The Good Shepherd

Greetings.

Two goals I have today.:

1 - Deliver the message God has for you today

2 - I want you to grow in your love for the Bible

it is my prayer that we can each open our hearts and minds to what God wants to say to us. If you are talking notes, you might like to write down, Lord what do you want to say to me today?”

Pray

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About Sheep - Just what are they like

About shepherds - Just what are they like

Can sheep live without a shepherd?

No. Sheep cannot live without the shepherd. They are entirely dependent on the shepherd for everything. They require constant care and watching over. So leaving them unattended can put them at risk and greatly endanger their lives.

The Bible make many references to Shepherds

The most famous of which comes from Psalm 23, I will read that one soon, but let’s consider a few others just to get a feel of how the Bible uses the word shepherd.

Genesis 46:34 NASB95

you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.”

Shepherds despised

Genesis 48:15 NIV

Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

God as Shepherd

Numbers 27:17 NASB95

who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”

Concern for no shepherd….

2 Samuel 5:2 NASB95

“Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.’ ”

Saul had been shepherd, but not a good one, David would now be the one

NASB Psalm 28:9

Psalm 28:9 NASB95

Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.

A cry from the Psalmist

Then of course Psalm 23

Psalm 23 NASB95

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Read it all pausing to emphasis what a shepherd provides.

I find it fascinating to consider that the audience would have largely known this psalm and the crowd would have been mixed with this picture of a shepherd as being tender and caring and protector of sheep and those who despised them.

Jesus then utters these words - I am the Good Shepherd!

To some such relief, to others utter disbelief, how could anything good come from a shepherd.

Jesus does not want to talk about the business of shepherding here though, He wants to draw attention to being known and knowing Jesus.

Let’s examine the passage carefully.

In the verses before, Jesus described Himself as the door, the gate, the one who comes to give life. Now in this passage He opens up what this life is and how it is made possible

I would like to look at two themes here and pose a question.

John 10:11–20 NASB95

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?”

1 The Good shepherd lays down his life…. (changes passages to NIV)

5 times Jesus mentions this, laying down His life.

The Good Shepherd does this, the hired hand (ie the bad shepherd) does not

[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.

2 I know my own and they know Me

Sheep know the Shepherd

This reflects the relationship of Jesus and the Father

[14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

3 Jesus freely lays down His life

Freely

For all sheep

No one takes my life, I offer it

I have authority

I do it as my Father wants it……and we know each other

[15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] 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.”

Q, How do you respond to Jesus.

Jesus essentially told the crowd the same thing twice. I am the way into the place where you want to be, I am not a thief, I have come to give life. I know you, you know me, just like me and the Father…..

However, the crowd was divided.

Now us today, I do not expect we are going to be publicly divided about who Jesus is. but how about in our hearts?

Last Saturday - family movie night - War Room Movie - failing marriage - bad husband - forgiving wife - my daughters response - God’s challenge to me.

Do you love me?

How do we respond to Jesus?????

[19] There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. [20] Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” [21] Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” (ESV)