The Good Shepherd

1. Read: John 10:11-14 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

2. About the Text:

1) The confrontation between Jesus and rabbinical Judaism was continuing to grow.

2) In chapter 9, Jesus healed a blind man who was brought before the Jewish rulers.

3) This man reasoned correctly concerning the works which Jesus did and came to the conclusion that Jesus was the Son of God.

4) This further enraged the Pharisees.

5) Jesus teaching in chapter 10 is the last public discourse that John records.

6) In a beautiful analogy, we learn of the relationship between Jesus and his flock.

7) The passage primary concern, however, is to warn his disciples of possible threats to their salvation.

8) There are many who can take away their salvation, but only one who can provide for it.

3. Our series

1) This is the third in our series of studies on the great “I ams” of the book of John.

2) We have looked at “the bread of life,” and “the light of the world.”

3) These statements are exclusive in nature. “I am” means that Jesus is the one and only who can provide for salvation.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. There is the danger of the thief/robber/stranger. (vs. 1, 5, 8, 10).

i. He is the one who is outside the flock and steals away the flock for his own benefit.

ii. This is exactly what the Pharisees were trying to do. Jesus once said to them, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (Matt.23:15).

iii. The Pharisees were more concerned with building up their own self image than they were showing genuine concern for the disciples.

iv. There are thieves and robbers who encroach upon God’s people today.

v. Paul writes concerning them, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (1 Tim.6:3-5).

vi. How do we know people who think godliness is a way of gain? By their fruits. Matt.7:20.

2. There is the danger of the hireling (vs. 11, 12).

i. He is the one who tends to the flock for his own benefit.

ii. Here is the one who is content to only feed, but not defend.

iii. When danger comes, he fails to give the appropriate warning because he has run away.

iv. Here is the man who gains the trust of the flock, but turns his back on them and flees when danger comes.

v. We find a description of this one in Ezekiel 34:1-6.

vi. This is the one who fails to preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

vii. This is the watchman of whom Ezekiel speaks who fails to warn regarding the coming enemy (Ezekiel 33:1-7).

3. There is the danger of the wolf–destroying the flock (vs. 11, 12).

i. Here is the agent of Satan.

ii. He has no concern at all for the flock but to destroy.

iii. Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

iv. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

v. Acts 20:29 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”

1. “I am the door.”

i. G. Campbell Morgan relates the following account in his commentary on John. (quote).

ii. This is not a figurative thought, but rather a literal one.

iii. Jesus is the one blocking the sheep from going out and blocking the enemy from coming in.

iv. He said concerning the sheep, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29).

v. Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31, 32).

vi. By hearing and continuing we are kept in the fold of Christ.

2. Those who are His enter through Him and one can only enter the fold through him.

i. We become Christians when we are baptized into his body. 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

ii. Notice Galatians 3:27-29 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

3. The wolf must come through him to get the sheep.

i. The wolf cannot get in through Christ.

ii. The wolf must disguise himself and bring another gospel. He must change the gospel of Christ.

iii. The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, however, does not change. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”

iv. Paul wrote, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal.1:6-8).

v. 2 John 9-11 “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

1. He leads them to pasture.

i. Notice John 10:9 “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

ii. Psalm 23 provides an excellent commentary on the good care of The Shepherd.

2. He gives abundant life to them.

i. Notice John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Literally, there is a surplus of life given by Jesus.

ii. Romans 5: 20 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

iii. 1 Peter 1:10, 11 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

3. He lays down His life for them–substitutes their life for His life.

i. Notice John 10:11, 15 ” I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

ii. Romans 5:6-8 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

iii. 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

iv. 1 John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

1. Are you under the care of the Good Shepherd today?

2. The Good Shepherd . . .

i. Warns concerning danger.

ii. Provides for and guards the entrance to the flock . . .

iii. Gives life to His sheep.

3. Invitation

i. If you are a Christian but have fallen away

1) Why have you wandered astray from the fold of safety?

2) The Good Shepherd seeks for you now.

3) Will you return and be His again?

ii. If you are not a Christian this morning . . .

1) Bring yourself under the Shepherd’s care.

2) There is only one way into the fold.

3) That way is through the plan which Jesus gave for us to come to Him.

i) Hear the word; Matthew 7:24-27

ii) Believe with all your heart; “Except you believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24).

iii) Repent; Luke 24:46, 47 “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

iv) Make the good confession like Martha made in John 11:27 “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

v) Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).