Life Through the Good Shepherd: Trusting Jesus' Sacrifice
Journey Through the Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Have you ever felt betrayed by someone you trusted—a leader who promised godliness but crumbled under pressure? I experienced this not long ago when trusted pastors from my Bible college days, men I admired for their faith, acted in hateful, unbiblical ways in a public dispute, shattering my trust. Their voices, once reliable, vanished when things got tough.
In a world of broken promises and fleeting guides, we all crave a leader we can truly depend on.
In John 10:11–18, Jesus declares, "I am the good shepherd," offering Himself as the trustworthy guide we need.
Unlike hirelings who abandon the flock, Jesus sacrifices His life, knows His sheep intimately, and unites them in one fold. This morning, we’ll see how trusting Jesus, the Good Shepherd, transforms our lives with unshakable guidance and unity in a divided world. Let’s read His words and discover why we can trust Him alone.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Having seen our need for a trustworthy guide in a world of fleeting leaders, let’s begin with the first reason we can trust Jesus: He sacrifices His life for us, proving He is the Good Shepherd who never abandons His sheep.
We Trust Jesus Because He Sacrifices His Life for Us
We Trust Jesus Because He Sacrifices His Life for Us
In a world of broke promises and fleeting leaders, Jesus declares..
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
The first point of today’s message centers upon the excellence of Jesus Christ. He is the “good shepherd.” The word “good” in its original language carries a slightly different meaning than our word today. Whenever we say something is “good,” we mean it is better than bad and is a step below something excellent. That is not the meaning here. “Good” in our text and the context in which Christ used it means that it has desirable or positive qualities that are especially suitable for the thing or person specified. In other words,
Christ is a shepherd who is more desirable than the hirelings of this world.
Christ is especially suited to be the shepherd that we so desperately need.
What makes Christ the “good Shepherd?” Christ gives us an obvious answer. He is the “good (desirable and suited) Shepherd” for He is the only Shepherd who willingly laid down His own life for the sheep. History testifies that Christ indeed laid down His life. Biblical history and world history testify to the death of Christ on the cross. I do not know of anyone who disputes the fact that Christ died. Many argue that He rose again. But when it comes to the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary, the evidence is overwhelming. However, one crucial point in Christ’s answer must be underlined and emphasized. Note that Christ repeated that He, the good Shepherd, gave His life for the sheep.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
You see, Christ willingly gave His life for His sheep. No man forced Christ to volunteer.
God Himself did not force Christ to volunteer. No, the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God, God Himself, willingly said, “I will lay down my life for my sheep.” One of the great mistakes we often make when we talk about the events of Christ’s death is that men killed Christ. The claim that they nailed Him to a cross, causing His death. That is not true. Go with me to John’s account of Christ’s death.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Did you see it? At the end of verse 30, Christ “bowed his head, and GAVE UP the ghost.” You see, He is God. His power to live is within Him. To live or to die was His choice. He chose to die. He laid down His life on the cross so that we might live. Christ himself spoke of this power to live or die. He stated even before going to the cross, right here in our text, that He had the power to lay it down and to retake it. Thus, He laid down His life and, on the third day, He took it back again. He indeed is the Good Shepherd.
Why is this important? It is essential because many today try to convince us that they love and care for us and that we need them. In fact, they sell us on the idea that life without them would be meaningless. I am here to remind you this morning that they are hirelings. They are not shepherds, and they are definitely not the GOOD shepherd. Hirelings flee when things get rough and life hits hard. It is not so with our Lord Jesus.
