I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Powdered Milk

When I was growing up we lived on food stamps. In those days they were actually paper and briefly even fake coin that you could only use to buy food. Also in those days, you didn’t get very much and it had to last you because when you were out you had to use real money.

One of the things my mother would buy to stretch the dollar was powdered milk. On of our chores in the morning was to mix the proper amount of water with this powder and stir like crazy so there were no clumps. That way we could put it on our no-named brand cereal. Now you had to stir real good because if you didn’t the cereal would act as a strainer leaving this milk colored liquid at the bottom but you had this disgusting pasty milk colored clump on top of the cereal. We would mix it in this half gallon pitcher and I want to tell you very quickly what it was not..... Milk.

Occasionally we would have a little extra money and for a treat, we would buy real milk. You would want this to be this great experience, but what was interesting was that first bowl of cereal did not quite taste right because we had become so used to the substitute that the real thing did not seem quite right.

I am the Good Shepherd

When Jesus tells us this 4th “I AM,” as we discussed last week he was talking to the Pharisees. You see, Jesus had healed a blind man by spitting on some dirt and rubbing mud in the eye of the blind man and telling him to go to a place and wash it off. Not the problem the pharisees had wasn’t the healing, as much as it was that it was done on the sabbath - a holy day on which we are required to rest.

THe problem the pharisees had was that they were so attached to their perception of the law that they could not see passed the fact that Jesus Jesus performed manual labor to the fact that Jesus gave a man his sight back. The problem is that the law and the pharisees who were responsible for teaching the law were not the truth. At best they could point to the truth but they were not the truth. They were at best powdered milk.

However, there was hope. In speaking to the man who was blind he said, For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”

I think some of them were actually asking our of sincerity. I can’t prove it because I wasn’t there, but the question remains - and we need to be asking it of ourselves, “Are we also blind?”

The next two “I AM’s” are a response to the pharisees to that question. Last week we discussed, I AM THE GATE. He is the only way in or our of the flock of God’s people. Nothing gets in without his notice and nothing gets out. He keeps us safe. Anything coming in or out through any other direction other that Him is a thief and a robber.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Today we talk about the second I am… “I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD”

PS - Today we talk about Why Jesus is so Good and why we need to follow Him.

John 10:11–20 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”

John 10:

Verse 11 - Lays down his life

Obviously points to his coming crucifixion.

- who being the very nature of God… - gave it all up

For the sheep - can I just say sheep are not worth the life of the shepherd -

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Verse 12 - All others are simply hired hands

Remember he is speaking to the Pharisees - the would be leaders - at best they are a hireling.

The strict adherence to a perceived application - also a hireling

We are to take the words of God and apply it to our lives.. it’s one of those things we must do - meditate in Joshua - Thy word is a lamp psalm 119....

But our strict adherence is not the same as the close relationship with the shepherd.

The shepherd OWNS the sheep

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

1 pe 1:18-19

In the end the hirelings will let the sheep down

Verse 13 - hireling is not the same as the true shepherd

A hired hand simply will not care as much.

This is not to say they won’t do their best, but in the end their best simply is not good enough. At some point the hireling will count the cost and not pay it.

The Good Shepherd will always pay the price.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Luke 22:42 ESV

saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Verses 14-16 - intimacy with the sheep

ginosko - strong personal intimate knowledge

wrapped up in this word’s etymology is the idea of continual growing in knowledge. from a simple recognition to a desire to learn more about until you a familiar with the person you “Know” and can understand all they do. It is deep, it is intimate.

When Jesus says the Father knows me and I know the Father he is expressing a oneness between them

This oneness leads him to say He lays down his life

1 John 2:2 NLT

He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Sheep in other fold

Galatians 3:28 ESV

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

verse 17-18 Christ has authority to lay it down and take it up

It’s up to Him and he chooses to lay it down

After he lays it down picks it back up - the resurrection.

Conclusion - vs 19-20

John 10:19–20 ESV

There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”

Who are you in the story?

blind man - I was lost and now I see

the questioning Pharisees.

Some will get it, some wont...

Will you let Jesus spit in your eyes so that you might see the truth....