Introduction
One of the most beautiful pictures in the Bible describing our relationship to God is that God is a Shepherd and we are His sheep. As a Shepherd He protects, provides and cares for our needs. As sheep we are weak and in need of constant care.
Isaiah describes this beautifully:
Isa 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
We are looking at John 10, which is a favourite chapter of mine. In John’s Gospel there are seven “I AM” statements. Two of them are in this chapter. Jesus said, I AM the Door, and I AM the Good Shepherd.
Read John chapter 10:1-21
In this section we see Jesus as:
1. The True Shepherd
2. The Saving Shepherd
3. The Sovereign Shepherd
We will also see what a privilege it is to be in His fold!
- THE TRUE SHEPHERD (1-6)
What prompted Jesus to speak about him being the Good Shepherd? He is responding to the bad shepherding of the Pharisees as seen in chapter 9.
Now in OT times leaders in Israel were meant to shepherd God’s people. Some were good, for example Moses, Elijah, David, Ezra, Hezekiah were all good shepherds. Most leaders were not good leaders. This is summed up in Jeremiah 50:6 where God says:
My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray
Jesus begins chapter 10 with the words, Truly, truly I say to you…
This statement never begins a new section. Hence, to understand chapter 10 we must look at the previous section. In chapter 9 Jesus heals a blind man who goes on to credit Jesus and the result is that he is excommunicated for the temple. Jesus goes on to say:
v1. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief & a robber
It is clear that Jesus is calling the Pharisees “thieves and robbers.” They were cruel and unkind shepherds. They cared nothing for the blind man, not even rejoicing at his healing.
Jesus referred them as whitewash sepulchres, hypocrites, thieves and robbers
They loved the praise of man. They were proud shepherds. They loved money. They were greedy shepherds.
Jesus, on the other hand was very different. He is the true shepherd.
v2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep
The Old Testament predicts the coming of a very special shepherd:
I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd (Ezek 34:23)
600 years later Jesus announces that He is this special shepherd
Before we look at this special shepherd it is important for us to understand the picture of the sheepfold in Jesus day. The sheepfold was an enclosure for sheep where they would sleep at night. There would be one entrance which was guarded by a gatekeeper. In the morning the gatekeeper would open the gate for the shepherd. He would call for his sheep and they would recognize his voice and would follow him out.
Jesus is the true shepherd, appointed by the Father. He is the legitimate shepherd of the sheep. He enters by the door and has access to the sheep. The sheep represent true believers. They hear his voice and follow the true shepherd. True believers can say, like the psalmist, the Lord is my shepherd.
Is the Lord your shepherd? Can you say the Lord is my shepherd?
How did the Pharisees respond to what Jesus was saying? WE are told in verse 6:
This figure of speech Jesus used w them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
The Pharisees did not understand because they were spiritually blind and deaf. Jesus had previously said to them:
You belong to your father, the devil (Jn 8:44)
Paul agrees:
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2Cor 4:4)
A first important lesson for us is that bad shepherds, for example the Pharisees, do not care about sheep. Good shepherds, like Jesus really care for God’s flock.
What sheep has God entrusted to you? Are you faithfully caring for them?
- A SAVING SHEPHERD (7-16)
The Door (v9)
In verse 9 the metaphor shifts from Jesus being the true shepherd who has access to the sheep, to Jesus being the door.
All roads may lead to Rome but Jesus is only way to heaven, or to the Father.
I am the way & the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except thru me (Jn 14:6).
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Jesus is the one mediator between man and God
Friends, this is the heart of gospel. Jesus is our only hope. The gospel is the power to save people, as Paul said:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Rom 1:16)
The invitation is to all. Jesus is the only way to Father. He is the only door
We must all enter through the door. Have you received Christ? Have you entered through the door?
Jesus is also, the Sacrificial Shepherd
v11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep
He is the good Shepherd who dies for the sheep.
We deserve death, the wages of sin is death. But Jesus takes our punishment on cross. He is our substitute.
Isaiah saw this 700 years before:
Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
But not only does Jesus free us from the penalty of sin. He also promises:
I came that they may have life & have it abundantly
He gives purpose and joyfulness. Like the psalmist says:
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Ps 16:11)
For most people life is humdrum, there is no real purpose.
For believers, life is meaningful. We live for glory of God, we live for Christ.
When we are led by our good Shepherd we can say:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness & mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. (Ps 23:5-6).
Jesus also adds:
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. v16
Other sheep refer to gentiles who will come to Christ.
Hence the previous fold spoken of must refer to Jewish believers.
Jesus primary mission was for the lost sheep of house of Israel
The disciples also were to go the lost sheep of the house of Israel
Paul said the gospel was to Jew first, then gentiles (Rom 1:16)
At Pentecost 3000 were saved. They were Jews & proselytes
From Acts 10 onwards the gospel would go to Gentiles too. Gods purpose was to have one flock (Jew & Gentile together).
- A SOVEREIGN SHEPHERD (18-21)
Although we try to control many areas of our lives, one area we can’t really, is the day we die. Jesus however was different:
v17-18 I lay down my life that I may 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, & I have authority to take it up again.
His death was not an accident. Jesus went willingly to the cross. He could have called a legion of angels and they would have responded immediately!
Jesus had authority to lay down His life (as in His death), and to take it up again (as in His resurrection). He chose to die because He loved His sheep. He chose to die for us!
William Fullerton wrote:
I cannot tell why He, whom angels worship, Should set His love upon the sons of men,Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wand’rers, To bring them back, they know not how or when.
I cannot tell how silently He suffered, As with His peace He graced this place of tears,Or how His heart upon the Cross was broken, The crown of pain to three and thirty years.But this I know, He heals the broken-hearted, And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,And lifts the burden from the heavy laden, For yet the Savior, Savior of the world, is here.
John concludes this section by telling us that the listeners were divided: Many of them said, He has a demon, & is insane; why listen to him? But others said, These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? Each one had to draw his own conclusion, as do we.
All the evidence points to the fact that Jesus is the Good shepherd who lay down His life for us. He is the only way to the Father. Have you trusted Christ to save you? This is the most important decision you will ever make, because it determines where you will spend eternity.
