Sermon Tone Analysis
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Exegetical & Homiletic Point: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the Sheep
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)
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?
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:
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:
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)
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:
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?
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)
Shepherds are not soft soppy guys with lambs on their knees and shining faces, more like a drover.
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