The Good Shepherd
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Today we are continuing our study in the book of John. Last week we ended with the Pharisees chastising the man that was born blind because he asked if they were like him, also wanting to become Jesus’ disciples.
Because the Pharisees believed they were spiritual, Jesus says that they will remain guilty before the Lord God.
This morning we will begin our study with verse 1 of chapter 10. So if you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to John chapter 10.
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
A Warning to the “Spiritual”
A Warning to the “Spiritual”
Jesus addresses the Pharisees (the religious leaders of they day and those considered “spiritual” in His day) (v. 1a).
To ways in to influence people (v. 1b):
First, they can enter through the gate.
Secondly, the can sneak in some other way!
Person “b” is identified as a “thief” and a “robber” (v. 1c).
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
Person “a” is identified as the shepherd of the sheep! (v. 2)
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
We are introduced to a third character in the story—the gatekeeper (v. 3a).
The gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, but no one else (v. 3b).
The sheep hear the shepherd’s voice and listen to it (v. 3c).
The shepherd calls his sheep by name (gathering them to himself) (v. 3d).
And leads the sheep out of the sheep pen (v. 3e).
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
The shepherd only brings his own sheep out of the sheep pen (v. 4a).
The shepherd goes ahead of his sheep to lead them (v. 4b).
The sheep follow the shepherd because they know the voice of the shepherd (v. 4c).
But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
Key about sheep—they NEVER follow a stranger!
That is because they do not recognize the stranger’s voice—they don’t know the stranger!
Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Side Note
Side Note
John steps outside the story to give the reader a better understanding of Jesus and His ministry.
—Jesus used a figure of speech.
—Jesus did this to block some of the Pharisees’ ability to understand His teaching.
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
This next part begins with the word, “therefore” (v. 7a). It refers back up to verse 6, where we read that the Pharisees did not understand what Jesus was telling them. Thus, Jesus is going to approach his message from a different angle.
Using a figure of speech, Jesus presents himself as the “gate” (Gk. gate could also be translated gate, door, door of opportunity, or entrance) for the sheep (v. 7b).
NOTE: Some commentators have pointed out that some ancient Near Eastern shepherds slept in the gateways of their sheepfolds and so served as human gates. This helps some harmonize this metaphor with the previous one, by allowing Jesus to be both the Shepherd and the door.
However, the other differences in the two metaphors presented in verses 1–5 and 7–18, argue that they are for separate metaphors.
It seems as though Jesus was trying to help the Pharisees understand what he was actually saying. Thus, the two metaphors, although similar, are actually two different metaphors used to help his listener gain deeper understanding of what Jesus was saying.
Compare & Contrast
Compare & Contrast
All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.
Jesus now contrasts himself (the gate) with “all who have come before me.” Jesus is talking about the religious leaders, and he equates them to thieves and robbers who are trying to lead the sheep away from the safety of the shepherd (v. 8a).
But Jesus clearly tells the listener, that his sheep have not listened to the lies of the thieves and robbers (i.e. the religious leaders) (v. 8b).
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
Jesus again refers to himself as the gate (v. 9a). Indeed, Jesus is the door of opportunity (see notes on verse 7).
Whoever enters through him is saved (Gk. save, delivered, rescued, saved from death, preserved, or protected) (v. 9b).
The security that is found in Jesus allows the sheep to go in and out without danger (v. 9c). This seems to represent that Jesus provides for his security needs of his sheep.
Not only that, but they find pasture—the picture of the provision of Jesus—the sheep’s physical needs will be met.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
The thief in this metaphor if is the false shepherd (v. 10a). Jesus is contrasting the good shepherd with the false shepherd (the thief). This shepherd is not concerned about the good and welfare of his sheep, but rather only about advancing himself or herself.
This thief does selfish things to benefit and take care or protect himself (v. 10b). The thief (bad shepherd) does not care about the sheep at all. Instead:
He is willing to steal. They come to steal people away from the true gospel message.
He is willing to kill. They come to kill the person’s hope, desire, security or anything that the true gospel gives us. Ultimately, the false teacher desires to kill the person’s relationship with Jesus and cause spiritual death!
And he is willing to destroy. The thief wants to destroy the person.
NOTE: While this verse is often applied to Satan (which is true of him and really is exactly how he acts), in the context it is talking about the false shepherds mentioned in verse 8.
Next Jesus contrasts the selfishness of the false shepherd (steal, kill, and destroy) with the goodness of the true shepherd (Jesus) (v. 10c). The Good Shepherd came so that his sheep might have two things:
Life.—In the context, Jesus came to restore our ability to have a spiritual relationship with God (spiritual life).
Life to the full. Jesus not only gives us spiritual life, but he gives us the best quality of life possible, because of our spiritual connection to God.
Jesus Identifies His Identity
Jesus Identifies His Identity
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Jesus comes right out and says that he is the Good Shepherd (the one he has been talking about) (v. 11a).
