The Good Shepherd
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
You know, we, each and everyone of us, need the good shepherd. In need of a savior, whether or not we know it. So often, we don’t realize it, so we lapse in our time and affections of Him, preferring other things instead. This reminds me of a story I heard, it came out about 4 years ago, it was a story about a man in Turkey. You see, he was a bit of a wild one himself, and went out one weekend with his friends drinking and they all found themselves wandering in the woods. Well, he wound up lost and the next day His wife and friends alerted the authorities and they had a group of officers and locals out searching for him. The man, not realizing anything was wrong, woke up one morning and noticed a group of people searching for someone in the woods. Not knowing what was going on, he joined them in their search for this missing person. Some time went on, and when they started calling out his name, he came to realize that HE was the missing person that was in need of rescue. Beloved, don’t be like this one and think that you are not the one needing saving, when it’s clear that you we all do, and we need to rely on The Good Shepherd frequently and often.
Prayer
Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can be more like You, and made more into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all too often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possibly can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. I ask these things for your glory and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.
10 “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them[b] and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Context
Today marks the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Can you believe that, only one more Sunday left after today. So, next Sunday is the last Sunday before Christmas. Isn’t that wild? This year has come and gone so quickly, so much has passed before and away from our eyes this year, so much has happened in each and every one of our lives. However, one constant has remained the same, a truth that Jesus tells us in our text today. That He is the good shepherd, the giver. The enemy, Satan, is the taker and destroyer.
In our text today, the apostle John (the last of the apostles to survive and the only one that did not die a martyr's death, though he did live out his final years in exile, far away from the people and places he would have wanted to be). John was referred to in this book, as Jesus’ beloved apostle, he was one of Jesus’ closest companions, inside the inner 3 of the small group of early church leaders. As one of his closest companions, John got to see and hear things first hand from Jesus that few others got to. As true as that is, it comes with a charge and a duty, to share it and teach it to others.
One lesson that John got a front row seat to was one that all the world was always learning, needing reminding of was that God loves and Satan hates. God gives, but Satan seeks to take, keep, or destroy. So, that means clearly that as followers of Jesus, we must remind ourselves of that fact. Jesus wants us to know and see that Believers follow Jesus and reject Satan. So, lets see that timeless message unfold, let’s jump in and From the text, I want you to see, understand, and apply these truths to your life as you follow The Good Shepherd.
Message
The first truth to see, understand, and apply is that: The Flock hears Jesus’ Voice (1-6).
10 “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
Jesus begins his teaching here to a crowd of brother and sister Jews. He tells them this parable, which reveals to the one who is paying attention truths about Himself. He begins with an illustration that He uses often, regarding shepherds (those, who were often rejected and thought lowly of mankind but were tasked with looking after a flock of sheep) and the sheep in question (who are on their own helpless, not able to defend themselves, not able to make wise decisions, that is they are prone to getting themselves killed without a protector). What’s more, sometimes the sheep bite (harm) their protector and are often unhappy with their shepherd and resist him when he is leading them away from urgent danger.
Jesus draws a line here for understanding, there are shepherds (those that are seeking the good, welfare, and growth of the flock) and there are thieves and robbers (those looking to do harm and diminishing of the flock). The shepherds enter by the right way, for the flock is his, he has no need to hide or withhold as the thief does. The sheep that are wise, know their shepherd's voice, hears it, and runs to it, for the shepherd has proven his best interest is for them, so they will reject the voice of the stranger, but come to the shepherd. They know the shepherd has gone ahead of them, he has found safe ways forward. Jesus taught the crowd this, but they did not catch his meaning.
So then, what was Jesus getting at here? Believers follow Jesus and reject Satan. Satan is coming to get you, so you had better come close to the shepherd who has come in the way that He is supposed to and done as He is supposed. Jesus of course, was speaking about Himself as the shepherd, and anyone who loves God as the sheep, run away from the ones who came in the wrong way. So then, what we need to ask ourselves and search ourselves often about is this, am I listening to Jesus’ voice? Do I spend time in The Word of God so that I can recognize it when Jesus speaks to me? Or am I listening to Satan’s voice, a voice that seeks to demonize you, control you, strike fear, and lead to destruction. Don’t listen to that voice, hear the shepherd's voice, spend time with Him so you can recognize Him, and cast Satan aside.
The next truth to see, understand, and apply is that: The enemy takes, but Jesus gives. (7-15)
7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them[b] and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
The crowd not understanding, Jesus gives them more detail. He tells them, He is the gate for the sheep, all must come to Him for salvation and safety. Those that were called, the sheep reject the enemy, reject the thieves, reject the robbers, reject the people who try to cause harm. However, everyone who comes to Jesus, what He has for them, will find green pasture. The thief looks to bring death, the thief is Satan, he looks to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus does the opposite, He comes and gives life, even more abundant life! Jesus goes on to tell them, He isn’t just any old shepherd, is a good shepherd. He will (and has for us) laid down His own (wilfully chosen to die) for us. The bad shepherds cut and run when it gets hard and scary, and the wolves come and destroy the flock when they leave. Jesus sayes, this is not the shepherd that I am, I am the good one, I know and love my sheep, and they love me, just as I do the Father. I (Jesus) will lay down my life, my wants, my wills, my desires, for The Fathers. I’m God, yet i’m laying my life down for the other person of God, the Father.
