Many people are turned off to the Christian faith and/or participation in church by people in the church who they perceive as greedy, hypocritical, or evil. o Sometimes this perception is faulty as they are reacting sinfully to a disagreement or to a teaching of Scripture that made them feel convicted (a “shoot the messenger” approach). o All too often, the cause of offense truly is someone who claims to be a Christian but whose life is characterized by sinful actions & attitudes. ▪ This is especially damaging when it comes from someone in a position of spiritual leadership or authority. ▪ In chapter 9 we met a man who was belittled, insulted, condemned, & excommunicated by religious leaders (see verses 28-34). ▪ These religious leaders claimed to know God, but by their words, actions, and attitudes they showed themselves to be spiritually blind.
Rather than becoming bitter and rejecting anything having to do with God, this man comes to saving faith in Jesus Christ. o As Jesus continues to teach in chapter 10, he is going to contrast himself with spiritual leaders (like these Pharisees) who are dangerous and up to no good. o If you are hearing this this morning and have been hurt by ungodly spiritual leaders, I urge you to not let their sin turn you away from Jesus…they do not represent him. o (1-2) Jesus describes such spiritual leaders as people who are as shady as someone climbing over the sheep pen wall instead of going in through the gate. ▪ Jesus is going to use a series of sheep & shepherd-related illustrations to teach about himself and our relationship with him. ▪ In contrast to the actions of thieves & robbers masquerading as shepherds, Jesus is the good shepherd. ▪ Note: All the pictures of shepherds in today’s slideshow are from Israel (from the last 100 years, but some aspects of shepherding remain unchanged). (2-6) Jesus Calls His Sheep
(2-4) The picture: a sheep pen that holds sheep belonging to several different people. o The hired watchman recognizes the shepherd and lets him in. o He calls the sheep that belong to him; they recognize his voice and follow him. o For a shepherd in Israel, sheep are not herded by dogs or driven like cattle but willingly follow only the one they recognize as their caretaker.
The point: those who belong to Jesus respond to his call and follow him. o The people who respond in faith to Jesus (like the man he healed in chapter 9) show that they belong to his flock. ▪ They are drawn out of their old way of life, like the sheep following their shepherd out of the big holding pen. ▪ For this man (and many of the original followers of Jesus) it meant being set apart from Jewish society in general as they are called by Jesus the Messiah. o The response to this calling is a work of God: In John 6:37-40…44 Jesus promised that he will save those who belong to him because the Father will draw them to him.
This should be comforting. o It is comforting to know that if you have trusted in Jesus as your Savior, that means God has always been working in your life for your good & his glory (Romans 8:28-30). ▪ Even before you responded to his call, he was working in your life. ▪ The course of your life has not been dictated by random chance but by the will of Almighty God who loves you and gave himself for you. ▪ This call is more than a general offer of salvation and God happens to know who will respond. ▪ He has drawn you into a personal relationship: he knows you by name. ▪ He even has a special personal name just for you that will be part of the blessings and glory of living in his eternal kingdom (Revelation 2:17b). o It is comforting because it relieves us of shouldering responsibility that belongs to God alone. ▪ When it comes to our Christian witness, it is not our responsibility to argue or badger people into being saved…only God can change hearts. ▪ Our responsibility is to share the Gospel (Romans 10:9-11), because that is part of how God draws people to himself (Romans 10:13-15). ▪ At the right time God will use it to draw his own to himself as he works in their heart (see Acts 13:48 & 16:14). o If you are hearing this today and have never trusted Jesus as your savior, I urge you to accept this invitation to forgiveness of sins and a new life. ▪ You are not hearing this by accident. ▪ Perhaps even now God is drawing you to faith in Jesus. Listen to the shepherd’s voice. o Unfortunately, there are many other voices calling to us.