This world is full of people, leaders, superstars, professional athletes, politicians, and religious figures who are all about themselves. One of the things that turns me off to professional athletes is when they begin to brag about how good they are; without them, their sport wouldn’t be what it is today. It is disgusting to hear politicians speak about how wise they are and how they are the saviors of society. Unfortunately, there are far too many people who fall for their lies. Many think that the next great “Mohammad Ali,” or “Mother Teresa,” or “Ronald Reagan, or “fill-in-the-blank of whatever person comes to mind” will be the one who changes this world, making it a better place. Yet, whenever such a person comes along, it is long before we find out they are no different than many others. They are full of promises that are never fulfilled. That is why I am here this morning, pointing you to the One Who will never fail you. He is a good and great Shepherd. He has already proven Himself by leaving the splendors of Heaven, humbling Himself as a man, entering a world that He knew hated Him, and still He went to the cross dying for you and me.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Now, He says to all, “Come to me! I am the good Shepherd. I gave my life for you. I laid it down on the cross of Calvary. In doing so, I am the Good Shepherd and have eternal life. My life for yours. If you believe in me and accept me into your life, I will give you a life with me that will transcend all time.”
He literally “gave up the ghost” for you!
Why trust Jesus as your Good Shepherd? You can trust Him because He gave His life for you. However, there are other reasons given in our text this morning. Here is the next reason we can trust Him.
We Trust Jesus Because He Knows Us Intimately
We Trust Jesus Because He Knows Us Intimately
I love this point. The first point was fantastic. He is the good shepherd, for He gave His life for us. However, this point is just as tremendous. Note now what Christ says...
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Unlike the hireling (the politician, the religious leaders, the Hollywood actress, the social influencer, the professional athlete) who does not care one iota about you, Jesus, on the other hand, knows you deeply.
His knowledge of you mirrors His bond with the Father, who knows Him. This is a meaningful comparison. Consider momentarily how personal the bond is between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are so intricately connected that they know each other more intimately than we could imagine. They are three, but one. Now, consider that comparison to how deeply Jesus knows His own, His sheep.
Let me deviate slightly for a moment here. Christ only knows His sheep. He only knows those who have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. This proven by a number of Scriptures, but let share a couple of them.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Now it can’t be any more personal than that. He knows the very hairs of your head.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
He prays for you. Think about that. The Lord Jesus Christ, even now as He sits on the Father's right hand, is praying for you personally.
Here are a couple of examples of how personally Christ knows His own.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
We have no idea what Nathanael may have been doing under the fig tree, but Christ knew. Why? He knew because He was aware of Nathanael being one of His own. This story is a sober reminder that we cannot hide from Christ. He knows all that we do. He is personally aware of His own.
Here is one last example.
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
I offer this example for one simple reason:
Christ knows you so well that He even knows your weaknesses.
It is quite obvious that Christ knew Simon Peter’s weakness. The amazing thing is that even when He knows our weaknesses, He is praying for us, praying that our weaknesses become our greatest strength.
Here is the application. We can trust Jesus because He knows His sheep. The hireling cares nothing for the sheep. In fact, in our text, the hireling flees when trouble arrives. When the wild beasts come or the robbers and thieves try to break in, the hireling runs as fast and far away as possible. However, Christ does not.
In times of loneliness or doubt, Christ intimately knows us, builds a relationship with us, and helps sustain us through our challenges.
No matter if you came here this morning grieving, angry, discouraged, lonely, frustrated, filled with despair or hopelessness, Christ is the Good Shepherd. He is good because He knows you and is interested in your situation. He offers what no one else can. He can bring comfort beyond what this world offers. He can help calm the storm that surrounds. He can lift you beyond any discouragement. He is there with you, walking through whatever fire you are facing. That is why you can trust Him. When all others abandon or leave us, He is there, loving, sustaining, and helping us.
Let me give you this last bit of encouragement from Peter's life. You may recall that Peter made a huge mistake during Jesus' trial leading up to Christ’s death. He denied Christ three times. Scripture tells us that immediately after denying Christ, the following took place.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
I can only imagine the emotions that overwhelmed Peter in that moment. I suppose he was filled with frustration, angry with himself, discouraged, filled with extreme despair, and loneliness. We know that after Christ’s death and resurrection, Peter gave up following Christ and returned to his old fishing life. Most likely, he felt that his denial of Christ resulted in Christ no longer wanting him as His disciple. However, the demonstration of Christ as the Good Shepherd shows how much different He is from the hireling. Yes, the hirelings of this world would have abandoned Peter and justified Peter’s denial as a cause. Yet, what do we find with Christ?
