Sermon for 4/25/21 14 Minutes

John 10:11-18

This morning I'll be reading John chapter 10 verses 11 through 18.

And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

John 10:11-18

We will look at Jesus' words this morning as He speaks about His role as the "Good Shepherd".

John 10:11–18 (HCSB)

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.”

God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen.

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This is the fourth Sunday of Easter,,, as we continue on our journey toward Pentecost.

The last three Sunday's we have been learning how Jesus is helping the disciples to "see",,, and of course us today as well.

We continue the journey this morning as we look at these verses to see how Jesus talks about being the "Good Shepherd" and the ways that can help us as we go forward.

Let's look at these verses and see how they can help us in our walk with God this week.

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Verse 11 says: 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Jesus uses a term that is familiar to those in attendance that day.

A shepherd and his sheep was very familiar to them all.

When the sheep were put into pens,,, there would usually be more than one flock,,, possibly several flocks together.

You would have someone to take care of the gate that might not be the shepherd of all of the sheep.

At times thieves and robbers would try to climb over the wall to kill and steal the sheep, for that was the only way they could get them; thieves and robbers could not pose as shepherds because the sheep would not follow strangers.

But the true shepherd came each morning and called his sheep from a distance, and as the gate keeper opened the door the sheep would rush out to their several shepherds.

Where flocks were broken up and scattered among folds,,, each sheep would find its own shepherd.

My Wesleyan Commentary says that it is evident that the thieves and robbers represent the chief priests and the Pharisees who had been trying to change the minds of those who had begun to believe in Jesus,,, such as the man born blind that Jesus has just healed in the previous chapter.

Everything about them was the opposite of Jesus,,, the Good Shepherd,,, who had come to save and lead the sheep into good pastures.

The people listening that day would have understood that Jesus was talking about someone that would put his life in jeopardy to save the flock.

Unlike the hired man as we see in the next couple of verses.

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Verses 12 and 13 say: 12 The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep.

The Pharisees were not shepherds,,, but hired men,,, who did not love the sheep and would leave them in times of danger or didn't take care of them the way that they should,,, as in the case of the man born blind.

The Good Shepherd would lay down His life for His sheep,,, we know that Jesus would soon be crucified because of His obedience to the Father.

The love of Jesus for the sheep was to be demonstrated by His sacrifice.

As we see in the next few verses.

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Verses 14 and 15 say: 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep.

His death would come as the result of His own choice, because He had power to prevent it if He so wished.

As we see in the next verse,,, His love and death would take in the Gentiles as well as the Jews:

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Verse 16 says: 16 But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Once Jesus died and rose again,,, unity could be restored again among men because Jesus lets them know that He has come to die for all.

This will also reunite men with God,,, that's why Jesus says: Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.

By saying these words,,, Jesus again divided those listening.

All of them were able to understand the comparisons of the shepherd from Psalm 23.

The opposition came because of His calling the Pharisees hirelings,,, while at the same time,,, offering salvation to Gentiles and Samaritans.

It's almost like heaven would be spoiled for the Jews,,, if they could not enjoy it by themselves.

Added to this,,, Jesus reaffirmed His relation to God the Father,,, by whose authority He would allow Himself to be crucified and resurrected.

As we see in the next verse.

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Verses 17 and 18 say: 17 This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.”

In these two verses,,, Jesus explained what He would do in order to bring both the chosen Jews and Gentiles together as one in unity with Him.

He looked forward,,, or to the future,,, to the time of His death, burial, and resurrection.

These words would not make sense if Jesus was just a man and not God,,, at the same time!

To me,,, this is a personal testimony that Jesus and God are One!

He spoke of laying down His life and taking it again by His own power.

He could only do this because He is God.

The Father loved the Lord Jesus because of His willingness to die and rise again,,, in order that lost sheep might be saved.

No one could take the Jesus’ life from Him.

He is God,,, and of course He’s greater than all of the murderous plots that His creations can come up with!

He had power in Himself to lay down His life,,, and He also had power to take it again.

But you might ask,,, didn't men crucify Jesus?

And of course,,, they did.

This is clearly stated in Acts 2:23 and in 1 Thessalonians 2:15.

But,,, Jesus allowed them to do it,,, and this was an exhibition of His power to lay down "His life".

It also says in John 19:30,,, He “gave up His Spirit”,,, as an act of His own strength and will,,, as He died on the cross.

“This command I have received from My Father,” He said.

The Father had commissioned or instructed the Lord to lay down His life and to rise again from among the dead.

His death and resurrection were essential acts in the fulfillment of the Father’s will.

Therefore,,, He became obedient unto death,,, and rose again the third day,,, according to the Scriptures.

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In these verses this morning,,, Jesus predicted His death,,, saying four times that He would voluntarily lay down His life (verse 11, 14, 17–18).

Because of this,,, it says that God The Father has a special love for Jesus because of His sacrificial obedience.

Jesus predicted His resurrection twice,,, and His authority over His own destiny.

His death was completely voluntary: Remember His words,,, No one takes it from Me.

Jesus wasn't just a helpless pawn on history’s chessboard.

No,,, Jesus did it because of His love for us!

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So as we go forward this morning to begin another week,,, we need to remember Jesus' love for us.

We need to do a better job than the disciples as we go forward and remember that Jesus did lay down His life for us,,, remember His words,,, No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again.

God wants the best for us,,, so much so,,, that He sent His son to die on a cross,,, for our sins.

And He did this,,, knowing that we are sinners,,, each one of us,,, but praise God,,, we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus,,, who loved us so much!

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