(5) Those who belong to Jesus reject any competing claims that offer spiritual enlightenment, moral guidance, the good things in life, or the perfect society. o Like sheep who follow only their shepherd’s voice, our absolute loyalty belongs to Jesus alone. o Any time you find yourself giving any other person, organization, or ideology unquestioning allegiance that should set off alarms in your mind. ▪ E.g. Beware of automatically accepting, supporting, justifying, and defending something just because it came out of your favorite political party. ▪ E.g. Beware of adopting a belief or action purely because you think it would benefit the US or whatever other national, ethnic, or economic group you identify with. o Beware of any preacher, teacher, pundit, or celebrity who offers spiritual or moral guidance for life that does not point you to Jesus and align with his Word. ▪ That is not someone you should be allowing influence in your life. ▪ Those who follow Jesus must not follow those who do not walk in his footsteps.
(6) There will be people who don’t understand or accept this, like the religious leaders Jesus is speaking to in this passage. o Unquestioningly following Jesus and his Word may get you labeled naïve, foolish, narrow-minded, hateful, etc. o Sheep or sheeple (sheep + people) is generally considered an insult, implying a person who unquestioningly follows someone else’s lead. o As long as that “someone else” is Jesus, I will gladly accept that insult as a compliment. (7-10) Jesus Is the Door for His Sheep
The picture: When caring for his individual flock, the shepherd guarded the entryway to the pen (often by sleeping in front of it). He controlled who was in and who was out. o He was the one who let in only the sheep who were part of his flock. o He took care of them while keeping out all others that might try to harm them. o He led them to places where they could find plenty of food and be healthy & content.
The point: Jesus is the only way to be part of God’s family & live the full life that we were created to live (cf. John 1:11-13, 14:6).
Anyone else claiming to offer a different way to “the good life” or “the ideal society” is a thief and a killer. o Thief: they try to steal God’s glory (and often get rich off their followers). o Killer: their path ultimately leads to eternal death rather than eternal life. Even if they are sincere, they are sincerely & destructively wrong (cf. Proverbs 14:12). o Lying, deadly paths can take a variety of forms. ▪ Other paths to salvation/heaven/a blessed afterlife.
Belief in reincarnation
Rituals/sacraments
Church attendance/membership
Just trying really hard to do more good than bad. ▪ Other means of pursuing inner peace, protection, spiritual guidance, or enlightenment
Transcendental meditation
Mind-altering drugs
Fortunetelling (tarot, astrology, palm reading…)
Good luck charms
Protective crystals
Talking to spirits (seances, Ouija boards, channeling…) ▪ A worldview that rejects the eternal: The only focus is on the here and now.
Perhaps pursuing hedonistic pleasure (if it feels good, do it).
Perhaps focusing exclusively on social causes & political activism with no concern for what comes after this life on earth. o We who belong to Jesus must not try to “supplement” our spirituality with the ways of those whom Jesus describes as thieves & robbers who come to kill & destroy. ▪ Remember (v.5), the sheep will never follow anyone but the shepherd (phrased in the strongest possible negation). ▪ People who do not themselves follow the good shepherd are not equipped to help you follow him.
Only in Jesus can we have the full life that God wants us to have. o We won’t necessarily have “the good life” by the world’s definition (in spite of what you hear from prosperity gospel preachers) – We have something better. o In this world we have: ▪ Our Heavenly Father who loves us and works all things for our good ▪ Peace & joy no matter what is going on ▪ The indwelling Holy Spirit who gives us comfort, understanding of God’s Word, and the ability to do what is truly pleasing to God. ▪ An assurance of the world to come (cf. John 6:40). o In the world to come “life to the full” is experienced in all its glory. We have (paraphrasing Randy Alcorn): ▪ Perfect resurrected bodies… ▪ …to live in a perfect resurrected/remade universe… ▪ …in the very presence of our resurrected Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… ▪ …for eternity with no pain, sorrow, sickness, death, or any of the other things that sin brought in the world. o In the third shepherd illustration, Jesus tells us how he provides this for us. (11-18) Jesus Dies for His Sheep…and Returns to Life
(11-13) The picture: A good shepherd willingly risks his life for his sheep. o He stands his ground and protects them in life-threatening situations, even if he is armed with just a stick, a sling, and some rocks. o This is in contrast to someone who is in it primarily for personal gain and abandons the sheep if things get too difficult or dangerous.
