The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-18

21. THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Consider the relationship between a herd of sheep and their shepherd. A shepherd guides, nourishes, and protects the sheep of his flock. The role of the sheep is one of response. When their shepherd calls, they listen. When he leads them to grassy pastures, they eat. When a wolf or thief attempts to overtake them, they are dependent on their shepherd’s efforts to protect them and lead them into safety. Our relationship with Jesus is the same—he calls us, gives us all we need, and keeps us from evil. Our job is simply to know and follow his voice.

On his blog, Tim Challies shares a story about four hundred sheep dying by walking off a cliff, one after another, while their shepherds were eating breakfast (Tim Challies, “Dumb as Sheep,” Challies [blog], December 16, 2009). When you compare these shepherds with Jesus in John 10, it’s easy to see why he’s such a “good shepherd” (v. 11). In contrast with neglectful shepherds who leave their dumb flock to their own folly, Jesus actually sacrifices his own life for theirs. As his disciples, we can trust Jesus’s steadfast love for us by remembering the price he paid to make us his own. Therefore, when we hear his voice, we can follow it, knowing that nothing can befall us that his loving shepherding does not allow.

Today’s message -

Let us Pray

John 10:1–18

I. THE STORY—vv. 1–6 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Christ often used parables, or stories, to explain a truth.

A. Salvation—v. 1. Christ uses this as an illustration of being the only way to heaven—John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[a] by which we must be saved.”

No other way – if someone teaches that they are a thief, a robber

Thief, robber only intent to steal, kill, wound, destroy the sheep

B. Shepherd—v. 2. Christ is the Great Shepherd.

The Gatekeeper – the Holy Spirit will only open the door for Jesus to lead people to Heaven, to save them from the thief, robber, false teachings

C. Savior—v. 3. The door to heaven is opened only by Christ our Lord and Savior. After we accept Him, He leads us.

We recognize His voice, we can identify when it is not Him trying to lead us astray

Active Verbs used here – opens, listens, calls, leads

Difference between listen and hear

The word used here is akouo – to attend to, consider what is being said, give ear to a teacher

Good shepherd leads not drives the sheep (psalm 23) –

Difference between American ranching and middle east shepherding

Sheep are dependent on the shepherd – remember the opening story?

D. Strangers—vv. 4–5. Sinners do not follow Christ because they do not know His voice.

They do not recognize Him

E. Spiritual—v. 6. This story was a “spiritual lesson” but the people didn’t seem to understand.

Shepherds were widely known

Not accepted in polite society though –

One of the lowest professions

Jesus gave them a story but they did not understand so He acknowledges himself as

II. THE SHEPHERD— The shepherd alone determines who may enter the fold. He guards the sheep, provides for them, and cares for them. This genuine shelter shows the difference between a true shepherd and a hired hand.

vv. 7–15 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

A. Person—v. 7. Christ is the door. He is the only way in which man may enter heaven. Note the 8 “I” statements of Jesus that John records. These make Him a personal God.

I am the door, I am the door

I came that they would have life

I am the good shepherd, I am the good shepherd

I know my own

I know the Father

I lay my life down

B. Problem—v. 8. Those who came before Christ were thieves and robbers. Those who were “spiritual minded” did not accept them.

Not the prophets or John the Baptist

Those who pretend to do God’s work but do it for selfish gain –

Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees

C. Pardon—v. 9. Those who came to Christ shall be saved. Compare Romans

10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

D. Personality—vv. 10–11.

The thief comes to Jesus comes to

Steal Give Life

Kill Lay His own life down

Destroy So we may have life more abundantly

1. Life—v. 10. Christ came to give life and more enjoyable life.

2. Love—v. 11. Christ, the Good Shepherd gave His life for His sheep.

E. Practice—vv. 12–14. The “hireling” who works in God’s work professionally (without a call) doesn’t stay with the sheep. To him it is just a job or a duty.

F. Protection—v. 15. He gave His life for the sheep.

Not by accident, not in an unworthy manner (Darwin awards)

Chooses to fight to the death to protect His sheep -

What a place of safety—IN CHRIST!

III. THE SURRENDER— The good shepherd who sacrifices his life for the sheep also relates to them in trust and intimacy; he joins them with other flocks, and in the case of the good shepherd, he dies for the sheep.

vv. 16–18 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may 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 I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

A. Soul-winning—v. 16.

LDS use this verse to justify their name and religion

Most Theologians that Jesus is referring to the Gentiles

Woman at the well, etc

Others need Christ. We should seek to win them to Christ. About 95 percent of Christians never win a soul to Christ!

B. Surrender—v. 17. Christ gave His life willingly. He was not forced to die. He died for His friends, for His enemies, for all men—everywhere.

C. Sacrifice—v. 18. “No one can kill me without my consent—I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right and power to lay it down when I want to and also the right and power to take it again. For the Father has given me this right”—LB.

As a follower of Christ – if you know the shepherd and know His voice – what are doing – are you

Keep Jesus to yourself, private relationship or are you out there leading others to Christ by word and example?

As a follower of Christ – if you know the shepherd and know His voice – what are doing – are you

walking aimlessly towards the cliff because that is the way you want to go or are you willing to surrender and follow Him; His voice, His directions, His path?

As a follower of Christ – if you know the shepherd and know His voice – what are doing – are you

Grazing and feeding yourself or are you willing to sacrifice and laydown voluntarily your dreams and desires to do His?

Let us pray