The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd Matthew Davis Parables of Christ / John 10:1–21 Introduction King James Version Chapter 10 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Good Evening church, welcome back as we continue our preaching through the Parables of Christ. Turn with me in your Bible’s to John Chapter ten, beginning in verse seven. Today’s parable, The Good Shepard compares us as the lost sheep, who need to find their way, and identifies Christ as the Good Shepherd, the perfect Shepherd who will guide us to God. Christ is described as the only door by which we can enter into the Kingdom and the only who can lay down His life for us. As we go through the parable tonight, I hope to teach you who Christ is and how we enter into His Kingdom. The Parable VV. 1-6 King James Version Chapter 10 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. The Parable is perhaps one of my favorites, teaching the nature of Christ and by which Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 1 access into the Kingdom is obtained. I love the parables, in that, Christ used social and cultural norms to express His teachings about His Kingdom. Shepherding is a way of life much understood by the audience, and yet, they did not understand the words of which Christ spake. He that entereth not by the door, not through the designated route, is he not a thief, a robber? Why would the shepherd climb the wall, or enter dig underneath, or enter by in between boards? But a robber, will he not enter by nefarious ways? Will he not enter by which way is sneaky, hidden, perhaps out of view of the public? It seems such common sense, we could think it’s silly to think about, to teach about, but I believe there needs to be much warning here, warning about whom your leaders are, which “shepherd” the organization follows. I’d call anyone crazy to think the enemy is not climbing over the sheep pen disguised as the shepherd. False christ’s, false pastors, ravaging wolves in sheeps clothing. They sneak their way in, they snare you up with vain deceit and traditions of man, and they lead millions to destruction. But the shepherd enters by the door, by the prescribed manner. And as he enters, the sheep know him, for he is their shepherd, and he leads them into pasture and into their pen. He protects them, he gives them nourishment, he will leave the ninety-nine to seek after the one lost. If you have ever been around sheep, those who’ve lived near me up in Utah, we see them regularly. They know who the shepherd is, don’t they? We’ve watched them by the thousands as they follow the shepherd from feeding ground to feeding ground, to the watering locations, to bed down. Side thought, but I believe sheep are a great analogy for God’s people - Sheep are followers, they are led. Sheep, in general, are not very bright animals, but they follow well. But the sheep, they follow the shepherd, they know his voice. They recognize him, and they know who to follow and who to ignore. If I were to show up and call the sheep to me, a stranger, do you think I will have much success? Not likely. They don’t know me, they don’t know my voice, they are will not follow me. We are like the sheep, in that, we have a shepherd. But do we know who the shepherd is? Do we recognize His voice? Are we known of Him? If we know our shepherd, we will not follow the voice of the stranger, but if we do not, we cannot follow the voice of the shepherd, and can be stolen away from the thief. It is so vital to know our shepherd today, it is so vital to recognize His voice. Scriptures continuously warn against the vain doctrines of man, those who come with promises of life, but only bring the doctrine of death. It has become so prevalent in today’s world, so, common, so everywhere, that we must really be careful of that thief who enters by climbing over. We must guard ourselves. Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 2 There are so many people who are offended by the gospel, who are offended by the naming of immorality as sin, and the enemy knows that. He knows we live in a time where everything is “offensive” and he will act upon that. That’s why we see so many transgender, or gay, or women pastors entering the scene. That’s why we see so many churches performing weddings that are an abomination to the Lord. It’s why we have denominations that teach multiple levels of heaven rather than the lake of eternal fire. Because the thief who comes not to save, but to kill and to steal will preach these vain doctrines to steal away the sheep from the pen. Just today, about 7am, I got a text from someone looking to start coming to our services. I talked with her a little bit about our beliefs, and then she asked the question - “are you up there?” Confused, I said, what do you mean by “up there?” She says, “Is lust a sin?” I knew it then, I knew that I would lose her, though I prayed for a better outcome. “Yes, in accordance with Biblical teachings and the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, lust is a sin.” Immediately she ended the conversation and blocked me. So church, it is vital we know the voice of our shepherd lest we become stolen away by these vain and false teachings. “This parable spake Jesus, but they understood not.” Remember the first message we had in this series? I believe it