Book Of John: John 10

Book Of John: This is The GOOD Shepherd

November 19th, 2023/Casey Middle School

Opener:

Have you ever asked yourself How did I get in this situation? This happens to sheep all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q5Ao3bOU834

Have you ever attacked the people you love…..I know I have been like that sheep and randomly just attacked them…Even though they have done nothing to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAlfCowo0uI

Have you ever made a dumb decision, then turned around and did it all over again?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLZW-kWr1F4

Moral of the story… we are all sheep! And this is good news!

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” -‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭6‬

Transition:

We all want to be the lion… the dolphin… the eagle. The animal with all the fame and glory. Achieving greatness, top of the food chain, soaring high above our struggles. In college we used to call one of our friends a golden retriever, he was always down for whatever, fun, and incredibly loyal. But let’s be clear, we all are sheep in desperate need of a Good Shepherd. And being a sheep is a blessing!

Sheep are not always the smartest animals. As I was researching sheep, one of the keywords I used was “dumb sheep”, and an infinite of articles popped up about how they are one of the smartest animals. :) That’s not true! They can’t fight off predators. They can’t find food without guidance. They don’t know their way home and often wander and get lost. And in general, they are pretty helpless on their own. But they are fun, peaceful, and useful to the shepherd. They provide wool, milk, and lambs. One key characteristic of a sheep, is that when they know the voice of their master, they follow them anywhere.

Away from my sheep.

Story: *Show pictures. Losing my goats (sheep) and hunting them down. Dale, Boomer, and Ivy. Leaves the 99 to find the 1. ““If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?” - Matthew 18:12 NLT. I can’t blame the goats for wanting to stay honestly, you should’ve seen the sheepfold he ended up in. It’s was beautiful!

Losing my own goats is an example of an average joe shepherd just trying to do his best under the circumstances, but let’s take a look at John 10 and see who the Good Shepherd is and what He provides for His sheep.

Passage: John 10:1-30 CSB

Pray:

Background:

This is a continuation from last weekend's story from John chapter 9. This is just another chapter, but same day, same occasion, and speaking to the same people. He is yet again addressing the Pharisees that don’t understand Him, hates him, and ultimately wants to see him stoned to death.

Title: This Is The GOOD Shepherd

Big Idea:

The key to receiving the benefits of the Good Shepherd is in staying in close proximity to Him so that you can know Him and identify His voice.

Main Points: 3 Key “I Am” Statements

1. I AM the gate

   1. “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
   2. At night, sheep would be gathered into a sheepfold to protect them from thrives, wild animals, and weather. These sheepfolds were caves, sheds, or open areas surrounded by brush or rock and the shepherd would often sleep at the entrance of the sheepfold, they would be the gate or the door. As they rested and slept, for the sheep to leave, they must jump over the shepherd, or if a wolf came to snatch a sheep, they must get through the shepherd.
   3. Ever heard the phrase “over my dead body”? The shepherds took that literally. Remember David, before he was king, he was a shepherd. “David answered Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it.” - 1 Samuel 17:34-35 CSB
   4. Taking on the responsibility of a shepherd is no small task! It is not for the faint of heart or the coward. For the sake of the sheep, a good shepherd fights for the sheep!

   5. Jesus paraphrase “I come against whatever is against you.” What good news to know that though we can’t see all that goes on in the supernatural, we can know God is on our side fighting for us!

      1. “No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their vindication is from me.” This is the Lord’s declaration.” - Isaiah 54:17 CSB.
      2. “What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? - Romans 8:31 CSB

      3. “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” - Romans 8:35-37 CSB

         1. Though the world may come against me, I got a GOOD SHEPHERD
         2. Though my flesh is weak, I got a GOOD SHEPHERD
         3. Though the enemy wants to take away my purpose, I GOT A GOOD SHEPHERD!
            6. Illust: I always sleep closest to the door. Why? Because I trust myself to protect my family more than a metal door. I stand in between anyone that wants to come in my house and my family. You want them, you have to go through me!

      4. Question: What other door are you trusting in your life more than the Good Shepherd?

         7. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

      5. Jesus does not offer a satisfactory life, a common life, or a life that is manageable. No! He offers us true life, fulfilling life, ABUNDANT LIFE!

2. I AM the Good Shepherd

   1. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
   2. Two kinds of sheep that don’t have a shepherd, lost or dead. And this was you prior to knowing the Good Shepherd. Jesus describes sheep without a shepherd as distressed and dejected (CSB), weary and scattered (NKJV), confused and helpless (NLT). “When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.” - Matthew 9:36 CSB
   3. There are no thriving sheep apart from the shepherd. There is no benefit in isolation! Only danger from predators, a corrupt thought life, unhinged decision making, and the inability to make a positive change! This is why being a sheep is good news! As sheep, we get to thrive under the authority, care, and love of our Good Shepherd.

