Good Shepherd

John Piper made this claim in a sermon on the Good Shepherd:

“Statistically homeowners tend to take better care of their property than renters do. It's not a good commentary on human nature, but in general it's true. Kids get a lot more angry about the misuse of their own bikes than they do about their misuse of other's. And adults are a lot more likely to throw trash out the window of their car than they are to throw it in their own backyard. Our standards for our own homes and our own car and our own toys and our own tools is higher than our standards for the things of others. That's not good. It's one of the things Jesus came into the world to change (Matthew 7:12; Philippians 2:3-5). But that's the way human nature is apart from the transforming grace of God through Jesus Christ. And Jesus knew it and used it to contrast his commitment to his own sheep with the commitment of hired help.”

1. The Good Shepherd
2. The hireling
3. The wolves
4. The sheep

1. The Good Shepherd
1. Gives His life for the Sheep v11, 15
2. Owns the Sheep v12
3. Knows His Sheep         } cf Jesus and the Father
4. Known by His own       }

Topic:  Good Shepherd  Subtopic:  Index:  1957

Date:  5/2006.101 Title:  The Shepherd And Flock

 - J. H. Jowett  wrote: “In our country we do not realize the intimacy of a shepherd with his flock as they do in Syria and in parts of Southern Europe. It was my daily delight every day for many weeks and a dozen times a day, to watch a shepherd who had this almost incredibly close communion with his flock. Many times have I accompanied him through the green pastures and by the stream. If my shepherd wished to lead his sheep from one pasture to another, he went before them, and he was usually singing.

 He led them with a song or with a sweet, low, wooing whistle like the call of a bird, and the sheep raised their heads from the herbage, looked at their guardian and guide, and followed on. I have heard his song and his low birdcall by the watercourse, and have seen the sheep follow his course over the rocky boulders to the still waters, where they have been refreshed. At noon he would sit down in a place of shadows, and all his flock crowded around him for rest. At night, when the darkness was falling, he gathered them into the fold.

 We must realize an intimacy like this if we wish to understand the shepherd imagery of the Old Book. The communion is so intimate that the shepherd knows if one of his sheep is missing.”

Tan, P. L. 1996, c1979. Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations  : [a treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers]. Bible Communications: Garland TX

1. Authority/power/commandment from the Father

                                                               i.      To lay down His life

Many times the Lord Jesus used the expression "I am," one of the titles of Deity. Each time He was making a claim to equality with God the Father. Here he presented Himself as the good shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. Ordinarily, the sheep were called upon to lay down their lives for the shepherd. But the Lord Jesus died for the flock.

When blood from a victim must flow,

This Shepherd by pity was led,

To stand between us and the foe,

And willingly died in our stead.

-- Thomas Kelly

                                                             ii.      To take it up again

1. The hireling
1. Not the Shepherd! #. Sees the wolf coming

                                                               i.      Leaves the Sheep

                                                             ii.      Flees for his life

1. Does not care for the Sheep - motive money not love.

Topic:  Afflictions Subtopic:  Of Ministers and Prophets Index:  492Date:  Title: 

   Thomas Carlyle's father once made a very important point.  In their church they were having trouble with their minister; and it was the worst of all kinds of such trouble -- it was about money. Carlyle's father rose and said bitingly:

 "Give the hireling his wages and let him go."

1. The wolf
1. Without the Shepherd’s intervention                                                                i.      Catches the sheep

                                                             ii.      Scatters them

“When Jesus laid down his life for the sheep he saved us from three destroying wolves: sin and death and judgment. He saw them coming; he went out to meet them; he drew them away from the flock and gave his life to kill them and take away their power so that they could not destroy the flock.” John Piper

1.      Sin. (John 1:29 NIV)  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

2.      Death 1 Cor 15:26 (NIV)  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1 Cor 15:55-57 (NIV)  "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" {56} The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. {57} But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

3.      Judgement Heb 9:27 (NIV)  Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, John 5:24

On the cross Jesus steps between us and the wolves of sin death and judgment. The wolves are defeated at the cross but Jesus is also dead!

Thankfully the story did not end with Jesus laying down His life!

True Jesus lays down His life.

True He dies on the cross of Calvary.

True His body is laid in a borrowed tomb.

But He has power or authority to take up His life again.

(John 10:18 NIV)  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

True He alone had authority as the Son of God to take back his life. And therefore he alone was triumphant. Sin and death and judgment can never again destroy the sheep of Jesus. The Good Shepherd has destroyed the wolves.

However “Good”, Jesus is no help if He is a dead Shepherd! A living Shepherd is what His Sheep need. “I am” the Good Shepherd – not I was but I am and “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever” Heb 13:8

He lives, to bless me with his love;

He lives, to plead for me above;

He lives, my hungry soul to feed;

He lives, to help in time of need.

1. The Sheep
1. My own Sheep – disciples/followers
2. Other Sheep – future followers

Topic:  Good Shepherd Subtopic:   Index:   

Date:  5/2006.101 Title: 

Author Philip Keller paints such a poignant picture of life without Jesus Christ. He tells about his experience as a shepherd in east Africa in his book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm Twenty-Three. He said that the land adjacent to his was rented out to a tenant shepherd—a hireling—who didn’t take very good care of his sheep: the hireling’s land was overgrazed, eaten down to the ground; the sheep were thin, diseased by parasites, and attacked by wild animals. Keller especially remembered how the neighbour’s sheep would line up at the fence and blankly stare in the direction of his green grass and his healthy sheep, almost as if they yearned to be delivered from their abusive shepherd. They longed to come to the other side of the fence and belong to him. [Citation: Leith Anderson, "The Lord Is My Shepherd," Preaching Today, Tape 136.]

Which side of the fence are you on?

Earlier in the chapter Jesus said (John 10:9 NIV)  I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Who is on the Lord's side?

Who will serve the King?

Who will be his helpers

Other lives to bring?

Who will leave the world's side?

Who will face the foe?

Who is on the Lord's side?

Who for him will go?

By thy call of mercy,

By thy grace divine,

We are on the Lord's side;

Saviour, we are thine.  AMEN