was the Parable of the Sower. Christ taught of the parable, that “unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.” Remember that the parable is not spoken with the intention of causing those to not understand, but that the lack of understanding is a result of the teaching. Only those of whom the Holy Spirit is doing a work will Spiritual teachings be understood. So what of the door, or the shepherd? What do they have to do with us or the church? The Parable Explained VV. 7-14 King James Version Chapter 10 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 3 them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Jesus Christ is the door to the sheep. He is the only means by which we can obtain salvation. Jesus is, as He said, “the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus further declares that “no man can come to the Father, but through me.” Have any of you ever stopped and contemplated how offensive this is to the world? Think about that - We live in a time where to claim to be the only source of something get’s you called a bigot. There are many who believe that a heaven exists, that there really is an afterlife. But the moment you declare there is only one way, and that way is through the personage of Jesus Christ, all of a sudden your a bigot. But what does the Word say? It says “I am the way,” Jesus is the only way. “The truth,” truth is not circumstantial. It is not perceived, but truth is a person. Jesus is the only truth there is. All truth stems from Him. He says, “I am the life,” all life is given of Christ. Those who shall live will receive of that life by the blood of Christ. He says “no man can come to the Father but through me.” You no what, if it means I’m bigoted to proclaim the gospel of Christ as the only means by which we can obtain salvation, then call me a bigot. I will wear that title proudly. But I will tell you this, as Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus. “12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Honestly, it is not that the way to eternal life is offensive, it’s that the way to eternal life is not our way. Proverbs 14:12 tells us that “there is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” What offends men is that the way of Christ is not usually the way they want to go. Unlike other parables we are used to, where the parable is given and then explained, what we find here is more of an expansion of verses one-six. There, Christ is the Shepherd who enters by the gate, and all others are the thieves who came to steal and to kill - Here, Christ is the gate. There are many attempts to link the saying to old teachings of the shepherd sleeping in the doorway of gate, but evidence doesn’t support the connection. Ancient times typically had a guard at the gate, in which the pen would hold multiple different flocks. The pen here appears to hold none other than the flock of Christ. This next verse has caused some initial difficulty in writing out for you. “All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to me.” The text is difficult to interpret if we understand “all” to be “all-inclusive” of everyone. Certainly, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Elijah, Noah, were not thieves who came to steal and to kill. The text seems to be hinting upon local leaders, even perhaps more well known leaders, whose concern was their own selfish motivations and gains. Who come with Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 4 brutal tactics to ravage the flock, the messianic pretenders who promise salvation and freedom, but only lead to war, suffering and poverty. We can extend the words here to today - For all who come pretending after Christ are but thieves who have come to steal and to kill. Christ has demonstrated the freedom God has promised comes, not by the sword, by wars, by political games, but it came by the cross. Those who belong to Christ will not be listen, will not follow these ravaging wolves who seek to destroy the flock. They will not follow the stranger, for they know and they trust the voice of Christ. Demonstrating Christ as the door, there is this awesome promise and invitation offered - He says, “all who enter by me will be saved.” How awesome! What is so, I don’t normally use this word, but, ‘magical,’ so inspirational, so awe-filling is the extend of God’s grace shown in the statement. The only requirement for salvation is to simply enter by the door. You don’t need to find a window to pry open. You don’t need to find a back door, a hole in the ceiling, a crawl space underneath. You only need to enter by the door. If all who enter by the door are saved, I question, who then can enter that door? John 6:37 King James Version Chapter 6 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. All can enter the door - All who desire, all who would the Father has given Him. He says, I will not cast you out. That is a beautiful promise, there is an open invitation, and a guarantee that you will not be cast forth. Romans 10:13 KJV 1900 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How do you enter the door? You call upon the name of the Lord, and you shall be saved. What does this saving look like? 1 John 1:7 KJV 1900 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. You are saved from sin, you are cleansed from the stains on your garment and are