John 10 Shepherd
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Text: John 10:1-18
CIT: Jesus, the promised Shepherd Protector of God’s flock, giving His life for the sheep so they may have life in Him, safe from every thief, predator, and hireling.
A Psalm of David.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
When David wrote “The LORD is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1), he wasn’t giving us a quaint Hallmark picture — he was declaring something deeply personal and profoundly theological. In Israel’s collective memory, Yahweh Himself was the Shepherd of His people (Psalm 80:1; Ezekiel 34:11–16).
Every Jewish child would have grown up knowing:
They were part of Jehovah’s flock.
They were sheep — dependent, vulnerable, in need of guidance.
Their Shepherd’s promises were sure and personal.
So when Jesus stands before the Pharisees in John 10 and says, “I am the good shepherd,” He isn’t offering a metaphor — He is claiming the identity of Yahweh Himself, stepping directly into the role David described. And He presses that image further:
The Good Shepherd doesn’t merely guide — He gives His life for the sheep.
The Good Shepherd knows His sheep and calls them by name.
The Good Shepherd is the Door — the only way in to safety and life.
To the Jews, this was not soft poetry. It was a seismic claim. Jesus was not just inviting them to trust Him — He was demanding they see Him as the long-promised Shepherd of God’s people.
CIT: Jesus, the promised Shepherd Protector of God’s flock, giving His life for the sheep so they may have life in Him, safe from every thief, predator, and hireling.
The Shepherd is Good…
Jesus uses the word Good to set himself apart from the hireling. But David can’t help but point out the goodness of the Shepherd.
The Shepherd knows His Sheep…
John 10 is written with the assurance of personal knowledge. It is written from the point of view from the Shepherd. While Psalm 23 is a Sheep looking with his limited point of reference to try to understand the Shepherd.
Jesus speaks about his love for the sheep while David writes about getting to receive the love.
But sheep have no “homing instinct” as other animals do. They are totally incapable of finding their way to their sheepfold even when it is in plain sight. By nature, sheep are followers. If the lead sheep steps off a cliff, the others will follow.
The shepherd would lead the sheep to safe places to graze and make them lie down for several hours in a shady place. Then, as night fell, the shepherd would lead the sheep to the protection of a sheepfold.
Distinguishing characteristic…
The Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
You find no other entity that promises this.
The Religion of the Day would do no such thing.
It was a system built on who was the best and how much better they were than everyone else. We have our own religions today.
We have as a country seen our generations favorite religion on full display. That is the religion of Wokeness. We see that it has
Rituals Those who are out.
Meetings Beliefs
Dogma Ostrization
Those who are in
Religion will not give itself up for you.
Government - will give your children’s lives.
Culture - will not give itself up for you.
Jesus Warns about he Hireling. The hireling is different it won’t give its life for the sheep it will take off as soon as something looks fishy. The warning is that you can put your hope in something that will not be there for you when it all comes after you.
The danger outside the fold.
One summer, a tour group in Israel was making their way through the Judean countryside when their guide paused to explain how shepherding worked in biblical times. “In Israel,” he said, “the shepherd doesn’t drive the sheep from behind with dogs or shouts — he leads them, and they follow his voice.”
Just then, they saw a man walking behind a flock, hitting them with a stick to keep them moving. The guide frowned, jogged over, and came back laughing. “That man is not a shepherd,” he said. “He’s the butcher — and the sheep know the difference.”
The crowd chuckled, but the lesson was clear: sheep can tell the difference between the one who loves them and the one who uses them.
HOW DOES ONE GET IN THE FOLD
One who believes the gospel (Hebrews 11:6) and repents of sin (Luke 13:3) is assured of being in “the fold” and of having entered by “the door.” As followers of Christ, Jesus is both our Shepherd and the Door to the sheepfold who provides for all our needs. Knowing that the world is full of predators whose sole intent is to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8), we are always under His protection. More importantly, we are fully confident that “when the Chief Shepherd appears, [we] will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Peter 5:4).
The way of life for the sheep outside the fold is described as this. Steal, kill, and destroy. So outside the fold for the sheep is a life of loss, death, and destruction. By the way this is so true.
Steal - This is not just the loss of money. Though there are many that will steal from the innocent. but it is a loss of innocence, loss of dignity, and loss of joy. These are stolen on a regular basis. Jesus says that he will never steal these from the sheep.
Kill - please know that sin brings death. It will kill you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Then when it is done it will kill you in hell called the second death.
Destroy - Have you ever seen what sin and false teaching will do to a marriage, to your children, to your home. It is sheer destruction.
vs. 27 Here is what we need to understand about this passage. If you have the Shepherd He gives his life but he also gives you life. The point of this passage is to Sheep to take inventory and be certain that they are infact following the Shepherd.
Are you following the Shepherd?
I shall not want
"I shall not want" - "the LORD is my shepherd" (v. 1).
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
I shall not lack peace and rest -“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters” vs 2
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
I shall not lack direction "He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake"
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I shall not lack security "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (v. 4).
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
I shall not lack the best provision "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows" (v. 5).
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
I shall never lack an eternal home because "Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (v. 6).
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Application
Here’s the reality:
You are in one of two places today — following the Shepherd, or following a terrible substitute. This leaves you vulnerable to the thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.
If you’re in the fold, you have this assurance:
You will never lack anything you truly need (Psalm 23:1; Matthew 6:33).
You will never face danger alone (Psalm 23:4; John 11:25).
You will never be without His guidance (Psalm 23:3; John 14:6).
If you’re outside the fold, understand what’s out there:
Sin will steal your innocence, dignity, and joy.
Sin will kill — not only physically but spiritually, leading to the second death.
Sin will destroy — your relationships, your family, your soul.
