Jesus the Good Shepherd
Hymn 345
John 10:11–18
Prayer
Gracious Lord by grace strengthen and keep us united as one body in your service to one another, trusting that Jesus the Good Shepherd is taking us to heaven-the promised land … Amen!
The “I am the good shepherd” passage has the background story of the man born blind (9:1-34). Jesus healing the blind man, caused a controversy with the Pharisees, who refused to believe that Jesus had performed a miracle and they tried to discredit Him. That story ended with the blind man bearing testimony to Jesus; and the Pharisees drove him out of the synagogue—an ironic twist in which the formerly blind man is blessed with spiritual insight as well as physical sight while the spiritual leaders of Israel refuse to see—a fact that Jesus lifts up in his discourse on spiritual blindness (9:35-41).
Jesus then uses various pastoral metaphors about sheep, gatekeepers, and the gate of the sheepfold (10:1-10), identifying himself first as the gate of the sheepfold (v. 7) and then as the good shepherd (v. 11). He contrasts himself with thieves, bandits who do not enter by the gate (v. 1) and strangers whom the sheep refuse to follow (v. 5). Then he contrasts himself with the hired hand who is supposed to take care of the sheep but who really cares only for his own personal welfare (vv. 12-13).
Read JOHN 10:11-13.
11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. 13The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep.”
This brings to mind David, the shepherd boy who slew a lion and a bear in defense of his sheep (1 Samuel 17:35-36). Surely some shepherds lose their lives trying to protect their sheep from wild animals or thieves. Others lose their footing as they search for lost sheep at night, suffering injury or even death.
Rev. Being a shepherd is not for the fainthearted.
But Jesus goes beyond that. Note a good shepherd will risk his life to protect the sheep, but that is different from laying down one’s life. The shepherd who risks his life for the sheep does not expect to die, but expects to live. Occasionally, a shepherd will die in an encounter with animals or thieves, but most will not. People who engage in risky occupations typically believe that it will be the other person who will die. They don’t plan to lay down their own lives, but rather to make their enemy lay down their life.
Also, a shepherd who dies leaves the sheep defenseless, so the only good shepherd is a live shepherd—or so it would seem. Jesus says otherwise. “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” While a good shepherd does not go to the field intending to die, Jesus will do exactly that in love and obedience to the Father.
Jesus came into the world to die on the cross, and it is the death of the Lamb of God that saves us from death (1:29; Revelation 7:17)—or perhaps we should say that it is the Lamb’s resurrection—his victory over death—that insures our victory over death.
Rev from last week’s discussion: Jesus’ resurrection brought Him back to his disciples and Christendom.
Yes but When finally left, He did not leave the church comfortless but instead gave the gift of the Holy Spirit-the Comforter (14:25) and the same Jesus will return to take us to a place that he has preparing for those who loves Him (14:2).
Rev. implies Jesus is not “dead and gone” shepherd—He is not an absentee Lord, but ever present with us till the end of the ages as He promised in Matthew 28 verse 18 following.
Good “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them” (v. 12). Jesus is ever present at all times and at all places where 2 or 3 are gather in His name!
If there is such a thing as a good shepherd, there must also be such a thing as a bad shepherd. Jesus contrasts the good shepherd, not with a thief, but with a hired hand—
“The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep” (v. 13).
In a sense, having a hired hand as a shepherd is worse than having no shepherd at all. The hired hand gives the illusion of protection without protecting. If the owner has no shepherd, he will work to find one. If he has a hired hand, the owner will relax, thinking that the sheep are safe.
On a scale of one to ten, the hired hand is somewhere in the middle. He intends to be neither a hero nor a villain, but becomes a villain because of what happens to the sheep in his care. He fails to recognize (or perhaps to care) that his work is important—literally a matter of life or death for the sheep. The Hired shepherd’s indifference is likely to result in the death of the sheep in his care. His attitude is important, because lives are at stake.
There is a lesson here for us. It is not enough to go through the motions as a Christian. Christ wants more than lip service—he wants our hearts. Jesus calls us great or small and equips us with His message, to proclaim the Good News of salvation available through him alone. Our Indifference is critical, because lives are at stake.
Rev. who can we liken to be the shepherds of today!
From priesthood of all believers…Both the clergy and the laypeople are the shepherds of today. The difference is in the shepherd’s heart. The good shepherd cares about the people in his/her care, whether they are a diocese, a congregation, or just a few children in a Sunday school class.
The good shepherd seeks ways to lead faithfully, and stands for what is right—even in the face of opposition or danger. Bad shepherds care only about their own welfare. A bad shepherd might preach false doctrine—or care more for programs or building campaigns than for people—it is bad enough for a shepherd not to care about the welfare of the sheep. Fortunately, Jesus has many more good shepherds than bad ones.
