Christ the Shepherd

John:10:1-15

Sunday August 14, 2005

This is the last of the Public messages of Jesus. Jesus speaks to them in the most meaningful way imaginable. The Shepherd and the Sheep are words imbedded deep into the Hebrew life and history. Everyone understood the meaning of these words so there would be no question in the minds of the listeners about the message He was giving them.

Since we live in a different world, we do not fully comprehend the depth and the beauty of the picture Jesus painted with words. This morning there are some things we can pull out of the time of Christ and use in a world very similar, a world where the majority have no faith in Christ.

Verse 4

Christ Our Shepherd Goes Ahead Of Us.

It is important to note Christ is leading! In the life outside of Christianity, people must live or die! They must find their way or get lost, people must cope for themselves in a hostile ever changing landscape.

The Sheep do not just find their way all by themselves! You and I do not simply show up and decide to find Christ. Christ is leading. He is helping us. He is going ahead of us making sure our way is safe. He is leading and because we know this to be true, we also know that He is sure that the way we are going is going to be safe.

Verse 5

We Recognize our Shepherd.

Jesus assumes his audience understands the scene he is constructing. In the desert at night sheep were often herded into walled enclosures that either backed up against a cliff face or were at the end of a canyon. Such enclosure (still used today by Palestinian shepherds in the Judean desert) had waist high stone walls topped with thorny branches. Such a pen was entirely for safety so that the sheep would not become prey to wild animals. One small door way or opening in the wall served as the only entrance and exit. The Shepherd would either close this area with dry thorn bushes or would himself serve as a sentry in the opening.

Not only can sheep identify rightful shepherds by their access through the main gate, but they also recognize the voice of the shepherd (10:3-5). The Middle Eastern shepherd is well known for having a personal devotion to his sheep. He talks to them and sings to them. Often shepherds will carry a short flute and use a repeated tune so that the flock has a constant auditory cue to follow. Jesus notes that this shepherd does not simply lead any sheep but rather leads “his own” (10:3). That is, just as Arab shepherds today can separate personal sheep from larger flocks by using peculiar calls, so jesus knows his own sheep, they can recognize his voice, and he leads them (10:4)

Do you and I recognize Jesus. I think about all the things in this world that tempt us. Can we really see that they are climbing us the face of the rock to get to us. Can we see they things that are not entering from the main gate. Things that wish to destroy us and devour us for the simple pleasure of watching the master come and see that we have been destroyed. Sin seeks us out it wants to prevent us from being in communion with God. Not because it wants our company. Satan desire to do one thing, keep us from our creator. Sin keeps us from our creator.

Can you recognize the things in your life that come from God. The things we watch on TV, affect us, how we are when no one is looking, affects our relationship with God. Are we really serious about our God? So serious that we recognize his call. We may be seeing that mirage for water up ahead but hear God’s call and turn towards him.

2 Peter 1:1-11

James 1:1-12

Evil Becomes Unrecognizable to God’s Sheep

Just as false shepherds might climb over the wall to get access to the sheep (10:1). Now we learn that there voice is unrecognizable to the sheep (10:5), and the sheep flee from them.

It is not surprising that Jesus’ audience does not understand the figurative saying. They understand the nature of shepherding, but they fail to grasp the spiritual point he is making.

Evil becomes unrecognizable to the sheep because they after being abused over and over by the false shepherds trying to get them away from their master. Realize what rings so true in John 14:6 “I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father exceot through me.”

The image here” A flock of sheep in a threatening desert. Food and water are scarce. Predators of well-fed sheep whose shepherd knows how to lead them to pasture and water daily, and who at night gives them safe rest in the sturdy walls of the sheepfold. Have realized nothing else could be better. They have found peace. They see the evil and flee because they know it doesn’t lead them to fresh water daily, it doesn’t lead them to green pastures. It like sin lures them in for a season and then what once brought pleasure now brings loneliness in the middle of the threatening danger of life.

Has sin, has the mirage got you fooled. Today can you hear God’s voice, do you know his sound. Can he be like the shepherd and call you out amoung the crowd? Will his calling us out amoung the crowd we live in bring him glory! We cannot live in a world like our own and be effective witnesses of Christ Power if we ourselves give in to the mirages Satan throughs at us week after week and day after day. This day let us stand and be able to say what James Says in 1:1-12. I invite you as we close today to stand only if you yourself want to hear the sound of your shepherd. I invite you to stand only if you yourself want to be able to say, are able to say Satan the mirage you have pulled over and over is finished, I trust in the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ.

God has so much planned. He will guide us he will lead us Stand with us only if you believe this to be true. Only if you will pray and seek it to be true in your life this day, this moment.