The Relationships of the Shepherd

Introduction:

Charles Spurgeon once said, “A sheep is one of the most unwise of creatures. It will go anywhere except in the right direction. It will leave a fat pasture to wander into a barren one. It will find many ways but not the right way. It would wander through a forest and find its way through ravines into the wolf’s jaws but never by its wariness turn away from the wolf. It could wander near his den, but it would not instinctively turn aside from the place of danger. It knows how to go astray, but it does not know how to come home again. Left to itself, it would not know in what pasture to feed in summer or where to retire in winter.”

This is why you and I are called “sheep” and why we so desperately need a shepherd. In John chapter 10 and verse 14 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Do you know your shepherd well, or is your knowledge more of a surface knowledge? Today, let us think about the relationships we have to our shepherd and how that should inform our daily walk with him.

I. The Shepherd Is Related to His Flock (Jn 10:7-11; Mt 16:18)

Explanation: Today we call this flock, “The Church.”

Quotation: “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (Jn 10:7–11)

Quotation: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18)

A. What God has done for us, we can share with others in evangelism (Mt 28:18-20)

Explanation: As part of a flock, each member of the flock shares certain common things, most particularly their relationship to the shepherd. As God’s sheep, we can and should share that common relationship to others. In fact, God has commanded us to do so.

Quotation: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mt 28:18–20)

B. What God has done for us, we can share with others in edification (2 Co 1:3–4; Ro 15:1–6; Gal 6:1)

Explanation: Because salvation is an ongoing, unending relationship with Jesus, our mission of sharing with others in the flock does not stop at their conversion. Rather our mission continues as we help in their sanctification through helping to edify them.

Quotation: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Co 1:3–4)

Quotation: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ro 15:1–6)

Quotation: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Ga 6:1)

II. The Shepherd Is Related to Each Member of His Flock (Ps 23:1)

A. What God has done for others gives us encouragement and confidence in our election (Lk 15:1-7; Jn 4:1-30; Acts 9:1-16; 16:1-34)

Explanation: God is personally interested and accountable for making sure that each of his sheep has everything they need to understand and accept his good news of salvation. God himself is ultimately responsible for the salvation of every one of his sheep no matter the instrument used in drawing that one to salvation.

Quotation: “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Lk 15:1–7)

Illustration: Conversion of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (Jn 4:1-30)

Illustration: Conversion of Saul (Acts 9:1-16)

Illustration: Conversion of the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:1-34)

B. What God has done for others gives us encouragement and confidence in our endurance (Mt 18:12–14; Jn 10:27–29; 21:15–19)

Exhortation: God not only used the parable of the lost sheep in the context of bringing people to salvation. He also used that parable in the context of bring backslidden Christians to repentance from sinful habits back into useful service and unhindered fellowship within the church.

Quotation: “How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” (Mt 18:12–14)

Quotation: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (Jn 10:27–29)

Illustration: Restoration of Peter (Jn 21:15-19)

Quotation: “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.” (Jn 21:15–19)

Conclusion:

The Lord is my shepherd. This is what I want you to remember most today. Yes, the Lord has an entire flock, but his attention to the flock can never cause him not to pay attention to you alone, as if you are that one sheep out of the ninety-nine who needs his special attention. Charles Spurgeon put it this way, “He who counts the stars and calls them by their names is in no danger of forgetting his own children. He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature he ever made, or the only saint he ever loved!”