John: The Shepherd
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Exegetical & Homiletic Point: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the Sheep
Intro
Intro
Kids: What makes a great cow or sheep farmer?
Recap
John showing us why we should believe in Jesus
Healed a man bron blind on the Sabbath
The Pharisees did not like that! (Pharisees a sect of strict religious Jews)
Passage teaches us 4 things about Jesus the Good Shepherd - two things to do, two things to know.
Hear the Shepherd (v1-6)
Hear the Shepherd (v1-6)
This passage joins right on where the previous passage left off. Jesus is speaking to Pharisees, who had just excommunicated a man for speaking truth. What does Jesus have to say them?
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
OK, so Jesus is basically using a parable, a figure of speech, to teach something to his hearers. In this case he’s using the idea of a sheepfold or sheep pen. It used to be that sheep were kept in pens, with a watchman hired to watch over them at night. Then the Shepherd would come and lead the sheep out each day to wander the hills and alleys in search of good food and water. At the end of the day the Shepherd would lead them back to ensure they get safely locked up for the night. Because the sheep knew their shepherd by the call he made, he would go in front of them to lead them.
But what is this sheep stuff an analogy for? It is a picture of God’s people. In the OT there are quite a few times that God’s people are described like a flock, with God as their shepherd. Probably one of the most famous examples is Ps 23. “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths, for his name’s sake.” Ps 23:1–3.
Jesus uses this analogy in a few different ways here, but he starts by talking about differentiating between shepherds and someone of nefarious intent.
In a sheep pen, how do you know who is up to no good? Well the folks who steer clear of the gate, where the watchman is, and try to sneak in another way are clearly the bad guys. Why would they sneak in the hard way?
Jesus calls them a thief and robber. We think of a thief and robber basically being the same things, but the robber may be better rendered "bandit” or “insurrectionist” - they defy God’s order to take what they want for themselves.
This is unlike the shepherd who is their true leader, who is recognized by the gatekeeper, and comes in the proper place. This is what Jesus says next:
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
So who is the gatekeeper? Based on the context, this seems to be the religious leaders - ideally they’re supposed to guard the flock entrusted to them. In this case they were supposed, let the Christ in to collect the sheep they were watching on his behalf. They had the Law and the Prophets, they should have recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of their religion. But instead they were content to have thieves and robbers climb in to assault the sheep.
Nevertheless, the ideal gatekeeper does recognize the true shepherd of the sheep and happily lets him in to take charge.
The shepherd comes and calls his sheep to lead them out. In this parable, the shepherd knows the sheep so intimately that he knows them by name. Each individually!
They are called forth from the pen, and the Shepherd leads God’s people by going on ahead calling to them to follow.
Now, remember that the word “Pastor” literally means Shepherd. So put the in here as you read. This is referring to the true Pastor of the flock, and I don’t mean mere men like me, this is pointing to the truest and best Pastor who leads his flock forth.
God’s people however, will not heed the calls from strange shepherds. They will flee far away! They don’t recognize their voice. We distinguish between the Shepherd and the others by the entry method & the voice. The ones who sneak in the back way are discounted, as are the ones who do not have the voice of the shepherd.
Who are these robbers and strangers coming to God’s people? We should be careful of over-applying parables, so I’m being careful of trying not to import into the text meaning that is not already there. With that said, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Jesus is referreing to one or both of these
1) Satan - The devil who comes to steal life and in rebellion against God. He is a deceiver and hell-bent on tearing down what God builds. He would love to see God’s people scattered maimed and destroyed.
2) This idea of thieves and strangers could also refer to those people who do not lead properly. Including the Sanhedrin and pharisees of Israel in Jesus day. They were pretty much acting on behalf of Satan because they were not leading in a Godly way.
But Jesus has told us several times already in John that those who belong to him, that is His sheep, will hear his voice. Those who are enabled by God, those who are made new by the HS will hear the voice of God in Jesus Christ and follow him.
That is the same for us! We must hear the voice of Jesus calling and seek after him. He has gone on ahead of us, so seek him! He knows his sheep and leads them along.