As the Good Shepherd, he will lay down his life for the sheep (Jesus is foreshadowing the fact that he will die on the cross).
Contrast Between the Good Shepherd and a Hired Hand
Contrast Between the Good Shepherd and a Hired Hand
The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
First, Jesus reminds us that a hired hand and the shepherd are not the same (v. 12a).
The difference is that the hired hand does not own the sheep--thus he doesn’t value them like the owner does (v. 12b).
As a result, when the hired hand sees danger (a wolf coming) he abandons the sheep (v. 12c).
He does this by running away (cf. Zec. 11:16-17) (v. 12d).
The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
To make sure we understand what Jesus is saying, he adds that the hired hand runs away, because he cares nothing for the sheep (v. 13).
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
By contrast, Jesus is the good shepherd:
He knows (Gk. knows means to know personally and intimately. It is the same word that is going to be used throughout the next several verses) who his sheep are! (v. 14a).
His sheep know him! (v. 14b).
NOTE: These two questions are something each of us should know how to answer:
Does Jesus know you?
Do you know Jesus?
To many people, these two questions sound the same, but they are not.
The first question seeks to understand whether or not we are truly known by Jesus. You see, I cannot know Jesus unless he knows me first (cf. 1 Jn 4:19; Rom. 5:8).
The second questions has to do with whether or not we have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior!
Jesus’ Relationship with the Father
Jesus’ Relationship with the Father
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Jesus helps us understand the kind of relationship we have with him, but showing us the kind of relationship he has with God the Father (v. 15a).
First, he says God the Father knows him (Jesus) (v. 15b)
Secondly, Jesus knows God the Father (v. 15c).
Other Sheep?
Other Sheep?
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Jesus makes a bold statement that he has other sheep that are not in this sheep pen (v. 16a). Jesus, is referring to the Gentiles that will come to believe in him!
Jesus goes on to say, that he must also bring them (v. 16b). This foreshadows the fact that there will be one, and only one way to God the Father!
These other “other sheep” will also listen to the Good Shepherd’s voice (v. 16c).
Jesus will put the two flocks together and make on flock and they will ALL be under one shepherd (v. 16d).
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
The Father Loves the Son
The Father Loves the Son
The reason the Father loves Jesus is because he is willing to lay down his life (v. 17a).
Truly, Jesus will lay down his life, but he will also take it up again (a reference to his resurrection) (v. 17b).
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Jesus repeats this point: No one takes his life from him (v. 18a).
Rather Jesus willing lays down his own life (v. 18b).
He does so of his own accord (v. 18c).
Jesus states that God has given him the authority to do two things (v. 18d):
He has the authority to lay down his life.
He has the authority to take it up again.
The Jews who heard these words were again divided.
The Jew’s Response
The Jews that heard Jesus words were again (once more) divided (v. 19).
Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
Many of them said he was (v. 20):
Demon-possess
Raving mad
Shouldn’t even be listened to.
But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Others said (v. 21):
These are not the sayings of a demon-possessed man.
Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? A rhetorical question to which the answer is presumed to be “NO!” (cf. Ex. 4:11)
So What?
So What?
This morning I want to bring you back to the two questions that we asked about midway through the message.
I know you may not remember what I asked, so the first question is this:
Does Jesus know you?
This first question is one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves.
You see the only reason we can love God is because He first loved us! That’s exactly what 1 John 4:19 tells us.
We love because he first loved us.
Our proof of that love is Jesus! Paul put it this way in Romans 5:8:
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Still, if we are going to answer the second question, we must first stand on the foundation of God’s love for us, and He must know us! Look at 2 Timothy 2:19, there Paul writes:
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
So again, do you know for sure that Jesus knows you? Are you one of His Sheep?
That brings us to the second question. Do you know Jesus?
First, do you know Jesus as your Savior. Have you placed your faith and trust in Jesus alone to put you into a right relationship with God the Father?
This is not something that is difficult to do. Romans 10:9-10 give us a simply way to be placed into a right relationship with God.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Remember that we talked about the Greek word that is translated “know” ? It has the meaning to know intimately. It is far more than simply knowing facts about something. It is knowing through experience. I think that is what Philippians 3:10 is talking about when it says:
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
To experience Jesus in your life is to know the power that ultimately resurrected him from the dead.
It is to participate in his sufferings, experiencing the satisfaction that comes with obedience to Jesus so you can say—not my will but your will be done!
Thus, when you experience Jesus working in your life. . .
When you experience the power that raised Jesus from the dead in your life. . .
And when you experience the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings. . .
Becoming like him in death. . .
Then you will experience Jesus at a level that many people never obtain!
So two questions:
Does Jesus know you? Are you one of His sheep?
Are you living a life that experiences the amazing power of Jesus in your life?
That is what God desires for each of us. Anything less, misses God’s desire for you!
