A Shepherd We Can Count on —- in life & death

The Shepherd, Caregiver & Guide We All Need

Bible Passage: John 10:1-22

Summary: In John 10:1-22, Jesus presents Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep intimately and lays down His life for them, contrasting with false shepherds who lead the sheep astray.

Application: This passage reassures us that in a world filled with uncertainty and chaos, we have a trustworthy Shepherd who leads, protects, and sacrifices for us. It encourages Christians to deepen their relationship with Jesus and recognize His voice amidst the confusion of life.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, embodies the ultimate care and leadership over His followers, urging us to trust in Him completely and follow His guidance.

How this passage could point to Christ: This theme consistently reveals Christ’s role as the sacrificial leader and protector of His people, echoing the Old Testament imagery of God as a shepherd in Psalms and Ezekiel. Here, Jesus fulfills the promise of a shepherd who cares and lays down His life for the sheep, establishing His divine authority and love for humanity.

Big Idea: We can trust Jesus as our Good Shepherd because He knows us deeply, cares for us sacrificially, and leads us toward true life, guiding us through every situation we face.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon using Logos, consider exploring the Greek terms used in John 10, particularly for 'shepherd' and 'sheep.' Additionally, look into the Old Testament references that shape the understanding of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, especially in Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34. Investigating the cultural context of shepherding in first-century Judea may also reveal deeper insights into Jesus’ teaching.

INTRO:

There are always certain things we associate with people, both strangers and loved family members. For some people, it is their passion for sports, or science, or their gift of kindness and hospitality. For some, it is the skills that they have in their profession or life calling. Each of us here today, have those deeply embedded thoughts, emotions, and memories. Some of them are even connected to our five senses. And that is so true and perhaps so very emotionally “raw” at times like this.

I don’t know what your special memories or associations when you think of mom, grandma, Mimi or Mary Beth. But mine are related mostly to music and to certain songs. There are several songs that I associate with her. First, the trivial: “Go Cubs, Go” and “Bear Down, Chicago Bears.” I’m not sure of the order. But on a more serious note, the songs that I connect with her are: “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us,” “Jesus Love Me This I Know,” and “How Great Thou Art.” And so with that in mind, I’d like to focus our hearts and minds on Jesus, who was mom’s Good Shepherd throughout her life and who also is ours as those who are His.

1. the True Shepherd Knows us DEEPLY

John 10:11-15

One of the great images of God and of Jesus is that of a Shepherd. It is found throughout the Scriptures, most clearly in Psalm 23 and John 10. Sheep are not like some animals who can survive in the wilderness on their own or in packs. I’ve never read a commentary or heard a sermon that praised the intelligence or courage of sheep. Rather, just the opposite. Isaiah 53:6 summarizes it best:

“All of us, like sheep gone astray, each of us has turned to his/her own way.”

Or as the hymnwriter penned this works, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”

We are sheep without a good and true shepherd before coming to faith.

It remains true for believers: (1) we do not lose their “sheep-like nature,” nor do we (2) “cease to wander off to our own way.” But what changes is WE HAVE A GOOD AND TRUE SAVIOR as believers. What this passage is about in Jesus, we have a true and faithful Savior, a Friend, a Shepherd who knows us better than we know ourselves and even when we wander off and get lost in our own ways, just like before coming to saving faith, His “love never fails.” Jesus, the true Shepherd never gives up, never quits on us. That is part of mom’s life testimony.

Mom’s love for children, especially young children, was part of who she was. She found God’s calling for her early in life. I can only assume she helped out in children’s ministries at church growing up. That translated into becoming a public school teacher, both full-time and substitute most of her adult life. It was very evident in her church involvement with children as a Sunday School teacher, AWANA leader, VBS program leader, and more. And it was so clear in her love for her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.

And so, let us remember her as we hear the song, “Jesus Love Me This I Know.”

2. the True Shepherd Cares for us SACRIFICIALLY

John 10:16-18

Jesus’ declaration as the Good Shepherd reflects His willingness to lay down His life for our sake, securing our salvation. it is evidence of his self-sacrificial love assures us of His unwavering commitment even when others abandon us. Emphasize how trusting this care brings peace and assurance in our spiritual journey and daily struggles.

Marybeth’s life was shaped by this church. And although it has been known as Evergreen Baptist Church for many decades. But the first name given to this church was “Missionary Baptist Church.” Missions were a huge part of this church’s identity and its DNA. Only the Lord knows how many served in vocational ministry since its founding, how many went into missions personally or vicariously through prayer and support of the dozens of missionaries who came through the doors of this church.

Missions is the core of the Gospel, the Good News. That there is One who loves so sacrificially and completely that He gave his life for us. And while He died on the cross, it was not for his sins that He died. He died for ours. And just as an aside, if Jesus, the second person of the Trinity died, that teaches us something important about death. Death is NOT a cessation of existence because God cannot die. It is a “change of venue” from this earth’s most significant and meaningful relationships and activities to an “afterlife.”

3. the true Shepherd leads us to TRUE LIFE

John 10:9-10, 27-30

As the good and true Shepherd, Jesus guides us into a life abundant with His love and grace. It’s easy among all the noise of life to lose the perspective that we were made for more than just this life. The very fact that we are here, that we grieve should be an indicator that deep down inside of us, we want our lives to have real meaning, real purpose, something that goes beyond time and space. Deep down, we hope and desire that there is more to this life on this earth, however long it is, however many good experiences we have. We desire MORE. While MORE is beyond our reach or capabilities, it is NOT beyond the power and good gifts that our God has for us, if we are willing to give up the controls of our life and receive Jesus as the TRUE Shepherd who leads us TRUE and EVERLASTING LIFE.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 10

I am come that they might have life, and … more abundantly—not merely to preserve but impart LIFE, and communicate it in rich and unfailing exuberance. What a claim! Yet it is only an echo of all His teaching; and He who uttered these and like words must be either a blasphemer, all worthy of the death He died, or “God with us”—there can be no middle course.

Jesus the True Shepherd crosses all cultural , social, economic, racial barriers. There are NO barriers with Jesus. He goes to any length to rescue and care for His sheep. Jesus unites us in His flock, in His family, offering hope and everlasting life and salvation.

That was the belief, the sure hope that sustained mom because as a 5 year old, with a Sunday School teacher named Pearl Clark, with child-like faith, she invited Jesus into her heart. And Jesus NEVER left her. And so on March XX, 2025, Jesus called her name and took her home, to her real home, to her eternal home.

Mom, Mary Beth’s lifelong desire and prayer would be this? Jesus IS The Good and True Shepherd. Which shepherd are you following? Because if it’s not Jesus, you are following something or someone, some idea, some concept, or are you just wandering like sheep do? On your own or with your besties.” Are you listening for his voice? Have you heard it in the past?