THE
GOOD SHEPHERD (John 10:1-11)
Introduction: This past week has
been a tough week with two mass shootings killing 31 people, and wounding
several others. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that tracks
shootings in the US, there have been 255 shootings in 2019 so far. To put this
into perspective, August 11 is the 223rd day of the year, meaning that by their
definition, the US has had more shootings than days as of today. What a
shocking number of lives lost!
In
an emotional interview two parents who lost their daughter and son-in-law in
the El Paso, Texas, shooting said, “they would honestly forgive the alleged
shooter and pray for him so that he would come to know God.” It was refreshing
for me to hear such a loving, gracious, and Christ-like response of forgiveness,
amid hate-filled climate and perpetual violence.
Last
week we talked about what God requires of us: To love Mercy, to Walk Humbly and
to Do Justice. What would you say to a six months old boy whose mother and
father both were killed saving his life? What would be justice for him when he
grows up?
What
should be our response as Hope Church? As we are encouraged by our president of
Converge, Scott Ridout, we need to take a moment and pray for our country, our
communities, and our churches. Think of a few people outside the faith and
commit to investing in friendship to model the hope of Christ in their lives. Serve
with our time, talent, and treasure in Hope Church. If possible, reach across a
racial, ethnic, or cultural divide to listen, learn, and love.
In
the passage, we read, Jesus draws out the contrast between Him and the false
teachers and the leaders of this world. In chapter nine, we see Jesus heals a
beggar who was born blind. Instead of rejoicing for the healing, the Pharisees
and the teachers of the law came together in their opposition to Christ. The
Pharisees thought they were the true shepherds of Israel and the custodians of
the temple, and Jesus was an intruder and an imposter.
They
were upset because more and more people were coming to Jesus for healing and listening
to his teaching. In that context, Jesus enters into a dialogue with his
disciples and Pharisees to show the world the contrast between the false
shepherds and the Good Shepherd.
I THE THIEVES AND THE
ROBBERS
Vs.
1-2, “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall
of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and
a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.”
Who are a thief and a robber in these verses?
It is the Devil!
So,
we tend to think, but the devil doesn’t appear anywhere in the context of this
passage. Then who was Jesus referring to
as thieves and robbers? They were the shepherds and leaders of Israel. We read
about the accusations of God against the shepherds of Israel in Ezekiel 34:1-24
Vs. 1-4, “Then this message came to me from
the Lord: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel.
Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: What sorrow awaits you
shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed
their sheep? You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals,
but you let your flocks starve. You have not taken care of the weak. You have
not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for
those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with
harshness and cruelty.”
When
the shepherds of Israel failed to do their duty, God got involved. Vs. 15-16, “I
myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the
Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will
bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the
weak.
But
I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them
justice!” Think of this scripture for a moment, God says, He will feed His
sheep Justice. “Justice becomes the staple food of His sheep.”
Why
Justice? Last week we learned that Our God is the God of justice, and loves
justice. Justice is rooted in God’s character, so he wants his people to feed
on justice and also practice justice. During the time of the kings and the time
of Jesus, the shepherds of Israel did not have the best interest of the people
in mind who they were called to lead, heal and protect hence earned a befitting
title from Jesus, “thieves and robbers.” What would God say of our leaders?
Jesus
explains the difference between a thief, a robber, and a faithful shepherd, “anyone
who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate,
must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is
the shepherd of the sheep.”
The owner of the sheep goes through
the gate into the sheep pen to interact with the sheep, whereas the thieves and
robbers jump over the fence to steal and kill the sheep.
II THE SHEPHERD’S
VOICE
Vs. 3 “The gatekeeper opens the
gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his
own sheep by name and leads them out.” In Palestine, gatekeepers were the hired
undershepherds. Their job was to open the gate when the true shepherd comes,
and assist the shepherd in caring for the flock, especially guarding the sheep
pen at night.
Laniak,
in his book “While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks,” notes, “Sheep know they
belong to a shepherd. They are named, identified, and counted every day. Naming
usually takes place after birth, especially if there is some distinguishing
characteristic. Some are called Spotty, Brownie, Fluffy Ears, or Short Tail.
Others
are named for the birthplace or the birthing experience. So, one might be
Hebron, another Tough-coming. As with names of humans, some are changed because
of a critical event or an identity that emerges over time. Think of the
Wanderer or the Obstinate One.” Naming is a powerful and tangible expression of
the shepherd’s intimate bonding with his sheep.
A shepherd knows and calls each sheep by their unique name. Verses, 4-5, After he
has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because
they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him
because they don’t know his voice.”
Can
you see the absolute confidence of the owner and the trust of the sheep? The
sheep recognizes their master’s voice and follows him, but they run away from a
stranger because they don’t recognize their voice. Let’s apply the same to the
sheep of God’s flock in the 21st century. There are so many voices clamoring for our attention.
They come from the news media, ABC, CNN, FOX, Good Morning America, ESPN,
Sports Central, etc. Amid these voices,
we need discernment to recognize the sound of the good shepherd and follow Him.
We need the courage to run away from strange voices. However, convincing they
maybe, ultimately, they can lead us apart from the life-giving path of the Good
Shepherd of our souls.
Jesus
was using this figure of speech, but the disciples did not understand what he
was saying, so he explained to them: Vs. 7-11“I tell you the truth, I am the
gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the
true sheep did not listen to them.
Yes,
I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and
go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill
and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. “I am the
good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
III THE GOOD
SHEPHERD
We see in these verses the clear
gospel message. Jesus said, “I am the gate for the sheep,” indicating that he
is the only way to the Father. These words echo what he said in John 14:6, “I
am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except
through me.”
Those
who will put their belief in Him will be saved and become part of the flock of
God. They will be free and enjoy good pasture, which is the word of God. Then
he draws a stark difference between Him and the Pharisees, and the teaches of
the law by calling them, thieves and robbers. He
explains the harmful purpose of the thief, which is to steal and kill and
destroy. Who do you think modern-day thieves and robbers are according to this
scripture? Anyone who diverts the
hearts and affections of people away from Christ, and anyone through deception,
kill and destroy God’s people both physically and spiritually can be a thief
and a robber. But the purpose of the Good Shepherd is to give his sheep a rich
and satisfying life. In the end, Jesus draws
the contrast by saying I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his
life for the sheep. In Vs. 27-28 Jesus further said, “My sheep listen to my
voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they
shall never perish.”
In
our society, there are many false teachers and leaders, leading people away
from God through their deceptive ideologies and teachings. They incite people
to hatred and to commit acts of violence. Elsewhere, Jesus equated those who
were bent on doing evil to the children of the Devil, also known as the
Murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).
The enemy is out there to destroy God’s people through his deceptive ways. Whereas
the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ offered His life so that we might live
a rich and satisfying life in this world, and live with Him forever in heaven
when we die. If you never had the assurance of belonging to the flock of God,
you can have it today by asking the Good Shepherd to forgive your sins and let
him take the lead in your life. You will be satisfied if you do so.
Join
me for an honest reflection. What strange voices am I hearing and how are they shaping
my world view? Do I have the discernment to recognize the devil’s voice and courage
to run away from him? Do I know Jesus, does he know me, and do I follow Him?
Amen!
