Are You My Shepherd?
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THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (Misericordias Domini)
Ezekiel 34:11–16
1 Peter 2:21–25
John 10:11–16
The Good Shepherd Cares for His Sheep
Our Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11–16). He is not like the hireling, who cares nothing for the sheep and only for himself, who flees when he sees the wolf coming. Rather, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks out His scattered sheep to deliver them (Ezek. 34:11–16). He gathers them and feeds them in rich pasture. He binds up the broken and strengthens the sick. He lays down His life for wandering and wayward sheep. On the cross, Christ bore in His body the attacks of the predators of sin and death and the devil for you that you might be saved. He now lives to restore your soul in the still waters of baptism, to lead you in the paths of righteousness by the voice of His Gospel, to prepare the table of His holy supper before you, that you may dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23). “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).
Context:
Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees who have selfishly, greedily, and arrogantly jumped the fence to act as if they are the Shepherd of God’s people.
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.
Introduction:
Introduction:
Many people claim to be one of God’s shepherds. Jesus does in v.11 and so do many others like the Pharisees.
Who do you follow? How do I know that my shepherd is going to protect me? Am I going to starve or get eaten? What if I am lost?
Kenneth Copeland?
The flock feels scattered
So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
The flock (ISRAEL/THE CHURCH) is a mix of God’s sheep, those who appear to be one of his sheep, but are not
Outline:
1. What does a real/good shepherd look like?
1. What does a real/good shepherd look like?
The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life for the Sheep
A Hired Hand & Not a shepherd
Does not own the sheep
When he sees THE wolf coming
leaves the sheep & flees
(v.13) because he is a hired hand (in it for the pay check/selfish)
and cares nothing for the sheep (not in it because of ownership & love)
and the wolf snatches them & scatters them
Examples from our day:
2. Who is The Good Shepherd?
2. Who is The Good Shepherd?
Jesus claims that He is.
He says “I AM the Good Shepherd” twice for emphasis (v.11 &14)
I AM
Claiming to be ...
THE Good Shepherd - the One over all other Shepherds
The GOOD Shepherd - He is presenting Himself in a loving and caring way
Citing evidence & making His case
(v.14) “I know my own”
taking ownership unlike a hired hand
showing an intimate relationship with the sheep
“and my own know me”
the sheep can recognize their own shepherd
have experienced His care
find comfort in the sound of his voice and in his presence
(v.15) “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father”
Jesus is making a lofty claim about His relationship with God the Father. He is saying that they intimately know each other and that the Father is the one guiding Him.
“and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
THE CROSS!!!!
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
3. Am I a part of His Flock? (v.16)
3. Am I a part of His Flock? (v.16)
FIRST: Those who are in the sheep pen (the Church) & know His voice
It is not enough to be in the pen
there are those who have jumped the wall and snuck in -
there are those who don’t know the voice of the Good Shepherd
some like the comfort of the group
some want to appear to be one of His flock
some think that it is enough to act like a sheep, to come into the sheep pen on Sunday mornings, or to have gotten sheered bathed once by the shepherd
there are wolves in sheep’s clothing, thieves and robbers (v.8)
SECOND: Jesus says in v. 16, “And I have other sheep that not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
There are some of Jesus’ sheep who are not yet gathered into the flock.
He is going to pursue them and bring them in
“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
They will listen to His voice (a.k.a. believe the Gospel)
They will be merged into the one flock
bonus picture for us as we feel scattered right now.
There is only one flock! We are not divided even though we feel like it.
We are united by faith in our Good Shepherd as we hear His voice and follow Him.
The Good Shepherd is caring for all the flock and even pursuing all the lost sheep
Warning and Comfort:
False shepherds and imitation sheep beware!
False shepherds: The Good Shepherd defends his flock from all who would threaten them
“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
Imitation sheep: just because you hand around the flock doesn’t mean you are part of it.
Just because you are in the garage it doesn’t mean you are a car.
Being a part of the religious ceremonies of the church, getting confirmed, attending church, etc. doesn’t mean you are a Christian. Even if you have received God’s saving grace in baptism and the Lord’s Supper, you are not saved if you don’t believe the voice of the Good Shepherd.
Hear again the voice Jesus, “I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
If you are hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd today through the Word of God and you desire to follow Him then you are one of His sheep.
Let us pray together with the words of Psalm 23:
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.