Jesus the Good Shepherd 1

Jesus - The Good Shepherd pt. 1

Sunday, December 09, 2018

7:42 AM

This passage by Jesus sounds like it begins out of the blue, but from what I've been able to gather it actually is a continuation from chapter 9. While there is some controversy as to whether this is part of the Feast of Tabernacles beginning in chapter 8 or part of the Hanukkah celebration or as known in John 10:22 Feast of Dedication. With a three month difference the two feasts

There are several reasons why I feel the latter is more fitting:

It is unlikely the Jews would have tried to stone Jesus on the Sabbath John 8:59There would have needed to be some cool-down time between this outburst of wrath and another pubic appearance such as chapter 9 and 10John 10:21 refers to the healing of the blind man in chapter 9 and assumes his hearers know what he is talking about.

So lets go back and review just a little Chapter 9:

Chapter 9 Jesus is traveling with his disciples and they see a blind man who had been born blind sitting by the road. He spits in the dust mixes it up to make a salve rubs it on the blind man's eyes and commands him to go wash in the pool Siloam.

The Blind man, who is never named, does as he is told and receives his sight.

He is unable to find Jesus, but he testifies to the fact that once he was blind but now he sees that only God could do this and the Pharisees cast him out of the synagogue.

After the blind man is excommunicated, Jesus goes in search of him. When he finds him there is an interesting conversation:

John 9:35-38 (KJV)

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

Now this doesn't seem to have happened in a back alley somewhere , as Jesus immediately goes into a teaching moment - look at verse 39-40

John 9:39-41 (KJV)

39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Here Jesus gives one of the most striking of his teachings in one little verse - look at verse 39 "For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."

Lets unpack that for a moment -

"Jesus is making himself the pivotal point of human destiny." Hughes points out on this verse that ..Jesus' whole argument was centered around a person's sense of need. If someone felt no need of blindness they wouldn't think they needed to see. (Hughes, p.164)

Jesus takes this even further when the Pharisees in verse 40 who were with Him and heard him ask, "are we blind also?"

Jesus says to them, "If you were blind" or If you recognized your blindness - "You would have no sin," But now ye say, "We see; therefore your sin remaineth"

Because you won't recognize your blindness - you have no sensed or known need you are wrapped up in the futility of self-righteousness.

Is it any wonder that Jesus begins in chapter 10 verse 1:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other the way, the same is a thief and a robber."

In verse 2 Jesus is putting a distinction and a division between the Pharisees and Himself.

Notice the contrast in the two verses :

I always thought the part "The thief and robber" referred to people trying to get to heaven by another way. In reality Jesus answers who these thieves and robbers are later in verse 8 - "All who came before me" those who have pretended to be Me are thieves and robbers.

There is only one way a Shepherd would enter the sheepfold and that is through the door. Only a thief or a robber would climb over the wall. Sneak in unaware. (A thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, )

1. Thieves and robbers - I never really noticed this before but there is a difference between a thief and a robber in the Bible:

Thief - Steals by fraud and in secret

Robber - By violence and openly

2. The Good Shepherd - we are told:

Enters in by the door - The porter opens to Him - 2-3a The sheepfold belongs to the shepherd who made it - so he has the right to use it. Philip Keller who was a shepherd for many years points out that in Eastern cultures that often a village, town or city would have one sheepfold. There were sometimes several shepherds who used the sheepfold, but there was one who stood guard at the door of the sheepfold while the sheep were there - here Jesus refers to that person as the Porter. That when Jesus came on the scene - came to the sheepfold the porter opened the door. Now I believe Jesus is referring to John the Baptist - who said, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world." who opened the door for the Shepherd of the sheep. The Sheep hear His voice 3bI love this part - Sheep are not always thought of as the smartest animals out there - but there is one thing that stands out with sheep. They have amazing ears. I have grew up in a rural area while we didn't have farm animals we often had several dogs, you open the back door and call - "Here puppy" and those dogs might be way down in the woods, or out in the field but they would come running the thought of food would bring them home.I read that shepherds would have their own distinct call, and sound for their sheep, and their sheep would recognize that sound or call as their shepherd. Some shepherds would call out, some would sing, some would even play a certain sound on a little pipe instrument like a flute. But their sheep could hear and recognize it.Even in the community folds each shepherd had their own sound and only his sheep would come out of the fold when he called them.To me that is amazing - and a challenge to us today.We are bombarded with messages all the time - not just during the day but 24 hours a day.Can we pick up the Shepherds voice as he calls us out of the cacophony of other sounds? He calleth His own sheep by name 3cKeller tells us that the shepherds would often call out to their sheep before they ever came into view to let the sheep know he was coming, he was their shepherd so he would not frighten them. Not only was there a certain sound, a certain call - but each sheep had a certain name. Today we might do something like - Fluffy or Whitey but in those days when they had many sheep they were a little more creative and would often name a sheep after their personality or how they were obtainedThe one who likes to wonderThe one I bought from the neighborThe precious one who likes to stay close to meEtcWhat would Jesus call you today?I don't know about you, I've thought of this before what does Jesus call me?Perhaps something like - The one I died forThe one I poured extra grace onThe one who constantly needs help.Whatever it is it is an endearing term.I am not sure of all of the ramifications of the particular prophecy for us - but I find an interesting passage in Revelation 2:17 Where Jesus is talking to the Church at Pergamos - He gives the church it's commendation and condemnation and then exhorts in verse 17

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

The overcomers are promised some tremendous blessing

1. To eat of the hidden manna - the best, special, privileged

2. A new name - a special name and exclusive name -

No one can call you by that name except the Shepherd.

A name gives designation - helps us identify people, families, groups, ethnicities

Here God is promising to give a name that only you and He knows - when He calls that name everyone else goes on doing what they are doing but you step up and feast on the hidden manna.

I love Brother Duane Elmore's testimony - he tells how as a young man he gave his heart to the Lord and as he was praying through - he could see a bright being standing there and in his hand was a white stone - and he saw his name written in that rock.

Here this morning - I'm wonderful I know his voice - I'm so thankful he calls me by name