JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD PART I

Jesus as the Good Shepherd, is the only door to relationship with the father, he is the only vein through which true spiritual influence and leadership can be executed, and those who are his will respond to his voice

Shepherd is an individual who care for a flock sheep and was a common occupation in the orient. Because of the fundamental role of shepherding in the ancient world, the word “shepherd” became a common term for a ruler. The kings of Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt were often referred to as shepherds who protected their people.[1]

The OT pictures the Lord as the Shepherd of Israel , Ez 34 & , in addition the leaders of Israel were identified as Shepherds as a general term for leadership Ez 34.

[1] Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). In Tyndale Bible dictionary (p. 1192). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

In addition, the Great King David is identified and a Shepherd to the people and so it would make since that the Messiah who would be from the seed of David would also carry the same mantel of leadership

So, Jesus using this figure of speech analogy/parable shouldn’t have been something so out of reach for people to understand if the scriptures were in view.

True spiritual leadership goes through the door of Scripture and Jesus is both the Word and thus the door

· Jesus does the fathers will, thus as the fulfillment of scripture he is the perfect entry way to the Father

· False or Fake leaders use other methods, they avoid the door, the climb over wall use other tactics, they avoid embracing Jesus and scripture as their method of leadership

Jesus fulfills prophetic scripture and is the fulfillment of all the OT, thus he is the Door to life with God. Jesus is as John see him in the book of Revelation The Word of God

· False or Fake leaders use other methods, they avoid the door, the climb over wall use other tactics, they avoid embracing Jesus and scripture as their method of leadership

(ESV)

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

The gatekeeper, can be the influence of the Holy Spirit or the authority to lead which is given from the Father

The sheep that belong to the shepherd will hear the voice of the shepherd and follow the voice of the shepherd because there is an intimate connection between them and the shepherd

Jesus knows his sheep by name,

There are his own sheep

· He exists to live for the Sheep, thus the sheep’s life is more valuable than his

7-10 (11-21)

Many people were following the Pharisees and even other rebellious leaders of the past, but here Jesus says that the true sheep never followed.

Remember God statement to Elijah who believed he was the only person left in reprobate Israel, but God told him that he had reserved for himself a remnant that had not bowed to Baal or fallen away.

He gathers his sheep, that he knows by name, meaning he has intimate relationship with his sheep that belong to him

Sheep that belong to the shepherd only follow him

They will not follow another

The true shepherd goes before his sheep leading them

Jesus is Different than the Hired hand

He allows them to go in and out and find green pasture (10:9)

He gives them life in all its fullness(10:10b)

The Outline Bible Section Outline Ten (John 10)

(2) He allows them to go in and out, and find green pasture (10:9) .

(3) He gives them life in all its fullness (10:10b).

Goes before means he goes through the trouble, the situation the circumstances first, he takes the hit from the enemy head on.

He gives his life for the sheep voluntarily.

He exists to live for the Sheep, thus the sheep’s life is more valuable than his

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