Jesus Is the Good Shepherd

Here is today’s sermon based on John 10:11-18:

During CH-BOLC, we had the chance to practice our navigation skills. We did Day Land Nav and Night Land Nav. Now, we were given a map, some coordinates, a compass, a protractor and then sent on our way. We had to follow the course of the coordinates, check in, and find our way back in a reasonable amount of time. It was not a difficult task and we appointed a navigator, a leader, and the rest of us followed in course. We successfully missed the bramble patch, the pond, and the swamp and our squad won the best time. Move ahead 6 hours and we are ready for Night Land Nav. Same parameters and rules except we get our trusty red lens flashlight. It should be easy but that is not the case. Suddenly, everyone has suggestions. Everyone wants to lead. Everyone wants to read the map. We don’t miss the bramble patch, we hit the swamp, and that barbed wire fence? Yeah, there go those pants. We suffered from too many colonels and not enough sergeants. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Too many shepherds and not enough sheep.

I think the same thing happens for us – both individually and collectively as a church. During the good times, when we are walking through the forest in the daylight, we are content to let someone else lead. We will follow someone else and all is fine and dandy. Then we have to live through darkness or storms or whatever and suddenly, we want to take charge. We know best. We think we can do this on our own but it is this time especially, that we need to learn to depend on others. We can’t see the brambles and the swamps. We need others and especially one to guide us.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. These are some of the most comforting words in Scripture for every believer. Many are familiar with the painting portraying Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Jesus is calmly standing amidst a flock of sheep. In one hand he holds his shepherd’s staff. In the other arm Jesus is securely holding an innocent lamb completely safe. This is a very fitting picture revealing the depth of meaning of the words in our text. This is the picture that the prophet Isaiah painted long before the physical birth of Jesus. ” Like a shepherd, God will tend the flock; he will gather lambs in his arms and lift them onto his lap. He will gently guide the nursing ewes.”(Isaiah 40:11). We direct our attention to this comforting truth in God’s word:

• Love Led Jesus to the Ultimate Sacrifice
  • Today’s gospel (John 10:1-18) introduces our sermon text. The “disciples did not understand”.
    • Jesus wants to make it very, very clear: “I am the good shepherd”, verses 11a, 14a.
    • Verse 11b. The good shepherd would even offer his life in order to save the sheep.
  • Verse 12. The hired hand is not like the good shepherd when it comes to dedication and service.
    •  The original Greek uses a word that shows this hireling only want money and nothing else.
    • Verse 13. The sheep mean nothing to the money hungry hired man.
  • Verse 14. The good shepherd and the sheep know each other, closely, intimately, and personally.
  • Now Jesus wants the disciples to understand he has this same closeness with his Father, v. 15.
    •  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will lay down his life for the sheep. This is the ultimate sacrifice.
  • We are like sheep. Our sins cause us to wander away. Left to our own we would be lost forever. Like sheep we need a good shepherd to protect us. We need a good shepherd who would even be willing to offer up his life to save us. Most amazing we have that very Good Shepherd. Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd. ” he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:8). By grace through faith we know Jesus our Good Shepherd.
  • When Jesus died on the cross he was not selective about who would be forgiven. Most amazing, Jesus the Good Shepherd died for the sins of the whole world. His innocent sufferings and death was the price demanded for the payment of sin. Jesus holy, precious blood covered the sins of mankind once and for all. No other sacrifice is ever needed. “He is God’s way of dealing with our sins, not only ours but the sins of the whole world.”(1 John 2:2). This is certainly and truly God’s amazing grace. Sadly, those who reject Christ also reject his forgiveness and heaven itself.
  • There are only two types of people in this world: believers and unbelievers. There is a vast difference in the lives of believers and unbelievers. The unbelievers live lives that are very self-centered and self-serving. After all they are only and ever going to look out for number one – themselves. They are the ones who are trying to navigate on their own. I have been one of those people before. I am sure you have too. But the believers look at what the Good Shepherd has done. The believers realize that their lives are completely and forever changed by the love of Christ. ” He gave himself for us in order to rescue us from every kind of lawless behavior, and cleanse a special people for himself who are eager to do good actions.”(Titus 2:14). As believers we live lives that love God and serve our fellow man. By the power of the risen Christ we are able to turn from sin. Living in the resurrected power of our Good Shepherd we live lives that are “eager to do what is good”! We can do this only by God’s grace at work in us.

