The Good Shepherd and His Sheep (2)

HOOK

Yesterday here at The Message we started the story about the Good Shepherd and His sheep— it is the continuing conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees who investigated the healing of the man that was born blind

From the first part of this pericope we came across 1 of the 7 “I am” statement of Jesus— That He is the Gate for the sheep— and we in summary we extracted a couple of things—

JESUS IS MY GOOD SHEPHERD

I KNOW HIS VOICE AND I FOLLOW HIM

Now let’s see how their conversation ensued— open your Bible to John 10:8-21. Once you got there you know what to do, type Amen!

CHARACTER, COMMAND, PROMISES, CONVICTIONS, EXAMPLES, CHALLENGES AND ENCOURAGEMENT

We will take a break next week

BOOK

John 10:8–21 NIV

8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 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. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep 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 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. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 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.” 19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Now this is a metaphor— Jesus loves using metaphor and parables [talinghaga]

LOOK

ALL WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME ARE THIEVES AND ROBBERS

Highlights the misleading ministry of previous generations of Israel’s leaders who had been leading them astray

THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY

Steal your joy, kill your dreams and destroy your future

I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL

Jesus is alluding to the life eternal of those who come to Him

He also referred to our lives on this side of eternity— that way may live and fulfill our purpose here on earth

I HAVE OTHER SHEEP THAT ARE NOT OF THIS SHEEP PEN

Alluding to the Gentiles and the ultimate universal scope of salvation through the atoning death of Christ [ISAIAH 56:8]

Isaiah around 700 years before Christ

THERE SHALL BE ONE FLOCK AND ONE SHEPHERD

The flock includes all believers, both Jews and Gentiles [EZEKIEL 34:23]

Ezekiel is around 600 years before Christ

I HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO LAY IT DOWN AND AUTHORITY TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN

Jesus insinuated to them his death and resurrection as the completion of the Father’s plan of sending him here on earth

TOOK

THE DEVIL ONLY COMES TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY

JESUS CAME THAT I MAY HAVE LIFE IN FULL

CLOSING SONG: STAND IN YOUR LOVE