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 15 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.
My point is this: Christ sought Peter, called him by His name, and reminded Peter of how much He, the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loved him. You see, that is who Christ is. He is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life and knows His sheep by name.
Here is one other reason we can trust Jesus.
We Trust Jesus Because He Unites Us in One Flock
We Trust Jesus Because He Unites Us in One Flock
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
One of the most disappointing things about this world is its divisive nature. We see it all around us. People are divided over politics, religions, opinions, and skin color. It is discouraging. Families and communities are separated, and even marriages fall apart because of divisiveness.
Yet, unlike the world, Jesus, the good shepherd, unites us.
He brings us into one fold, and He alone becomes the Shepherd of that fold. This is another thing that amazes me.
As believers, when we accept Christ as our Savior, we become part of His family, His fold, and we belong to His kingdom.
We become brothers and sisters. We are His sheep. We are members of His church. We are partakers in His coming kingdom. Wow, what a wonderful and encouraging thought. Listen to the Holy Spirit’s description of those who choose Jesus as their Shepherd.
We become children and heirs of God.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
We become citizens of Heaven.
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
We become members of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, citizens of a holy nation, and God’s possession.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Of these promises and realities remind us that Christ is better than anything the world offers because He is the One who unites us. The world divides. Christ brings unity. He brings us together and fosters a community, such as the local church, by giving us a vision and purpose beyond what this world offers.
Let’s take the local church as one example. I could give you being part of His family and kingdom as examples, but we don’t have that kind of time this morning. However, let’s consider our local church as a quick and relevant example. Through Christ, we are united in this local assembly. Every person who joins us does so through their belief in Him and the fact that we are called out to accomplish His purpose. As a local church, we are called to know Him, make Him known, serve Him, and connect with one another through Him. He, the good Shepherd, unifies us in purpose and relationship. We all play a part. We are all uniquely gifted in contributing. We are here not to worship one another, but to worship Him. We are here not because we desire to know each other, but because we all strive to know Him. We are here not because we desire to serve each other, but because we want to serve Him. We are here because we are connected. The by-product of our relationship with Him is that we learn to know other sheep in His fold, to help each other bring other sheep into His fold, to assist each other, as sheep, in our service to Him, and we become connected as sheep together through Him as the Good Shepherd. There is unity in Him, never division. It is why the Holy Spirit was unhappy with the local church of Corinth. They were divided because they were serving themselves and were not focused on Christ, the Good Shepherd, who only unifies.
Why should we trust Christ, then? He is the Good Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd, He alone willingly gave His life for His sheep. He not only gave His life, but He also personally knows His sheep and calls them by name. He then unifies His sheep under one fold and personally leads and guides them as the Shepherd of that fold.
How does this help us?
Conclusion
Conclusion
In a world of broken promises and unreliable leaders, Jesus stands alone as the Good Shepherd you can trust.
He laid down His life for you, proving His sacrificial love (John 10:11, 15). He knows you intimately, calling you by name and interceding for you, just as He did for Peter (John 10:14; John 21:15). He unites you with His flock, bringing you into His family and church to counter the world’s division (John 10:16). These truths assure us that Jesus is the only guide who will never fail.
Today, I urge you to trust Jesus as your Savior and Shepherd. If you haven’t accepted Him, receive His love and leadership now. For those who know Him, deepen your trust by confessing one area where you’ve followed unreliable worldly voices—whether a leader, trend, or promise. Bring it to Jesus in prayer this week, asking Him to guide you as your Good Shepherd. Consider joining our membership here at Calvary Baptist Church, where we unite to serve and follow Him.
As you leave, carry this assurance: Jesus loves you, knows you, and will lead you through every challenge.
Like Peter, who found restoration after failure, you can trust Him to never abandon you. Follow His voice today.
