I AM the Good Shepherd

I AM the Good Shepherd

Jesus in the Present Tense

John 10:11-16

(Advance Slide 1)

Welcome

Introduction

Most churches and followes of Christ live in cities.

• The thought or idea of shepherds and sheep are foreign to most of us.
  • The reason being that many of us have not seen either.
  • If we limit out learning to teaching/preaching only from the familure...we won't learn much!

(Advance Slide 2)

Shepherds and sheep

• Paul - used the image in Acts 20:28
• John - used the same images when writing to the churches in Asia Minor.
  • If we eliminate these images, we have no Savior/hope.

(Advance Slide 3)

Jesus is the "Good Shepherd"

• "Good" - conveys the meaning of noble, praise worthy, desiring approval from God.
  • He is the genuine shepherd
  • He is the loving shepherd - Isa. 40; Ezek. 34

Sheep are mentioned over 300 times in the Bible...that's more than any other animal.

• They are:
  • Defenseless - they are prone to go astray.
  • Stubborn - they don't want to move sometimes.
  • Weak - they had poor eye site 

(Advance Slide 4)

Text

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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. John 10:14-16

This is the fifth of our Lord’s I AM statements in John’s Gospel. 

(Advance Slide 5)

• In making this statement, He is contrasting Himself to the false shepherds who were in charge of the Jewish religion of that day. 
• He had already called them “thieves and robbers,” and now He would describe them as “hirelings.”

Some of the greatest people named in the Bible were shepherds by occupation:

(Advance Slide 6) 

• Abel, the patriarchs, Moses, and David, to name a few. 
• Even today in the Holy Land, you may see shepherds leading flocks and revealing how intimately they know each sheep, its individual traits, and its special needs. 
• Keep in mind that Jewish shepherds did not tend the sheep in order to slaughter them, unless they were used for sacrifice. 
• Shepherds tended them that the sheep might give wool, milk, and lambs.

(Advance Slide 7)

In the text there are 3 ministries identified that the "Good Shepherd" tends to:

1. He dies for His sheep
2. He knows His sheep
3. He bring other sheep into His flock

Lesson

Let's examine the r'ship the "Good Shepherd" and His sheep.

(Advance Slide 8)

Owns His Sheep - Jesus calls us His own.

• The Father gave them to Him
• In fact, He was he one who purchased them - 1 Cor. 6:19-20

Sacrificial death - John 1:29

• • His death was more brutal than we could ever imagine.
  • I was like a building was being torn down and left in ruins.

Willing - John 10:11-18

• • He was willing to put aside any personal desires that He might have had.
  • Under the old covenant, the sheep died for the shepherd
  • Under the new covenant the Shepherd died for the sheep.

Triumphantly - John 12:20-29

• • So that we might be His sheep.
  • Song. 2:16; 6:3

Since He owned His sheep, if we follow Him, we will experience the abundant life that only He can give. - John 10:10

(Advance Slide 9)

Knows His Sheep - for Christ to "know" sheep is an AMAZING thought.

• To "know" is more than the ability to identify a person or thing by name.
  • It involves a deep intimacy...a deep understanding.
  • It is best seen in the intimate love of a husband and wife.

He knew/ knows His sheep!

• Which would wander or disobey
• This allowed Him to are for them like a parent does for a child.
  • Just as a child knows the voice of mom or dad (good or bad) so did the sheep.

Jesus compares His r'ship with His sheep with the r'ship He has with His Father.

• John 17:26
• As we study the Word, worship, fellowship and obey the Shepherd we come to know Him and ourselves better.
  • Psalm 139:1-3

(Advance Slide 10)

Calls His Sheep - His call is a total acts of grace...we have done nothing to deserve it.

• The call from Christ can be found in Peter's preaching on the Day of Pentecost - Acts 2:39
• Paul identified the people of God - Rom. 1:16; 8:30; 9:24
• Jesus calls us out of the darkness into the light of His life.
  • This means that we change our minds and live in separation from the old life. 
  • We call this process REPENTANCE!
    • There can be no compromise to this - Mt. 12:30

In scripture God called many who listen to His words.

• One of the marks of a "follower of Christ" is a spiritual ear...sensitive to the word of God.
• Mt. 11:15

The call is not just to come out of whatever fold we are in, the call is also to follow Him.

• To follow Him to the things that He wants us to do
• To follow His example of service!

As long as we are willing to do His will, and daily hear His voice in the word, He will never allow us to stray (John 7:17)

(Advance Slide 11)

Cares for His Sheep - they need protection from the thieves that wish to break in, steal, or harm.

• The true Shepherd lovingly and courageously cares for His flock.
  • He goes before them to find the good pasture.
  • He know when they need rest.
  • He watches out for danger.
  • He watches out for the ones who will stray.

Psalm 23 the Shepherd is equipping and enabling His sheep.

• This would have been written out of experience.
  • The true Shepherd has a heart or His sheep.
  • He seeks the very best (i.e. - protects and provides for them).

We learn for our Shepherd

• If we love Christ, we love His sheep, and we will sacrifice to serve them.
• • Just as He did!

(Advance Slide 12)

Gathers His Flock - important job of the shepherd!

• Jesus began by going to the "lost sheep of Israel" - Mt. 10:5-6
• He made it clear that the Gentiles would be included.
• John 10-16

Peter's ministry:

• Acts 2 - calls the Jews, Gentiles, and proselytes in Judaism
• Acts 8 - Peter and John went into Samaria
• Acts 10 - Peter was sent to the home of the Roman centurion
  • In each instance people were brought into the "flock"

There is but one flock and one Shepherd

• One body and Jesus is head
• One building and Jesus is he foundation
  • Jesus prayed for unity in the body
  • Not in an "organizational sense" but as the Father & Son are one!

(Advance Slide 13)

Conclusion

It isn't difficult to confess the "Good Shepherd"

• The difficulty comes when we try to confess our need for a Shepherd.
• To claim to be His sheep and not follow Him is rebellion and sin!
• The more we grow and mature spiritually we realize our rebellion and our need for Him to shepherd our life.