made, as it were, as white as snow. You are saved from the eternal death “for the wages of sin is death,” and you receive the inheritance of God’s children. But you must enter in through the door, which is, the personage of Christ. Christ’s teachings switch a little to personality, while others come that they might steal, kill, and destroy, Christ comes to give life. The purpose of the enemy is to bring you to destruction, to snare you up and drag you into the pits of hell. The purpose of Christ is Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 5 to save you unto eternal life, and that you would have it abundantly. The psalmist tells us: Psalm 16:11 KJV 1900 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Notice the difference between the false messiahs and false teachings verses the purpose of The Way, The Truth, and The Life? Notice the love He has for His sheep, “I come that you would have life, and that you would have it abundantly.” Christs desire is to have us with Him in the Kingdom of God. And how does He do that? John 10:11 KJV 1900 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. He gives His life for us. Whereas the thieve who comes to steal and to kill, the Shepherd comes to lay down His life. “The wages of sin is death,” as Paul wrote in Romans. “For by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Because we are all sinners, because we are all transgressors of the law, we are all condemned to the eternal death, to suffering in the eternal lake of fire. So the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ stepped up, and He lived a perfect life for us, that He would die on our behalf. 2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. I am so thankful for this, so thankful that He would lay down His life for us, for me, that I could escape the curses I would bring upon myself. I am so grateful that Christ demonstrated to us the perfect love John 15:13 KJV 1900 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Christ then demonstrates the why - because we are His. The hireling does not care for the sheep, because they are not his. But the shepherd cares for the sheep, because they belong to Him. I think there is something to be said to the ministers, to the pastors of God’s churches. Are you a hireling? Is the pastorate nothing more than a job to you, or is it a divine calling in which God puts you into an office? The hireling has no loyalty to the sheep, no real love for them. But the shepherd cares for the sheep, he will lay down his life for the sheep. The Good Shepherd, even the Lord Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 6 Jesus Christ, laid down His life for all sheep. We are His and we were purchased with a price. We were purchased by the blood of the Lamb. And I love verse 14, please read that with me: John 10:14 KJV 1900 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. He knows His sheep - Are you His? Do you belong to Him, do you bare His name? You are known by Him. He knows you by name, He knows how many hairs are upon your head. He knows about your scars, your feelings, you temptations, your weakness. He knows you inside, and He loves you. Christianity isn’t religion, it’s relationship. He know’s you intimately. He loves you, and He is known of by you. You know Him, you know His voice, you know His will. It is often asked of me why I believe. How can I be sure? I am sure because God has made Himself manifested unto me. So I can say that I 1 John 5:20 KJV 1900 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. As Paul wrote to Timothy, so can we say: 2 Timothy 1:12 KJV 1900 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Surrender VV. 15-18 John 10:15–18 KJV 1900 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. Christ set’s the example of surrender - As the Father knoweth me, so I know Him, and I lay down my life. Christ laid down His life in accordance to the will of the Father above. What a lesson we can learn from - Often, we are going to find ourselves in positions we don’t want to be in. God may have up in an area we don’t want to me, in a leadership Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 7 position we don’t want, or ask us to lay down our lives. One of the greatest lessons we can learn from Christ is one of my favorite verses “Father, if it at all be possible, allow this cup to pass from me. Nevertheless, not mine, but your will be done.” How we read verse sixteen greatly affects our interpretation of the passage. Many fail, unfortunately, to ask the who, what,when, where, and why when dissecting a passage. I have heard many teachings on the verse, ranging from Christ talking of aliens on other planets as His other sheep, to beliefs that other Jewish people left the middle East and came to the Americas “the nephites” as His other sheep. But in Christ’s conversation with the Jewish audience, who would He refer to that the audience would understand? The gentiles. The gospel of Christ opens the doors, gives way to, the gentiles. Jesus Christ is soul winning, He has His heart on the world. Not just the Jews, not just the gentiles, but for everyone. John 3:16 KJV 1900 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Christ teaches that we shall hear His voice, and come into the fold, and we shall be one fold, with one shepherd. I have the great commission