The Good Shepherd (2)

OPENING SLIDE

INTRODUCTION

One of the most important decisions we’ll ever make in life is deciding who we’re going to follow.

Every day, voices compete for our attention.

Advertisers tell us what we need.

Social media tells us what to believe.

Politicians promise to lead us.

Celebrities tell us what success looks like.

Even our own hearts often tell us to trust ourselves above everyone else.

The problem isn’t that there are no voices.

The problem is there are too many.

And every one of those voices is asking us to trust them with our lives.

That raises an important question.

Who can you really trust to lead you?

That’s not just a modern question.

It was the question facing Israel when Jesus spoke the words we’re about to study.

The chapter divisions in our Bible sometimes make us think John 10 begins a brand-new conversation.

It doesn’t.

Jesus is still speaking to the same Pharisees He confronted in chapter 9 after they expelled the man who had been born blind.

John 10 is the continuation of that encounter.

What we see here is the contrast between the religious leaders and Jesus, the heart of the passage.  

Think about what just happened.

A man receives his sight.

Instead of celebrating what God had done, the religious leaders threw him out.

Then Jesus went looking for him.

Before Jesus ever said, “I am the Good Shepherd,” He acted like the Good Shepherd.

The false shepherds cast the sheep out.

The true Shepherd went searching for him.

That wasn’t an accident.

Jesus was making a statement.

There is a tremendous difference between a shepherd who uses the sheep…and a Shepherd who loves the sheep.

As Jesus continues speaking, He isn’t simply making another “I Am” statement.

He’s explaining why He alone deserves to be called the Good Shepherd.

That leads us to the question that drives this entire passage…

Why is Jesus the Good Shepherd?

That is what we will ponder this morning.

Let’s turn to John 10; we will begin with verses 11-13.

SERMON

John 10:11–13 NET 2nd ed.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13 Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep, he runs away.

MAIN POINT 1 SLIDE

Why is Jesus the Good Shepherd?

Because…

I. He Protects His Sheep

John 10:11 NET 2nd ed.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Jesus begins by giving us the first reason He alone deserves to be called the Good Shepherd.

He protects His sheep.

Not because it is convenient.

Not because it is profitable.

Not because they deserve it.

He protects them because they belong to Him.

Jesus backs this thought up by offering a contrast of characters, which the crowd would have understood and most likely at some point experienced.

Jesus immediately introduces another character.

The hired hand.

The hired hand isn’t necessarily evil.

He simply isn’t invested.

He works for a paycheck.

When danger comes…he runs.

Why?

Because the sheep aren’t his.

His first concern is self-preservation.

Jesus is looking directly at the religious leaders who had just cast the healed man out of the synagogue.

Instead of protecting one of God’s sheep, they abandoned him.

Jesus’ discussion continues His confrontation with those leaders, contrasting their behavior with His own. 

Then Jesus says, “I am not like that.”

“I don’t run.”

“I stay.”

Every one of us has experienced disappointment from people we trusted.

Some have been hurt by their parents.

Some by spouses.

Some by employers.

Some by friends.

Sadly…

Some have even been hurt by church leaders.

Human shepherds fail.

Sometimes intentionally.

Sometimes unintentionally.

Sometimes because they’re sinful.

Sometimes because they’re simply weak.

If we put our hope in people, we will eventually be disappointed.

Jesus has never abandoned one of His sheep.

He didn’t abandon Peter after Peter denied Him.

He didn’t abandon Thomas when Thomas doubted.

He didn’t abandon the blind man after he was thrown out of the synagogue.

He didn’t abandon you at the cross.

And He won’t abandon you today.

This is where the emotion of the passage lives.

When Jesus says, “The Good Shepherd lays down His life…”

He’s not talking about dying as a tragic martyr.

He’s talking about dying as a substitute.

The Shepherd dies… so the sheep don’t have to.

No hired hand would ever do that.

No thief would ever do that.

Only the Good Shepherd.

Jesus deliberately emphasizes “I lay down My life.”

His death is voluntary and is in stark contrast to the hired hand who flees when danger comes. 

What are you trusting to protect you?

Is it…

your health?

your retirement?

your career?

your reputation?

your family?

your own ability?

None of those can ultimately protect your soul.

Only one Shepherd stood between the wolf and the sheep.

Only one Shepherd willingly took the attack Himself.

Only one Shepherd laid down His life... so His sheep could live.

So why is Jesus the Good Shepherd?

First… He protects His sheep.

But protection isn’t all He offers.

The Good Shepherd doesn’t simply die for His sheep…

John 10:14–16 NET 2nd ed.

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—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd.

MAIN POINT 2 SLIDE

Why is Jesus the Good Shepherd?

Because…

II. He Knows His Sheep

We live in a world where people have hundreds of online “friends,” yet many feel profoundly alone.

People want to be seen, known, and loved—not merely noticed. That’s where Jesus takes this passage.

The first reason Jesus is the Good Shepherd is because He protects His sheep.

Now He gives us another.

He knows His sheep.

That may not sound remarkable at first.

Until you remember…sheep all look alike to us.

But not to the shepherd.

A shepherd knew every sheep.

He knew which one wandered.

Which one was weak?

Which one needed extra care?

Which one had a tendency to stray?

Jesus isn’t talking about recognizing faces.

He’s talking about a relationship.

This is more than knowing facts.

When Jesus says, “I know My own…”

He uses the kind of language the Bible often uses to describe deep, personal relationships.

Then He says something astonishing.

“My own know Me…”

Notice that Christianity is not primarily about knowing doctrines.

It’s about knowing a Person.

Yes, doctrine matters.

Truth matters.

But doctrine is meant to lead us into a relationship with Christ, not replace one.

