The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd
John 10:1-21
January 1, 2006
A. The reading of the Text
" “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know 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 will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes 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 command I have received from My Father.” Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”" (John 10:1-21, NKJV) [i]
B. The review of the text or Introduction
Jesus, here in the gospel of John gives us a parable to farther more explain to the religious leaders who he is and who they are. This was told to them after they denied that he could give sight to a man born blind from birth. Jesus tells who he is through a parable which is a story with figurative language, in other words it is a truth put in a story form. The Greek definition is placing beside for the purpose of comparison.[ii]
C. The relevance of the Text
What Jesus is telling these folks who did deny him is that you know about shepherds and sheep. He shows that He is the good shepherd which means that there are bad shepherds and you Pharisee are the bad shepherds. The sheep are the people who have not sold the soul to the world. Jesus shows them the natural things they experienced daily when they would leave their homes but they did not want to understand, see doing this time the wealthy were the ones who had sheep. The sheep where keep in a pen in front of the home and was called a sheepfold, a way to show their social status and the Pharisee understood this because they to were wealthy.
The Holy Spirit shows us here today in this text that if there are good Shepherds there are also those bad shepherds, BE AWARE SHEEP! Three things I want to share with you today: 1. The voice of the Shepherd, 2. The Kinds of Shepherds and 3. The True Shepherd.
I. The voice of the Shepherd vv. 1-5
" “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”" (John 10:1-5, NKJV) [iii]
1. Jesus explains this very clearly to these Pharisee.
a. Jesus says, First if you did not come through the door and came and another way you are a thief and that’s not all you are also a robber.
b. The name thief transfers to a false teacher
c. The robber is and Embezzler he steals by pretending his is someone he’s not.
d. They do not honor the Law of God in the eight commandment do not steal.
2. But the true shepherds come right up to the door, he’s not and imposter.
a. “Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you." (Revelation 3:20, The Message) [iv]
b. The sheep are God’s and God put his son Jesus to be the shepherd and the sheep knows the shepherd.
c. My question to you, do you know the Jesus?
3. When Jesus puts his shepherd’s in place do you know who they are?
a. How can we know them by there voice, they speak the same as the owner of the sheep God himself.
b. And his shepherd’s say the things he says.
c. Strange shepherd’s we should recognized and run away, because they mean not good.
Application apply to ones life
Stop listing to these strange men of the television most of them are false teachers. "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15, NKJV) [v]
Illustration
A friend of minds, when I was in college worked in a fast for restaurant. A made it to manager. One year I came for the summer and he begin to tell how much money he made and how he made it…
T/S
False teachers come in all kinds.
II. The Kinds of Shepherds vv.6-13
"Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep." (John 10:6-13, NKJV) [vi]
Explain the text
1. Jesus is speaking to these people but they did not want to understand, they acted like they had know idea of what he was talking about.
a. We to can witness that today among today’s religious crowds.
2. So Jesus says again in ver. 7 I am the Door!
a. Those that came before me or thieves and robbers.
b. The word before Me is has nothing to do was time but position.
c. Anyone who thinks that they are above me is a thief a false teacher.
d. The problem with false teachers is that they harm the sheep, example;
a. They Insentient Pleasure and Loving they lack in perception of Pleasure and love. "For Israel’s watchmen are blind, the whole lot of them. They have no idea what’s going on. They’re dogs without sense enough to bark, lazy dogs, dreaming in the sun— But hungry dogs, they do know how to eat, voracious dogs, with never enough. And these are Israel’s shepherds! They know nothing, understand nothing. They all look after themselves, grabbing whatever’s not nailed down. “Come,” they say, “let’s have a party. Let’s go out and get drunk!” And tomorrow, more of the same: “Let’s live it up!” " (Isaiah 56:10-12, The Message) [vii]
b. Another problem is that they scatter the Flock. "“So here is what I, God, Israel’s God, say to the shepherd-leaders who misled my people: ‘You’ve scattered my sheep. You’ve driven them off. You haven’t kept your eye on them. Well, let me tell you, I’m keeping my eye on you, keeping track of your criminal behavior." (Jeremiah 23:2, The Message) [viii]
c. They also lead the sheep Astray: "“My people were lost sheep. Their shepherds led them astray. They abandoned them in the mountains where they wandered aimless through the hills. They lost track of home, couldn’t remember where they came from." (Jeremiah 50:6, The Message) [ix]
d. They Prey Upon The Flock Instead Of Feeding It: “They fleece the flock taking money in exchange for lies.
e. Ver 12 of John tells it all. "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them." (John 10:12, NKJV) [x]
Application apply to ones life
Saints be very careful of the false teaching go on in today’s world, test everything you hear against scripture.
Illustration
A bank teller is not trained on identifying false money but they are trained on identifying true money that when false money comes they know it’s not true.
T/S
We need to learn who the only true Shepherd is.
III. The True Shepherd vv. 14-21
"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know 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 will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes 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 command I have received from My Father.” Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”" (John 10:14-21, NKJV) [xi]
1. Jesus end all debates “ I am the Good Shepherd…”
a. One great thing about this parable and others is that he explains it and make it so clear.
b. I am the good Shepherd and am known of mind.
c. He says even as the father knows me, I know him and he know I will lay my life down for his sheep.
2. Verse 16 tells us that God does not want one sheep lost. "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:16, NKJV) [xii]
3. "“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?" (Luke 15:4, NKJV) [xiii]
a. Jesus uses the percentage “he says out of one hundred if one or two or ten I will leave the rest and get the lost.
4. Jesus say’s I lay down my life of my own free will and no one takes it. This comes from the Father.
Application apply to ones life
Remember that there is only one Kind of Shepherd and that’s the Master Jesus Christ himself.
T/S
Jesus did lay down his life for us on Calvary’s hill
Conclusion
Do you know who the Good Shepherd really is? Then hear his voice and come to him.
Invitation
Does this message explain the text, persuades the mind, obligates the will, feed the soul, excites the emotion, and touches the life?
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[i] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[ii]Bullinger, E. W. (1898). Figures of speech used in the Bible (Page 751). London; New York: Eyre & Spottiswoode; E. & J. B. Young & Co.
[iii] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[iv] Peterson, E. H. (2003). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language. Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.
[v] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[vi] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[vii] Peterson, E. H. (2003). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language. Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.
[viii] Peterson, E. H. (2003). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language. Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.
[ix] Peterson, E. H. (2003). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language. Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.
[x] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[xi] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[xii] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[xiii] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.