   4. Application: Life Apart From The Shepherd

      1. Rejecting Jesus (I don’t believe)
      2. Neglecting Jesus (I don’t listen)

      3. Replacing Jesus (I am the good shepherd)

         5. There are other Shepherds, some bad, some doing their best but still will let you down, but there’s only one Good Shepherd, who’s always good. In this text we see Jesus focusing on the Pharisees and their response to the man born blind in the previous text.
         6. The Role Of A Shepherd:

      4. Lead

      5. Feed
      6. Guide

      7. Protect

         7. Jesus honors the Fathers commands, but does so voluntarily.
         8. The thief takes life, but the shepherd gives life. It is rich, full, and abundant! It starts immediately and lasts till eternity!
         9. The thief, or the enemy, only wants to steal, kill, and destroy.

      8. Steal your joy, rob you of your calling

      9. Kill what matters most
      10. Destroy all of your relationships!
      11. There is nothing but havoc and chaos when the thief comes, but Jesus Christ gives life and life to the fullest! You want all this world has to offer, choose Jesus!

3. Son Of God

   1. 19 Again the Jews were divided because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and he’s crazy. Why do you listen to him?” 21 Others were saying, “These aren’t the words of someone who is demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” Jesus at the Festival of Dedication 22 Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
   2. “I am the Son of God?” - Verse 36
   3. John 10:25 - the proof is in my life. Also referenced in Matthew 7:15-20. They shall know you by your fruit.

   4. You are safe and secure in the Fathers hands.

      1. The world can’t take you.
      2. The devil can’t take you.
      3. Lust can’t keep you bound.
      4. Addiction can’t keep you in bondage.
      5. Depression must flee.
      6. You are FREE to run and live an abundant life in Christ!

      7. The picture of coming and going in verse 9 shows us that we live free lives with Jesus at the gate. We don’t live looking over our shoulders, we don’t live in fear, but we can embrace all that God has in store, full of joy, full of gratitude, full of peace.

         5. The hired hand is untrustworthy. You cannot put your trust in something or someone that lives in self preservation mode. “I’m safe so long as my career advances.”, “I’m safe so long as I don’t sustain any injuries.”, “I’m safe so long as the doors are locked.” No, you are safe in the Fathers Hands! He is the Good Shepherd that stands guard! He’s the Good Shepherd that lays down His life for HIS sheep.
         6. The hired hand does it for money (Pharisees), but the Shepherd (Jesus) does it for love. The hired hand is doing a job, but the shepherd is the owner that is willing to lay down his life for his sheep.
         7. Bad Shepherd: (The Pharisees)

      8. Take care of themselves

      9. Worry about their own health
      10. Rule harshly
      11. Abandon scattered sheep

      12. Keep the best for themself

          8. Good Shepherd: (Jesus)

      13. Take care of their flock

      14. Strengthen the weak and sick
      15. Search for the lost
      16. Rule lovingly
      17. Gather and protect sheep

      18. Give their best to the sheep

          9. The safety of the sheep lies in the power of the Shepherd.
          10. Prophesied by Ezekiel in Ez 34:23.

      19. “I will establish over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will shepherd them. He will tend them himself and will be their shepherd.”

          11. When you see the Good Shepherd, you follow Him. Where He goes, I go! It’s in his proximity that I receive the blessing of the Good Shepherd!

      20. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.” - Psalms 23:1-4

          12. Good Shepherd - John 10:11
          13. Great Shepherd - Hebrews 13:20
          14. Chief Shepherd - 1 Peter 5:4
          15. Rebelling against the Good Shepherd is to our detriment. Choosing to assume the Good Shepherds role is not in the best interest of our destiny! I believe there are bad or useless shepherds, but I also have seen many live as though they are the good shepherd. “I don’t need God.”, “I’m going to figure this out on my own.”, “I’m going to rely on astrology for guidance.” Sheep CANNOT be shepherds… they can only be sheep!
          16. Verse 30 - “I and my Father are one”. This is the clearest Jesus communicates on His divinity. Jesus and God the Father are not the same persons, but they are one in essence and nature. Jesus is God!

Closing:

The key to receiving the benefits of the Good Shepherd is in staying in close proximity to Him so that you can know Him and identify His voice.

Sheep only listens to a voice they know and trust. But if a stranger tries to call them or approach, they will run in fear.

Video - https://youtu.be/e45dVgWgV64?feature=shared

Story: my grandpa was a farmer. I remember hearing him call his cows, they only listened to his voice

Often in the sheepfold, there would be a mix of other farmers sheep. They didn’t need branding or tags, all they needed was the sound of their voice and the owner could call all his sheep out of the pen. They knew the voice of their owner and they came when called.

Application: can you identify the sound of your shepherds voice?

Walking Points:

1. Think of the unbeliever
2. Think of the lukewarm believer
3. Think of the Spirit filled believer

Invitation:

If you want to make a decision to follow Jesus. Then join me and everyone else in the building as we pray out loud together. It’s not the prayer that saves you, but your faith, making Jesus Lord of your life. We don’t let anyone go on the journey alone. If you have faith in Jesus, then let’s join together as we pray…

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free

Conclusion:

If you prayed that prayer for the first time then Scripture says “anyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge them before my Father”. I’m going to ask that if you prayed that prayer for the first time would you lift your hand and let me know so that I can celebrate with you.

1. God is so proud of you.

2. The angels are rejoicing.

3. And we believe God has a purpose for your life.

Would you let us know that you made a decision so that we can follow up with you and help you on your next steps?