Sermon Tone Analysis

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“The only Good Shepherd”

John 10: 11-16

 

 

*Introduction:*  We live in an age where there are many self appointed shepherds.

These shepherds are supposed to guide the people and keep them safe from all manner of harm.

Who and what are considered the shepherds of our times?

Science, psychology, sociology, government, TV news and news magazine shows.

Religions Buddha, Sun Yung Moon, the church.

*Jesus Is the Incomparable Good Shepherd    *       

*I.

Because He Laid Down His Life for the Sheep*

*A.

A shepherd might lay down his life in defense of his sheep*.

But what good would that do his sheep?

The sheep would then be shepherd less.

They would be prey to the wolf and a multitude of other dangers could befall them.

Jesus did a far greater thing tan just giving up His life.

*B.

By laying His life down He enabled us to be His sheep.

*By dying He purchased us as His flock.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Without our Good Shepherds death there could be no  sheep, no fold, no flock.

*C.

Jesus our Good Shepherd did not just die *for the sheep, for us.

He laid His life down willingly.

Nor did He leave His us alone.

He picked up His life in His glorious resurrection.

As the living Shepherd He preserves and protects His flock.

In His death and in His resurrection He stands alone as Shepherd.

Who else can compare to Him?   

*II.

Because of Who He Shepherds -- Won, Purchased and Called *

*A.

A shepherd must have a flock.

*Where is there a flock like Christ’s, purchased, won, and individually called by name.

When Jesus died on the cross He purchased us as His flock.

Saint Luther, in His explanation to the second article of the Apostles creed speaks:  I believe that Jesus Christ, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature (sheep), delivered me and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with silver and gold but with his holy and precious blood and with his innocent sufferings and death, in order that I may be his, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity.

This is most certainly true.

*B.*        *Our Shepherd knows us and we know Him.  *He sought each one of us out.

He found us in the craggy cliffs of sin and at the very precipice of death.

He bound and healed broken limbs and bloodied wounds.

He picked us up in His arms and tool us safely home.

He called us by name.

Just like He called Lazarus and Mary and Paul He called us by name at our baptisms, claiming us as His sheep.

He continues to call our names today.

*C.

We have been called to be His sheep*, gathered together with His whole flock.

It is a flock gathered together from every nation, tribe and tongue.

It is a flock that continues to grow as He continues to search for the lost sheep and to bring them Home.

What other shepherd can boast of such a flock.

*Conclusion:*    There is only one Shepherd.

He is the Good Shepherd.

His coming was promised in the Old Testament.

He is the only one that was to come to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

He is the one that told the Apostle Peter to “Feed My Sheep”.

He is the one that will come again to separate the goats from the sheep on the final day of judgment when all people will stand before Him.

On that great day our Shepherd will gather His flock together and lead us home to our heavenly pasture land.