Jesus, The Good Shepherd

Introduction

The traveling the roads in Kenya...

When the roads were block by livestock we would just wait until the shepherds slowly but surely moved them from one side of the road to the other.

I was struck about how it was really a contrast between the modern world and the ancient world.

The shepherds often carry a long branch or staff for guiding the livestock. They also carry a weapon, called a rungu, to ward off dangers to the flock.

Their family and livelihood depends on their ability to lead the flock to food and to protect the flock from the many dangers.

I considered those shepherds this week as I prepared this message.

I don’t know which of these shepherds I saw were good shepherds or hired hands. I knew nothing about them.

But, this morning, as we consider John 10, we will see how Jesus is our one and only Good Shepherd.

Body: John 10:1-18

Verses 1-6

Direct Context: The Pharisees response to the man that Jesus just healed from blindness.

Larger Context: Ezekiel 34 presentation of the judgment against the wicked shepherds of Israel and how God Himself will both rescue His flock and appoint a new shepherd over His flock; a Good Shepherd.

Like the shepherds is Ezekiel 34, the religious leaders were supposed to be good shepherds of God’s people, but were, in fact, wicked shepherds who would harm the flock.

In contrast, Jesus will show through the rest of this passage that He is the Good Shepherd, wholly unlike the wicked shepherds.

Additionally, He will show the response of the sheep to the shepherd, of which we should take particular note of.

While most of us are not experts on the shepherding of sheep, and none of us are experts in shepherding sheep in the ancient Middle East, a few important points should be noted to better understand what Jesus is talking about here:

The sheepfold that Jesus is talking about is very likely a communal sheepfold where multiple shepherds kept their sheep.

Only the shepherds could enter through the opening, which was guarded by a gatekeeper (typically one of the shepherds or an assistant).

The opening wasn’t a gate per se, but usually just an opening which would be laid in front of at night in order to keep the sheep in and those who would harm the flocks out.

Each shepherd would lead their sheep out of the pen by their distinctive voice. Only their sheep would follow them.

The shepherds of the ANE would not drive their sheep, but instead would lead them out and their sheep would follow them to pasture.

Even though this would have been familiar to Jesus original audience, many of those listening don’t understand what Jesus is getting at, so He explain the figure of speech (or parable) in more detail.

In this explanation, Jesus will answer our key question this morning:

Key Question: What makes Jesus the Good Shepherd?

Verses 7-10

The word “door”, while accurate, can be difficult for a modern person to grasp because sheep pens didn’t technically have doors, at least what we might think of when we say the word door.

They might have gates, but typically the “gate” was a person who stood or laid the the gap in the wall.

Knowing this helps us to better grasp the concept here of Jesus being the “door” or the “gate.” He is the one who not only guards His sheep, but He is also the one who qualifies the sheep for entry into sheepfold.

Both of these ideas are found in verses 9-10 and give us our first answer to our key question:

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, provides for His sheep abundantly.

Jesus provides salvation for His sheep.

The only entryway into the flock of God is Jesus Himself.

Later in John’s Gospel Jesus will say it like this:

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus provides access to His “sheepfold,” the church.

He will “go in” or be part of this larger sheepfold.

We call this His church; all those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus provides nourishment for His sheep.

Pasture was nourishment for the sheep.

But, it goes even further, because Jesus offers abundant life; or genuine fullness of life.

Verses 11-13

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves His sheep sacrificially.

Again, there is a compare and contrast here between the good shepherd and a hired hand.

The hired hand is working for a paycheck, but isn’t invested in the life of the sheep enough to put his life on the line for the sheep.

The good shepherd, however, values his sheep so highly that he will even risk his own life to save his sheep.

We know that Jesus didn’t just pay lip service to this, but would, in fact, die for the salvation of His people.’

He further fleshes this out in verses 17-18...

Verse 17 would probably be better read like this: “Because the Father loves me, that is the reason I lay down my life.”

What we learn here is:

Jesus has the authority to lay His life down for His people.

Jesus has the power to raise His life up again for His people.

If He simply laid down His life He would be an inspiring, yet tragic figure in history. But, because He rose again, we serve the only Risen Savior who continues to shepherd His people.

Verses 14-16

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows His sheep intimately.

Verses 14-15 are amazing verses...

When Jesus says that He knows His sheep as the Father knows Him and He knows the Father, this speaks of an intimacy like no other relationship on earth.

Jesus knows everything about His people; our good, our bad, our hidden things, our longings, our weaknesses, our strengths, the things that we keep so hidden because we fear that if anyone knew it about us they might not love us. Everything.

And here’s the kicker: He loves us anyway. How much? So much that He laid down His life for us!

What does Jesus mean by “I have other sheep...”?

Dispersed Jews? Native Americans? Aliens?

This is likely a reference to the Gentiles who would believe and be saved.

The Good Shepherd will take the flock of the Jewish believers and the coming flock of the Gentile believers, and make them all one flock under the watch-care of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Himself.

So What?

Since Jesus, the Good Shepherd, provides of His sheep abundantly, loves His sheep sacrificially, and knows His sheep intimately, how do His sheep respond to Him?

His sheep trust Him.

Like the man from chapter 9, His people believe that He is the Promised Savior that we all need for both abundant life and eternal life.

His sheep know Him.

Notice that in this passage Jesus didn’t just say that He knows His sheep, He also says that His sheep know Him.

We know Him in the sense that we know that He is the Lord and Savior.

We also know Him in the sense that we continue to learn more about Him throughout our life.

We know His voice, in the sense that we can distinguish between the false voices that would attempt to lead us astray and His voice.

His sheep follow Him.

Unlike a military general, who sends soldiers out on the field while staying somewhere safe, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads His people.

It’s good to know that there is no where you can go the Jesus hasn’t gone first.

As we continue to follow Him, and don’t stray away, we will experience the safety and security of the Good Shepherd.

Unfortunately, when we stray, just like sheep tend to do, we will find ourselves in increasingly dangerous circumstances that can cause harm to ourselves and others.

He will always find His wandering sheep, but too often those sheep experience unnecessary suffering and long-term effects from their wanderings.