Read JOHN 10:14-16.
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd”
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and I’m known by my own” (v. 14). In verse 11, the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. In verse 14, the good shepherd knows the sheep and the sheep know him. Knowledge—involves experience and relationship. When Jesus says that the good shepherd knows the sheep, he is talking about a very significant relationship.
The shepherd (Jesus) knows the sheep (people) because he “became flesh, and lived among us” (1:14). “Existing in the form of God, (Jesus) didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
Jesus knows his own, because he has lived in our skin and has experienced our joys and sorrows.
Rev. Jesus says that he knows his own and his own know him “even as the Father knows me and I know the Father”
- “John 1:1 state: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
- Jesus tells the Jewish leaders, “I and the Father are one” (10:30).
- When the Jews reject Jesus, he challenges them…though you don’t believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father” (10:38).
- In his high priestly prayer, Jesus prays for the disciples, “that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me” (17:21).
In verses 14-15a, Jesus gives us the sense of an all-encompassing intimacy that begins in his relationship with the Father and extends to those whom the Father has given to him (17:6) and by extension to all “who believe in Him through the words of Scriptures” (17:20). What Jesus is describing, then, is a grand extended family that begins with the loving Father and, through the love of the Son, embracing all believers… no matter your past experience, Jesus makes the dead live again because He has the power to do so! He laid down His own life for the sheep (the church) and took it again on the 3rd day…..
Hallelujah to that; without Jesus’ resurrection our faith will be in vain indeed.
So it is with the church, the church is the extended family which grows out of the loving hearts of the Father and the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit-the Comforter.
Jesus reminds us “I have other sheep which are not of this fold I must bring them also” (v. 16a). A sheepfold is an enclosure or a corral where the sheep live when they are not grazing for food. It provides security and fosters a sense of community. Jesus says that he will bring these other sheep also, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
Rev. on behalf of our listeners, let me ask. Who are these other sheep?
Most scholars think that Jesus is referring to Gentiles. When Jesus says, “I have,” he implies that those sheep already belong to him, but He is yet to bring them to the fold. He must do so.
“And they will hear His voice?” (I am making reference to John 10:16b).
Jesus said, “the sheep follow Him (the shepherd), for they know His voice” (v. 4).
“They will become one flock with one shepherd” (v. 16c).
We might not all be corralled in one enclosure, but we are all one flock.
So Today the barriers that separate us such as: denominational, national, racial, educational, vocational, or financial are inappropriate among Christians.
The baseline is Jesus calls us to be “one flock”.
Very well! Kindly read JOHN 10:17-18.
17“Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.” The word of God
Thanks be to God!
Rev. This is difficult to understand—doesn’t the Father love the Son because he is his Son?
Surely He does—the Father’s heart must be brimming with pride at his Son’s willingness to give His life to bring the world salvation.
The Son lays down His life “that I may take it again” (v. 17). John’s Gospel views the cross and the resurrection differently from the 4 synoptic books.
Break:
Rev. Who is responsible for Jesus’ death?
A good question: Mr. Kyei God does not share His glory with anyone not even with satan the devil.
- The chief priests and Pharisees plotted against Him
- Judas betrayed Him
- Pilate sentenced Him to death
- The Roman soldiers carried out the crucifixion
But the architect of the plan was the Father, and the Son is complying with the Father’s will.
Jesus said “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father” (v. 18).
The purpose of the plan was to save the world from its sin, and Jesus the good shepherd is a willing participant in that plan. Just as “the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (v. 11), Jesus lays down his life “that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (3:16).
The plan required the incarnation—the Word becoming flesh and living among us (1:14).
It required Jesus to in human flesh for three decades as he dwelt among us “full of grace and truth” (1:14).
The plan also required Jesus’ willing cooperation with those who were plotting to take His life. When Judas and the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, He made no attempt to flee but instead identified himself to the soldiers (18:5-7).
Jesus the good shepherd, refused to allow Peter to use his sword to save him (18:10-11).
Instead, he said, “Put the sword into its sheath.
The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?” (18:11).
Jesus refused to defend himself before Pilate (33-38).
While those who plotted to take His life bear the guilt of their actions, it was never within their power to take Jesus’ life. He says, “No one takes (my life) away from me, but I lay it down by myself” (v. 18).
May you believe and trust in Jesus till life everlasting.. Amen!
Amen!
Benediction
The Lord bless you and Keep you!
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you!!
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His everlasting peace!!!
Amen!
Amen, Amen!