheep have a remarkable instinct for knowing the voice of their shepherd as they are emotional creatures. Amazingly, they will fear a stranger’s voice and flee.

Since they are emotional, they also have the ability to build friendships with other sheep.

In fact, they can get anxious, distressed, or feel sad when their sheep friends are gone (dead).

Just like sheep, we get anxious, distressed, and feel sadness. It is important we listen for the shepherd’s voice to keep us calm in times of trouble.

Otherwise, we could be led off by a stranger’s voice and encounter real harm.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

C: Sheep are not meant to carry burdens

You will never see sheep carrying a pack on their back.

Other animals are good for carrying things, but not sheep.

They were not meant to carry a heavy load. In fact, they would be crushed under such a weighty burden.

We were not meant to carry our burdens either.

In fact, we are to give Jesus our heavy load so he can carry it for us.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22a).

D: Sheep will settle for less

When sheep are thirsty, they will stop at a dirty puddle right in front of them instead of going for the clean, still waters ten feet ahead.

Sadly, they are content with filth, so long as it satisfies at the moment. Furthermore, they will stink and never even know it. Truthfully, they lack discernment and judgment and, frankly, don’t know what is good for them.

How many of us have settled for less and not realized there was clean water ten feet ahead?

We are content with filth and don’t know we stink.

This is why we need a shepherd. He leads us to better things and cleans us up when no one else will touch us.

E: Sheep are valuable

Sheep were treated as prized possessions in Jesus’ day.

You were counted a wealthy man if you owned large flocks because they provided meat, milk, and wool. In addition, they produced offspring.

Shepherds made many sacrifices to make sure their flocks were protected. They knew it was their livelihood at stake.

How much more precious are we than smelly sheep?

God compares us to sheep in the Bible because he views us as priceless. So valuable that he was willing to give his life for us.

Why we need a shepherd?

Just like sheep, we have no direction without Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

We lack protection on every side, and we were never meant to carry a heavy load.

Furthermore, we need someone to show us a better way, so we don’t settle for less.

Even though sheep are dirty, smelly, and lack sense, God made them valuable. In fact, they are a symbol of great blessing and prosperity.

Oh, that we would take a lesson from sheep and run to the Good Shepherd who will lead us to the spring of living waters and take care of us forever. In addition, may we truly know our worth as one who is priceless.

furthermore, We find in this section of scripture how Jesus relates us belivers to his sheep and how he is our sheppard. He looks out for us he provides for us and truly he is a good master.

And lastly one thing that I love from this section and its one of my favorite verses in the Bible look at verse 28

Jesus Is our source of eternal life and he looks out for us and he seeks to take care of us but most importantly he is our protector and once in his hands no man no woman no boy nor girl can pluck or snatch you out of the fathers hands

3. Unity with the Father

John 10:30-33

And lastly this morning we come to this section of scripture and Jesus makes a profound statement:

Jesus says simply that him and the father are one

And this upsets the Jews and they take up stones to kill him

but isnt it interesting how they just asked Jesus that if he is the messiah tell them planily and Jesus tells them plainly and says hey look me and my father are one

And the Jews are troubled and Jesus says hey of all these good works ive shown you why do you seek to stone me?

and the Jews say because you make yourself to be equal with God.

And we didnt cover more in this lesson of this chapter but in my mind it feels almost like a pause here before Jesus carries on

But its a good place to stop this morning because I want to make emphasis look at the context Jesus makes this statement of hey me and the father are one

the Jews pick up stones to kill him

Jesus asks why

and they say cause you make yourself out to be equal with God

exactly!

They had it right and they didnt even realize it Jesus is God and still is God.

he never says those words black and white but boy are they plastered all over scripture

my friends this morning we can trust and rely upon Jesus because he is God

my friends what a friend we have in Jesus amen?