Yes, this is the level of Shepherd that Jesus is, He will die, He will put Himself down for the flock; keep in mind believer, Jesus is the one we are to emulate, to try to be like. There is perhaps no better example of not looking that Jesus, then one that seems to befall Baptist churches of any size, of any make and model. That is, we forget that we are to lay down our wants, our desires, for that of Jesus’. Let me give you an unfortunately too common example, almost the textbook one.
You see, in Baptist Church’s we make decisions together as a congregation. However, this is never supposed to be that we make decisions out of our own preferences. Rather, as the redeemed people of God, who are seeking to go about and be about God’s business on Earth, we agree together that God could be in something, so we should try it. That is, we vote yes because through our communion with God and the leading the Holy Spirit, we see that God has given an opportunity, He appears to be in it, so then we agree to go about it. That’s yes, the no is, after prayer, communing God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we agree that God is not at work, this is not an opportunity from Him, so we shouldn’t move in this way. Never should it be, “I like this or I don’t like that.” “I” has nothing to do with it, God’s will has everything to do with it. So, let’s say a church wants to change their carpet. There are 2 good quotes, 1 is for blue carpet and it will cost $900. Another is for red and it is for $1,000. Everyone agrees that they physically prefer that the red carpet and are ready to vote this way, however the church received a letter from a missionary this week, and it tells that great work is happening in a far away land, many are coming to salvation, however there is a need $100 to pay for a years meals for that missionaries family. The God honoring and good choice here is to get the blue carpet, and give the missionary the extra, even if it means you don’t get what you want, because clearly God was at work in one option over another. So then, put aside anything that will destroy. The enemy takes, but Jesus gives. Believers follow Jesus and reject Satan. So then, we should put aside anything that is clearly a mark of the enemy to take, to steal, to kill, and destroy, and instead pick up anything that is clearly Jesus giving life.
Another truth to see, understand, and apply is that: Jesus lays Himself down to The Father’s delight (16-18)
16 But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Jesus goes on to tell them. Listen, I have other sheep out there. More than you see or know about. I must (and we must) go about bringing them in too, so that they can and will know my voice and be saved, rather than destined for destruction. So then, in reality there is one flock (believers) and one shepherd (Jesus). The Father loves Jesus for this reason, because he will lay down His life (hisself, what He would want, what He His flesh would desire) and does so wilfully. He tells them about how The Father has given Him authority to lay down His life (die) and raise it back up again (resurrection). Jesus tells them this, I have received the command to this from God the Father, and I will do so. I will die for the sake of others and come back once again.
Jesus of course did this. He lived His life, and even showed us how His flesh didn’t want to march to the cross (remember how He was at the Garden of gethsemane, very sorrowful and distraught, asking God to not have Him go through with it if it were possible). However, His first and foremost interest was to see that The Father’s will would be done. He loved God’s will more than His flesh’s. So, He allowed Himself to be arrested, humiliated, beaten, blooded, bruised, tortured, and killed. He did this, all to our benefit, all to our salvation. As now through His sacrifice, through His blood, anyone who would accept His offer of salvation will be saved. Praise God and Amen.
Satan does the opposite of this, he uses means of death and intimidation to get what He wants, He whispers quietly and implants secret thoughts. Jesus doesn't do this. What does Jesus do? Jesus lays Himself down to The Father’s delight. We lay ourselves down, Paul calls it dying to self, to Jesus’ delight. Believers follow Jesus and reject Satan. Where then, do each and everyone of us (myself included) need to die to self, put aside our wants and desires, that Jesus can be glorified as we say “Less of Us, and More of You?”
Conclusion
Beloved, go about and understand these truths and apply their timeless lessons to your life. Hear Jesus’ voice, as every sheep in His flock does for their benefit. Know that the enemy takes, the enemy has a heart and will and desire to see anything that speaks to God’s honor and glory destroyed, but Jesus gives to anything that gives God glory. Jesus does this, even to the point of laying down His own life, which is an example we are follow in all things. So then, are you ready to come all ye’ faithful? Do you adore the risen Lord above all other things? If not and where you are weak beloved, I urge you, to repent from any sin that is keeping you down, and believe the gospel, believe that Jesus is Greater than all our fears, for He is the good shepherd and He has promised to provide for and protect all of His own.
With all of that being said, I would be remiss if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God, though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do is accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.
Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can be more like You, and made more into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all too often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possibly can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.
