The Good Shepherd

Thieves and Robbers

Jesus uses the analogy of the shepherds of the day to illustrate His purpose. He did this to identify himself with the old testament pillars. All of them at one point were shepherds. Abraham, Moses, and David were all shepherds at one point in their lives. By using this analogy, He was demonstrating that He is a person that God is using for His glory. He used Abraham to create a nation. He used Moses to lead the people from captivity in Egypt. He used David as king to establish Israel as a world power. Jesus is all three. He has established a people (Chrisitians), He has rescued us from captivity (sin). He will be king forever and we will reign with Him.

He also used this analogy to demonstrate how He relates to his people. We will look at this a little later today and much more next week.

Jesus says that all those that came before him and did not enter through the gate were thieves and robbers. In Israel a shepherd would lead his sheep to pasture during the day, but at night would take them to the sheepfold. This was a place that was surrounded by a big wall and secured by a gatekeeper. All the shepherds would bring their sheep to the sheepfold at night. There would be multiple flocks in the sheepfold. Only the shepherds who had sheep in the sheepfold were allowed to enter.

Thieves and robbers knew that they couldn’t get past the gatekeeper, so they would climb the walls to steal and kill the sheep. Their intent was never for the well-being of the sheep, but to kill them.

Old Testament Thieves and Robbers

Jesus is referencing all the false prophets, wicked kings, corrupt priests, and others that claimed to be the Messiah. There were many false prophets that tried to do harm to the nation of Isreal by leading them astray.

Ezekiel 13:3–4 NASB95

‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing. “O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins.

The priests in the old testament

Jeremiah 5:31 NASB95

The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?

The book of Kings demonstrates the wickedness of the majority of the kings that led Israel. You will find the Bible to say “King such and such did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Also, there were many who came before Jesus claiming to be the Messiah.

Modern Day Thieves and Robbers

There are people today that are trying to destroy and lead God’s people astray today. Prosperity preachers, self-help preachers, Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses are all forms of of modern day thieves and robbers.

Voddie Bauchman says they are preacheretts, that preach sermonettes, to Christianettes. Pastors should be preaching and expositing the Scriptures. They should be telling people the gospel. They need to let people know that Jesus is God that has died for their sins and will save them. Pastors need to let people know that they are desperately wicked in need of a Savior (Jesus Christ). Pastors need to tell people that hell is a real place that people go to apart from Christ. Pastors need to tell people that Jesus is the only way of salvation. Pastors need to tell people that Jesus is returning and going to reign as an eternal King!

The Good Shepherd

The good shepherd enters through the sheep gate, calls his sheep by name, leads them out, and goes ahead of them.

Jesus is the gate

Often times the entrance to the sheepfold did not have a gate, so the door keeper would lay across the entrance of the sheepfold. He would serve as the gate to keep people out. This is the picture that Jesus is painting regarding him being the gate.

There is only one way to get to the Father.

John 14:6 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The only way to be a part of the “holy sheepfold is through Jesus Christ.

Jesus calls his sheep by name

The trait of a good shepherd was that he knew all of his sheep personally. He would name them by their characteristics. Things like black tail, floppy ear, or big boy. You get the picture.

He would also check everyone of them before they went into the sheepfold to see if they had injured themselves throughout the day or if they had picked up and parasites that would infect the fold. If they did, he would cure them.

Jesus knows his children personally and calls us by name. He knows everything about us and cares for us.

Luke 12:7 NASB95

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Jesus leads them out

A good shepherd would know where the good grass was to feed the sheep. He knew where there was fresh water for them to drink. He would lead them to the place that was best for them.

Jesus knows our path. He knows where we need to be. He leads us into the paths of life that we need to walk. He knows what is best. He gives one simple command: “Follow Me”

Jesus goes ahead of them.

A good shepherd would always go ahead of the sheep, so that he could ward off dangers to the sheep. He would also be looking for better places to graze.

Jesus has gone ahead before us. He has become flesh and lived a perfect life. he has experienced everything we will experience. He knows the dangers of this world and leads us away to better places.

Hebrews 4:15 NASB95

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

The Sheep

The sheep would only follow their shepherd. They would run away from strangers. We must ask ourselves if we are following the good shepherd.

Let’s check and see by three passages of scripture.

Repent and believe

Mark 1:15 NASB95

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Repent means to have an inward change. We must have a change inwardly from sin to Christ. We must come to the point that we have faith in Christ to free us from the bondage of sin. We must receive His forgiveness and salvation.

Believe means to have an outward change. This simply means following Jesus.

So how do we follow Jesus?

Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him

Matthew 16:24 NASB95

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

To deny yourself means to take yourself off of the throne of your heart and allow Christ to rule your life. You have this choice daily

To take up your cross means to put to death the old self and ways. This is a daily activity to crucify the old sinful ways. You have this choice daily

To follow Him is to go where He leads and do what He instructs. Fulfill your calling. You have this choice daily.

So what does it mean to fulfill your calling?

Make Disciples

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Are you making disciples. Are you pointing people to Jesus every day? Are you intentionally pouring your life into others for the sake of their salvation, walk with God, and ability for them to make disciples?