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John 10:1- 10:18 Key Verse: 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus, the Good Shepherd In the last chapter 9, Jesus healed a beggar born blind. Jesus became the light for him. However, pharisees did not know who Jesus was. Rather, they kicked this man out of their society. With great compassion on people, Jesus started today's parable about the good shepherd and his sheep. The situation is the same today. The most serious problem people have is that they do not have the good shepherd. Many false shepherds come. But Jesus is the only good shepherd. Let's learn today the good shepherd Jesus. 1. The shepherd and his sheep (1-6) Look at verse 1. "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber." Not everyone comes to sheep with good purpose. A thief and a robber also come to harm them and try to take something away from them. Because of their evil motives, they come to sheep by some other way. Look at verse 2. "The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep." A shepherd enters by the gate, because there is nothing to hide. He loves and cares about his sheep. The relationship between a shepherd and his sheep is not just about properties. It is more like an intimate family relationship who shares common lives. Sheep are weak, dirty and do not even have an understanding level of dogs. Still, the shepherd loves, cares, and kisses his sheep. This is the relationship between God and us. It is the relationship based on love and faith. God is our shepherd and we are his precious sheep. David praised God's grace being our shepherd, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." Look at verse 3. "The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." In Israel, there were many wild animals. So villages had common sheep pens to keep their sheep safe during the night. In the morning, the shepherd calls his sheep by name and leads them out. Here we learn how a shepherd leads his sheep. First, a shepherd calls his sheep by name. He does not call his sheep by numbers. The shepherd know all the names of his sheep. About three years ago, I spent hard time to come up with the best name for my baby. These days I have been thinking again and again to give the best name to my baby. Name implies one's being and character. When a person who loves us calls us by name, we feel important. And Jesus calls us by name. Second, a shepherd goes on ahead of sheep. Look at verse 4. "When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." The shepherd goes on ahead of sheep, because they do not know where to go. He should give clear and careful direction and lead them. He sets an example and shows his sheep what to do and where to go. Sheep follow the shepherd as he moves on. Jesus set many examples for us to follow. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Jesus washed his disciples' feet and told them to wash one another's feet. Jesus lived a life of prayer. In every aspect, Jesus set an example. As Jesus' sheep, we should follow his good examples. Look at verse 4 again. "his sheep follow him because they know his voice" Sheep are weak. They have no protections such as big horns, or sharp claws against their enemies. They cannot see well. They cannot even run away fast because they have short legs. They are like losers among all animals. If they face their enemies, they die. They absolutely need a shepherd who looks after them. But there is one good thing sheep have. It is to listen well to the shepherd's voice. They know that the shepherd loves and cares about them. They know that the shepherd protects them. They know that the shepherd sacrifices himself to save them. They recognize his voice well. They only follow the shepherd's voice with absolute trust. They know they are safe when they follow the shepherd's voice. It is the matter of life and death. 2. I am the gate for the sheep (7-10) They did not understand Jesus' parable of the shepherd and his sheep, even though it is a matter of life and death. So Jesus tells them again. Look at verse 7. "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep." There are times when a shepherd sleeps on green pasture. The shepherd leads his sheep into the sheep pen and lays at the gate. Then the shepherd becomes the gate for them. No sheep can come in and go out until they step on the shepherd who now became the gate. Then why is Jesus the gate for the sheep? Jesus is the only gate that leads to salvation. People might say that there can be many ways to salvation. This is what thieves and robbers say to deceive and harm sheep. But Jesus clearly declares that he is the gate for the sheep. Only Jesus died for our sins. Only Jesus died for me and was raised from the dead. There is only one, Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) "There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5) "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 only gate that leads to life to the kingdom of heaven. Look at verse 9. "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture." When we enter his sheep pen through Jesus, we receive wonderful blessings. First, whoever enters through Jesus will be saved. After first man Adam turned against God, sin came into this world. There was a woman caught in the act of adultery. She was a public sinner who looked more sinful than anyone else. People wanted to kill her. But Jesus challenged them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Everyone who heard this went away, the older ones first. Even the religious leaders found their sins and left. Nobody denied that they were sinners. They all became conscience-stricken. And then there were only Jesus and the woman. Jesus did not kill her saying, "You are a sinner deserve to die." Rather, Jesus saved her by giving a new life direction to follow the light of Jesus. We all are like this woman who are sentenced to death. Everyone needs to be saved from sin and death. Jesus died for us and was raised from the dead. When we enter through the gate Jesus, we are saved. Second, sheep find pasture. Sheep come in and go out the gate and find pasture. They eat as much as they wish without any fear. Through this pasture, they eat and grow. Look at verse 10b. "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus wants his sheep to have life to the full. This life is not fatalistic or powerless. It is the life full of Jesus' blessing. It is the life we can powerfully serve for God's mission. It is the life that Jesus' grace fills us up and flows over to others. David was a very special king. Under the shepherd king's rule, Israel became peaceful and powerful nation. David praised his shepherd, the God of Israel in Psalm 23. "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." 3. I am the good shepherd(11-18) Look at verse 11. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Jesus declared himself as the good shepherd. He is not one of many shepherds, but The shepherd. He is the only, promised, my personal shepherd. Then why is Jesus our good shepherd? First, Jesus laid down his life for the sheep. To the shepherd, sheep is not a means but the purpose. The shepherd loves his sheep more than himself. He lives for the sheep and dies for them. Jesus is the good shepherd. He served all kinds of sinners and died for them. Among them, there is a disobedient sheep like us. But he died for me. Jesus' cross and death save us from sin. Jesus is the only shepherd who laid his life for the sheep. Second, Jesus knows his sheep fully. Jesus not only knows our names, weight, and height. Even hired hand knows all about these. Jesus loves and knows us deeply. This is from intimate relationship. Look at verses 14-15. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep." The father knows Jesus and Jesus knows the father. They are very close. They are one in spirit. They are not apart. They have a perfect mutual understanding of each other. Just as Jesus knows the Father, he knows us. He has a perfect understanding of us. Many people feel that there is no one who understands them. But Jesus does. Jesus fully understand why I am weak, and why I am crying. Jesus is the shepherd we can rely on with absolute trust. There was a mother who had a boy born handicapped. He could not do anything by himself. So She had to give full care for her child for many years. She felt she lost everything, her dream and life. She questioned God many times, "Why me?" However, God had a plan for her. Before the boy was born, God asked the angels who should take care of this boy. Then God picked this mother because she was the best one to reveal God's glory. 30 years have passed, and her son was not living a fatalistic life. She found that he was living a life that she once dreamed of. For 30 years she had laid down her life for her son. It was a shepherd life who saved the handicapped son to live with dreams. Finally God made her see that her dream came true through her son. In conclusion, the real problem these days is not money, power, or politics. It is that people do not have the good shepherd. People need the good shepherd who gives full attention to them and lays down his life for them. Through the good shepherd, dying souls revive again and receive the full life. Let's learn the good shepherd Jesus who laid down his life for the sheep. |
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