Jesus compares this relationship to the perfect fellowship that exists between the Father and the Son.

That is an astounding picture of the closeness Christ desires with His people.

Every one of us knows what it feels like… to be misunderstood… overlooked… or forgotten.

Sometimes people know our name… But they don’t really know us.

They don’t know our fears.

They don’t know the burdens we carried into church today.

They don’t know the prayers we’ve whispered when no one else was listening.

But Jesus does.

He knows your failures.

He knows your doubts.

He knows your wounds.

He knows your tears.

And here’s the beautiful part… He still calls you His sheep.

That’s the difference between religion… and a relationship with Christ.

Religion says, “If you perform well enough, maybe God will accept you.”

Jesus says, “I know you completely… and I still love you.”

That’s the Shepherd’s heart.

Jesus is not finished!

Let’s look at verse 16 again

John 10:16 NET 2nd ed.

16 I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Can you imagine how shocking those words sounded?

The Jewish people had long understood themselves to be God’s covenant people.

Now Jesus says, “My flock is about to become much larger.”

These “other sheep” are believing Gentiles who will be gathered into Christ’s flock, resulting in one flock under one Shepherd. 

Over the years, some religious groups have claimed Jesus was talking about something entirely different.

Some have suggested these “other sheep” were people living in the Americas.

Others have taught they represent a second class of believers with a different eternal destiny.

But the context simply doesn’t support those conclusions.

Jesus isn’t describing two peoples of God.

He’s announcing that through Him, Jews and Gentiles will become one flock under one Shepherd.

The emphasis isn’t separation.

The emphasis is unity.

That’s exactly what unfolds throughout the rest of the New Testament as the gospel spreads from Jerusalem to the nations.

The church isn’t united because we all look alike.

We don’t.

We’re not united because we all vote the same.

We’re not united because we come from the same background.

We’re not even united because we have similar personalities.

We’re united because…we have the same Shepherd.

And if He knows me… and He knows you… then we’re family.

So let me ask you something.

Is Jesus merely someone you know about… or is He someone you truly know?

There is a significant difference between merely admiring the Shepherd and truly belonging to Him.

Today’s culture is marked by loneliness, isolation, and a deep longing to be known.

The question is, DOES ANYONE REALLY KNOW ME?

Jesus says, "YES, I DO."

I know my own!

Let’s move to verses 17-20.

John 10:17–20 NET 2nd ed.

17 This is why the Father loves me—because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again. 18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.” 19 Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind! Why do you listen to him?”

MAIN POINT 3 SLIDE

Why is Jesus the Good Shepherd?

Because…

III. He Saves His Sheep

Jesus has shown us His love.

He has shown us His heart.

Now He reveals His authority.

This is what separates Jesus from every other shepherd who has ever lived.

Every other shepherd eventually dies.

Jesus died… and then walked out of His own grave.

Notice what Jesus keeps repeating.

“I lay down My life…”

“No one takes it from Me…”

“I have authority…”

“I have authority…”

Those are remarkable statements.

Jesus isn’t the victim of circumstances.

He’s not caught in political intrigue.

He’s not overwhelmed by the power of Rome.

He’s not defeated by the religious leaders.

Everything that happens at Calvary happens because He permits it to happen.

Jesus’ repeated declaration that He voluntarily lays down His life and has the authority to take it up again is a key part of this.

His death is not forced upon Him but is the fulfillment of the Father’s command and His own willing obedience.

Think about this.

No one has ever scheduled his own death… and then scheduled his own resurrection.

Every cemetery in the world has one thing in common.

The people buried there stayed there.

Except one.

On the third day… the stone rolled away… not so Jesus could get out… but so the world could look in.

The tomb was empty.

The Shepherd was alive.

Jesus didn’t simply die to show us how much He loved us.

He died… to save us.

The Shepherd stepped between the wolf… and the sheep.

He took upon Himself the judgment that belonged to us.

He died the death we deserved… so we could receive the life only He could give.

That’s why He isn’t merely a good example or a good teacher.

He’s a glorious Savior.

Most people spend their lives trying to outrun death.

We eat healthier.

Exercise more.

Take medicine.

Visit doctors.

And those things are good gifts from God.

But eventually… death catches every one of us.

Unless… someone has authority over death itself.

Jesus does.

He doesn’t simply promise to walk with us through death.

He promises to defeat it.

The resurrection is God’s declaration that sin has been paid for… death has been conquered… and the Shepherd has won.

Church… our Shepherd… isn’t still hanging on a cross.

He isn’t lying in a borrowed tomb.

He isn’t waiting for someone to rescue Him.

He is alive.

Which means… when your heart is breaking… your Shepherd is alive.

When the diagnosis isn’t what you hoped… Your shepherd is alive.

When you stand beside the grave of someone you love… Your shepherd is alive.

When your own final day comes… your Shepherd will still be alive.

And because He lives, those who belong to Him will also live.

CLOSING

CLOSING SLIDE

Now let’s answer the question one last time.

Why is Jesus the Good Shepherd?

Because… He protects His sheep.

He knows His sheep.

And… He saves His sheep.

No other religious leader can make those claims.

No philosopher.

No king.

No president.

No preacher.

No celebrity.

No false shepherd.

Only Jesus.

Only Jesus laid down His life willingly.

Only Jesus took it up again victoriously.

Only Jesus has the authority to say, “Follow Me.”

The Shepherd has done everything necessary.

He came looking for lost sheep.

He laid down His life for lost sheep.

He conquered death for lost sheep.

The only question left… Will you follow the Shepherd?

LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT.

The cross proves His love.

The empty tomb proves His authority.

Together they prove He is the Good Shepherd.