(14-18) The point: Jesus truly cares for those who belong to him. o His ministry is not about gaining power, prestige, and wealth. ▪ Power and prestige are what the Pharisees were all about. ▪ There have always been spiritual leaders who use the ministry as a means of personal enrichment (extreme examples: $65M jet & $10M mansion). ▪ Should the finances, fame, or adoration of the masses dry up, these kinds of leaders usually leave behind hurting, disillusioned people. o (14-16) As the Good Shepherd, Jesus has a personal relationship with his sheep and with his Father. ▪ He came to bring those who belong to him into the loving relationship that has always existed between God the Father and God the Son. ▪ That includes not just the Jewish nation who had been waiting for a Savior for centuries, but other sheep as well: the Gentiles (including us!). o (17-18) He didn’t just risk his life for us, he willingly gave it up. ▪ This is part of the loving relationship between the Father and the Son: the plan to save fallen humanity through the Son’s willing self-sacrifice. ▪ When wicked men killed Jesus, it was not a cosmic accident that God made good use of, but the fulfillment of God’s sovereign plan as he turns even the worst sin of mankind to his glorious purpose (Acts 4:27-28, 2:22-24). o Jesus makes it clear that, unlike a merely human shepherd who dies defending his sheep, he will not stay dead. ▪ By his own authority/power and the will of the Father he will return to life. ▪ He will break the power of death over all who trust in him. ▪ Proof of this authority and power is coming in the next chapter. (19-21) Conclusion: The Crowd Is Divided
As before, some claim Jesus is demon possessed and insane; these are the ones who do not recognize the voice of the shepherd.
Some are interested. o What Jesus is saying doesn’t sound like the rantings of a madman, and he seems to have tremendous power from God. o They have not necessarily taken the step of following the shepherd yet (like the blind man Jesus healed in chapter 9), but they are thinking about it.
As John leaves the question hanging, it invites us to ask “What about me?” o What do I believe about Jesus? o Regardless of other religious people out there who I find offensive, hypocritical, and gross, what about Jesus and the claims and promises he has made? Do I trust him? Applications
Trust Jesus to forgive your sins and transform your life. o He is the door of the sheep: the only way to a right relationship with God. o He died for our sins, like a shepherd defending his sheep to the death…willingly giving himself in our place. o He returned to life, defeating death on our behalf.
Follow Jesus, not the spiritual and moral guides he would describe as thieves & killers. o Do not let wicked shepherds turn you away from the Good Shepherd. ▪ Do not become disillusioned by looking at them instead of at Jesus. ▪ Do not be fooled into following their teachings and example. o Remember, if someone is not a true follower of the Good Shepherd, they are not equipped to help you follow in the steps of the Good Shepherd. o Jesus’ sheep follow him and no one else.
Remind yourself of what it means that Jesus is your Good Shepherd. o This is one of those “something you should know and meditate on” rather than “something you should do” applications. ▪ Meditate: to think about this truth and all that it implies ▪ Good music is one way of bringing Scriptural truths to our mind in a way that is memorable and engages our emotions. ▪ I have a bonus song list to help you think through some of the truths in this chapter – some things you should know if you have trusted in Jesus. o Know that you have been called by the Good Shepherd and drawn into a relationship with him by your Heavenly Father – Grace Has Called My Name (Kathryn Scott). o Know that Almighty God knows you by name: He Knows My Name (Francesca Battistelli) o Know that nothing can change that – more on that aspect of it next week: I Belong (Kathryn Scott) o Know that the Good Shepherd give life to the full: the life you were created to live: This Is What I Was Made For (Rend Collective) o Know that he died to do away with your sin My Sin Is Nailed to the Cross (Rend Collective) o Know that he returned to life, breaking death’s power over you His Heart Beats (Andrew Peterson)
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