It was love and love alone that led Jesus to the ultimate sacrifice of his life on the cross – for us, and for others.  Power provided Jesus with total victory.

• Power Provided Jesus with Total Victory
  • Jesus dearly wanted his disciples to understand the simple teaching that he was the Good Shepherd.
    • Jesus compared the good shepherd with the hired hand. They were very different.
    • As Good Shepherd, Jesus would always act out of love for the sheep whoever they are.
  • But there was more. Jesus had not come only for the lost sheep of Israel but others also, verse 16.
    • There were other sheep that needed to be brought into the sheep pen by the voice of Jesus.
    • We remember the thief on the cross. Once outside God’s flock and now in paradise.
    •  Recall the centurion. After the crucifixion he confessed, “Surely this was the Son of God”.
    •   They heard the voice of Jesus from the cross and listened and followed, other sheep no longer.
  • Jesus now describes the power that he has in verses 17, 18a. Jesus lays down his life on his own.
    • Six months later the disciples see these words fulfilled. Jesus’ love held him on the cross.
    • Jesus laid down his life for one purpose. Verse 18. Giving up his life, Jesus would raise it!
    • The Father sent his Son to do all this as the Good Shepherd for all straying, lost sheep.
  • We have looked at Jesus’ love that led him to the cross and the ultimate sacrifice. The love of our Good Shepherd did not stop there. Jesus was laid to rest in the tomb. But on Easter the tomb was empty. Jesus took back his life. Jesus rose again in total victory over sin, death, and the devil. By grace we know, believe, and confess this vital victorious truth of the Scriptures. “Since we believe that Jesus died and rose, so we also believe that God will bring with him those who have died in Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 4:14). The victory that Jesus won was not for himself but for us and for the world.
  • Today, some would rather not talk about sin. Sin, well, sin is just too negative. People want to deny sin, reject sin, and cover it up as if it never existed. With no sin there is no need for a Savior. True, it is not pleasant at all to hear that we are sinners. It is not pleasant to be reminded, “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”. But this is the truth of God’s word. Along with this truth of the law come the truth and the comfort of the gospel. “ He destroyed the record of the debt we owed, with its requirements that worked against us. He canceled it by nailing it to the cross. When he disarmed the rulers and authorities, he exposed them to public disgrace by leading them in a triumphal parade.”(Colossians 2:14,15). God’s law has been fulfilled – perfectly and completely. Our Good Shepherd gives us his total victory over sin that we may live to love and serve him.
  • Total victory, everyone loves to be a winner. Everyone loves to be a champion. That is what we are. Our Good Shepherd has given us the victory of death itself. This victory, Jesus’ victory, is God’s gift to us. Simply put, we cannot earn salvation. We do not deserve salvation. Freely, through Christ, God gives to every believer his gift of total victory into eternal life! “Now his grace is revealed through the appearance of our savior, Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality into clear focus through the good news.”(2 Timothy 1:10). Our Good Shepherd gives us his total victory.

This is Christ the Lord, Jesus the/our Good Shepherd. Once again we have only begun to scratch the surface of the depth of God’s great love for us lost, wandering sheep. We daily stand in awe and wonder at the great and marvelous things God has done for us! What love that Christ would die willingly for us. What love that Christ would freely give us his victory. No matter what we face in this world our Good Shepherd is always there holding us safely, securely in his strong grasp. ” They will make war on the Lamb, but the Lamb will emerge victorious, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.””(Revelation 17:14). Love led him to the cross. Power provides us victory. Amen.

Here is today’s worship bulletin.