Jesus, Our Good, Good Shepherd

In John 10, Jesus was still speaking to the man who born blind but was healed and the Pharisees.  He told them a parable or a parable-like story about shepherds and sheep. 

 

This was a very common and familiar analogy as Genesis tells us that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all shepherds, and Moses and David were both shepherds.  Therefore, the people knew this language and imagery. 

 

Furthermore, Ezekiel 34:1-10 serves as a backdrop for Jesus’ analogy.  He indicted some bad shepherds in John 10 that were similar to those indicted in Ezekiel 34.

 

1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.”  7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! 10 Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”

 

As we think about Jesus as our Good, Good Shepherd, I want you to see that He pastors us intimately, provides for us abundantly, and protects us sacrificially.

 

 

1. As our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus pastors His Sheep INTIMATELY, John 10:1-6.

1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

 

Verse 1 is a nighttime scene, and we are introduced to the thief or the robber.  He does not enter the door of the fold, but climbs over the top trying to be stealth. 

 

In verse 5, he is called a stranger.  In verse 10, he comes only to steal, kill and destroy.

 

These are simply false prophets or false messiahs or false teachers.  They attempt to lead astray and be something they are not.  The thief is not necessarily Satan, but what is true of the thief is also true of Satan.

 

The sheep are Jews.  However, verse 16 mentions “other sheep,” and we will talk more about them in just a moment.

 

The shepherd is mentioned in verse 2, and the shepherd is Jesus, and Jesus is our Good, Good Shepherd.  We know that also because of verse 11.

 

That word shepherd comes from the same root word that means pastor.  Therefore, my position and my ministry is sometimes referred as the shepherd shepherding the sheep or the people. 

 

Very quickly and almost without notice the scene switches to morning shepherding.  Shepherds would often use mountains and cliffs and caves as their pins with two or three flocks in the same pin. 

 

The shepherd would access his flock through the door, and enter the pin after the doorkeeper opened the door.  We aren’t told specifically who the doorkeeper is, but the shepherd goes into the pin.

 

Demonstrating his intimacy with his sheep, the shepherd would specifically call for his sheep.  Maybe at the same time, another shepherd would call for his sheep out of the same pin. 

 

His sheep know his voice, and he calls them by name.  He then leads them out. 

 

The shepherd is not driving the sheep from behind but leading the sheep from the front.  The sheep will not follow unless they recognize the unique voice of their shepherd.

 

Verse 6 tells us that Jesus told this story, but it wasn’t understood.  Therefore, the remainder of our text is a further explanation of the story.

 

As our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus pastors us intimately. 

 

 

2. As Our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus provides for His Sheep ABUNDANTLY, John 10:10.

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 

I’m going to come back to verse 7-9 next week.  Jesus’ first IAM statement was I am the bread of life.  Then He said I am the light of the world.  Today, we see that He said I am the good shepherd.  Next week, for Friend Day, we will see Him say I am the door of the sheep.

 

In verse 10, the safety of the shepherd is contrasted with the danger of the thief.  The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. 

 

On the other hand, Jesus came to give live and give it abundantly.  We often take that to mean physical or material blessings, but I don’t think that is what Jesus had in mind here.

 

The life that Jesus spoke of here is certainly eternal life.  However, it is also abundant life on earth that doesn’t come from more money or a bigger house or the latest toys.

 

The abundant life that Jesus provides for His sheep is peace and satisfaction and fulfilment in living your life in the middle of God’s will and according to God’s word.  There is no satisfaction like it in the world.

 

Jesus wants that for you, and has provided the way for you to have by giving us His word.  However, we have to be obedient.  We have to say no to self and yes to Him. 

 

As our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus provides for His sheep abundantly.

 

 

3. As Our Good, Good Shepherd, Jesus protects His Sheep SACRFICIALLY, John 10:11-21.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.  17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”  19 Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. 20 And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”  21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

 

In verse 11, Jesus said He was the good shepherd and He lays down His life for the sheep.  He is foreshadowing His substitutionary death. 

 

Verses 12-13 speak of the hired hand.  He is the opposite of the shepherd.  The shepherd is concerned about the sheep.  The hired hand is concerned about himself.  Therefore, if danger ensues, the hired hand will run to protect himself, but leave the sheep behind unprotected. 

 

In verse 15, Jesus again speaks of laying down His life for His sheep.  He sacrificed His life for His sheep. 

 

In verse 16.  Jesus said He had other sheep which are not of this fold.  He must bring them in and make one flock with one shepherd.  If you understand that His immediate audience was Jewish, the other sheep seem to be Gentiles. 

 

Again, for the third time, Jesus said in verse 17 of laying down His life for His sheep. 

 

In verse 18, Jesus did what He did in dying not because anyone forced Him to do it.  He went to the cross on His own initiative.  He protects His sheep sacrificially. 

 

All of these comments confused and divided the Jewish listeners.  They couldn’t completely figure out Jesus.

 

As our good, good shepherd, Jesus protects His sheep sacrificially. 

 

 

Conclusion

As I close this morning, is Jesus your good, good shepherd?  He wants to be.  He wants you to be one of His sheep.

 

How does that happen?  Admit that you are sinner.  Believe that Jesus died on cross for your sins.  Call on Him to save you.