## Jesus: The Good Shepherd

## John 10:1-18

Two men were called on, in a large classroom, to recite the Twenty-third Psalm. One was a published orator trained in speech technique and drama. He repeated the psalm in a powerful way. When he finished, the audience cheered and even asked for an encore that they might hear his wonderful voice again. Then the other man, who was much older, repeated the same words--'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...' But when he finished, no sound came from the large class. Instead, people sat in a deep mood of devotion and prayer. Then the first man, the orator, stood to his feet, "I have a confession to make," he said. "The difference between what you have just heard from my old friend, and what you heard from me is this: I know the Psalm, but my friend knows the Shepherd."

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Like a shepherd, He is concerned with the welfare and the care of His sheep. As Jesus delivered this sermon, He clearly declares His identity and plainly states His purposes and plans. In these verses, we can see the heart of Jesus on display. Here, He reveals His great love for sinners and His plan for dealing with their sin.

The question we must ask ourselves this morning is this, "Do I really know the Shepherd?"

1. If you do not know Him, listen carefully because you are going to hear from the very Word of God, exactly how you can be saved.

2. If you do know Him, then you are going to hear how knowing the Shepherd makes your life more abundant and rich.

Read: John 10:1-18

The prophet Isaiah used the symbol of a shepherd to describe the coming Messiah:

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." (Isa 40:11)

When Jesus came, He said, "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." (v14-15)

And He also said, "I am the door of the sheep" (v7).

I. The Parable v1-6

A. There is only one door to the sheepfold.

1. A Sheepfold was a circular wall about 10 feet tall with a single opening that served as a door.

2. Several flocks might be placed into the sheepfold at night, with one of the shepherds lying in the opening to serve as the door.

3. Nothing could get into, or out of the sheepfold without having to go through the shepherd.

4. Jesus is telling us that only thieves and robbers seek to enter the sheepfold by another means besides the door.

5. The shepherd, however, always comes in the right way!

B. Jesus is the door and all others are false teachers who care not for the sheep.

1. There were many false-christs who came to deceive.

2. Satan is an expert at counterfeiting.

3. Paul reminded us that it shouldn't surprise us to know that his ministers masquerade as God's ministers.

4. The same is true of believers.

5. Jesus gave the parable of the wheat and the tares to explain that there are and will be those who pretend to be God's children.

6. Enter in through the door (Jesus) and one receives salvation and peace.

7. Jesus came to give abundant life.

II. Jesus is only one door into the safety of the sheepfold. v7

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." (John 10:7)

"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." (John 10:10)

A. The Jews did not see Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

1. Rather, they thought He had a demon and was mad.

2. But a few caught glimpse of the Light shining in their darkness and asked,

"Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" (John 10:21).

3. These were beginning to listen, to hear what Jesus was saying.

B. Today, "thieves and robbers" are still leading many people away from the Good Shepherd by teaching that there is more than one door into the sheepfold.

1. But those who listen to the words of the Good Shepherd and follow Him will not be lead astray.

2. Note the words of Jesus to all those who are His 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." (John 10:27-28)

III. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. v 11-29

A. Are all shepherds good? No.

1. Jesus points to Himself as the Good Shepherd, but the prophet Ezekiel warned about bad shepherds who did not go after stray sheep or search for the lost one.

2. Jesus called bad shepherds who came before Him "thieves and robbers" (John 10:8).

3. One way of recognizing a good shepherd, Jesus said, is to listen to his voice.

a. He "calls his own sheep by name," and they follow Him.

b. In Israel today shepherds still walk before their sheep, calling them by name, and the sheep follow.

4. In our walk with Jesus we must be sure that He is leading, and we are following.

5. If we're His sheep, we're in His loving care.

B. The Good Shepherd "gives his life for the sheep". (11-18)

1. Only the shepherd would do that.

2. The hireling would allow the wolf to ravage the sheep.

3. Only the shepherd truly cares for the flock.

4. There are other sheep, but there is only one shepherd (and. there will be only one fold).

C. He giveth His sheep eternal life (19-29)

1. Unbelief indicates that one is not a sheep and therefore will not follow the shepherd.

2. His sheep enjoy eternal life - they shall never -perish.

3. Because they are nestled deep within the safety of God's hand.

D. Jesus is the Father. v30-42

1. They are one - mystery of the trinity

2. They are inseparable - "...the Father is in me, and I in Him."

3. The works Christ did testified to the fact that They were One.

There is no question that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The only question that remains at this point in the service is this: Do you know the Shepherd? How you answer that question determines where you can expect to spend eternity. Your answer to that question will make all the difference between Heaven and Hell.

If you know the Shepherd, then you can rejoice in the fact that He will ever be with you and that He will ever watch over you. If you do not know Him, then I invite you to come to Him right now. You do not have to, nor should you want to wait. Delay is dangerous!

Come to Jesus today and He will save your soul. He will place you in the flock of God. He will save you from the wrath of God. He will give you a new life and a new birth. Will you come to Him?