Some of us heard the voice of the Shepherd early in life, from infancy. Some of us heard the voice of the Shepherd as young adults, some of us heard the voice later in life. But no matter when you hear the voice, Listen to it!
But as you go, reject the voice of strangers. Run from false teachers. Reject Satan and all his works.
Typical of what Jesus has said before, thos who stand against Him, don’t understand him. They are blind:
Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Remember there are “True” figures of Speech.
two things to do, two things to know. One down.
Enter By the Shepherd’s Gate (v7-10)
Enter By the Shepherd’s Gate (v7-10)
While Jesus is referring to himself as the shepherd, he mixes His metaphors and also calls himself the gate. A gate that signifies salvation. A gate that is for the sheep:
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
Gate for the sheep.
The only way in or out!
WILL be saved. There is no issue about certainty. It does not put you on a path to salvation, or give you a good chance. The one who enters through Jesus will be saved.
Have you entered by the gate?
The result? The good life. Life to the full. (not just sitting on clouds).
The alternative?
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Satan comes to steal life, not like Jesus.
Jesus gives life, not necessarily a pleasurable time here and now, but the fullness of life in living in our “destiny” so to speak. Living here for the better and to eternity in perfection.
two things to do, two things to know. Two down.
The Shepherd Died for His flock (v11-13)
The Shepherd Died for His flock (v11-13)
Shepherds are not soft soppy guys with lambs on their knees and shining faces, more like a drover. Does the hard work. Braves the elements. Is savage toward the threats, diligent to protect the flock while still caring. The Rod & Staff. Rescue & Defend.
Now Jesus comes to the point which we already knew: Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the good Pastor.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
Good shepherd, unlike the shepherds of Israel “Hired Hands” -
Priests who will not guide the people to Jesus Christ,
Pastors who will not use the rod, eternally being “nice,”
Elders who will accommodate wolves in the midst,
Ministers who will mooch off the congregation and give them only sweet platitudes in return.
Just as bad as heavy handed church leaders who kick people out of church on a whim? Leaders who refuse to take seriously their duty to guard the flock by kicking out the wolves and stopping the fence jumpers.
Shepherd pretenders make the sheep serve themselves and then they abandon their posts.
These hired hands, watchmen and shepherds flee when danger approaches. Either by cowardly tolerance or by actively legging it. And our culture is a hotbed of both!
But Jesus is different!
Weird that the shepherd would die for the lower sheep. Like David, protector of the flock.
Jesus cares for the sheep, laying down his life for them, the powerless sheep:
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
That love is what saves, but is also our pattern:
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
two things to do, two things to know. Three down.
The Shepherd Knows His Sheep (v14-21)
The Shepherd Knows His Sheep (v14-21)
The Sheep Know the shepherd in a special way, like Jesus and the Father.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
A special knowledge, not just about, but relational. Crazy that it mimics the Love between Jesus & Father!
Sacrificial love.
Not only for the ones of that present day, but others too:
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
“other” sheep - the gentiles to be brought in - you & me,
One flock - Not Israel & church separate.
Jesus does something worthy of love. A deed worthy of reward (i.e. Isaiah 53:11–12). Philippians 2:8–9 -
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Jesus is the only one with true free volition to be able to make this choice. It also shows that the apparent “triumph” of killing Jesus was in fact his own desire.
Take it up again - resurrection!
The Response?
The Jews who heard these words were again divided. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
two things to do, two things to know. Four down.
So What?
So What?
Flock of God is God’s people, the Church.
Hear the Shepherd (v1-6)
Enter By the Shepherd’s Door (v7-10)
The Shepherd won’t abandon His flock (v11-13)
The Shepherd Died for the Sheep (v14-21)
References:
Carson’s Pillar Commentary on John.
Hutcheson’s commentary on John
Hendrickson’s commentary on John
Sermons by Richard D. Philips,
Sproul, R. C., ed. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version. Orlando, FL; Lake Mary, FL: Ligonier Ministries, 2005.
Phillips, Richard D. John. Edited by Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani. 1st ed. Vol. 1 & 2 of Reformed Expository Commentary. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2014.