in mind - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. DA Carson says the following: The Gospel according to John c. Expansion (10:7–18) Jesus has just set out the relationship between the Father and the Son as the analogue of the relationship between the sheep and the shepherd. But the relationship between the Father and the Son is more fundamental than that. The love of the Father for the Son, and the love of the Son for the Father, are logically prior to the love of God for the world, and the basis that makes salvation possible (cf. notes on 3:35; 5:20; 8:29; 14:31). If Jesus has just mentioned the unique intimacy he enjoys with his Father, he is now at pains to elucidate why the Father loves him. It is not that the Father withholds his love until Jesus agrees to give up his life on the cross and rise again. Rather, the love of the Father for the Son is eternally linked with the unqualified obedience of the Son to the Father, his utter dependence upon him, culminating in this greatest act of obedience now just before him: willingness to bear the shame and ignominy of Golgotha, the isolation and rejection of death, the sin and curse reserved for the Lamb of God. The last clause of the verse should probably be read as a purpose clause: Jesus lays down his life in order to take it up again. Jesus’ sacrificial death was not an end in itself, Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 8 and his resurrection an afterthought. His death was with the resurrection in view. He died in order to rise, and by his rising to proceed toward his ultimate glorification (12:23; 17:5) and the pouring out of the Spirit (7:37–39) so that others, too, might live. This last verse here, listen to this, it is marvelous: John 10:18 KJV 1900 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. He laid down His life willingly! No power of man nor scheme of the devil could take the life of Christ. His life was in His own hand, whether He died or not was a personal choice made of love for His creation. Christ alone had the power over His own life, and Christ alone has risen from the grave upon His own power and His own merit. What is so marvelous about this? Not only was Christ so willing to die for the sheep, for us, but it was the commandment given of the Father. In such, Christ displayed the greatest of submission, and the perfection of God’s love is displayed. Romans 5:8 KJV 1900 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Summary The Good shepherd compares us as sheep, to the false shepherds and messiahs who would sneak in with the intent to steal and kill - to further their own self-interests at the expense of the sheep, verses the good shepherd who enters the gate, and knows the sheep, and is known of the sheep. The followers of Christ are the sheep who know Christ and are not carried away by every vain imagination and teachings of mans doctrines. Christ is the door, the only means by which men can enter into the Kingdom of God. This is possible do to the mutual love between God the Father and God the Son, which made the atonement possible and made Christ willing to die for His creation. Because Christ first loved us, and died in our stead, can we call upon the name of the Lord and be turned not away. Invitation There may be many listening to this tonight who are not of the fold of Christ. You may have not yet entered into the door that leads to eternal life. You have been wandering, like all sheep have, astray, and you here the call back. Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 9 Romans 10:13 KJV 1900 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Your a whosoever - you are a creation of God - you can, just as we have, call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. You can experience the greatness of our Gods love and mercy. You can know what grace is. I can tell you that I know Christ personally, I know who it is that I have believed in. I’m not asking you to follow some blind fairytale, but I’m asking you to follow a real person, the living God, the one who died and rose again for you. Christ is the Good Shepherd. Christ is the door, the only door by which you can enter into His flock. So if you are ready, if you are willing, if you saying “pastor, quit talking and tell me what to do,” then I’m ready to help you right now. It begins with the admission that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. That our ways, that your ways, are offensive to God, contrary to His perfect law. To Believe that Christ is God in the flesh - The creator of the Heavens and the Earth. The author of our salvation. That He stepped into a world He created, lived a perfect, sinless life to made made sin in our place by His death on the cross - That He would raise again the third day giving victory over sin and death. And to confess Him as Lord and Savior before men, asking Him into your heart. Christ says: Matthew 10:32 KJV 1900 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. and Paul writes Romans 10:9 KJV 1900 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. So if you are ready, begin by asking Him into your heart in our closing prayer, you can repeat after me - And then confess Him before your fellow men, and follow Him the days of your life. Lets pray Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:44 PM June 9, 2021. 10