The Heart of the Shepherd
080817 The Heart of the Shepherd
Tim Franklin
John 10:1-18
Introduction:
· I love Good News and the best news of all is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Another name for good news is the Gospel. Good News is new that which benefits us, news that fills us with joy, or news that brings relief.
· In July, I preached some basic good news messages. We looked at what it means to be born again, to be a Christian, to be saved. We looked at Jesus the Bread of Life. And who can forget the message of His Amazing Love.
· I want to share with you today another wonderful message that is Good News. I want to share with you the heart of a Good Shepherd.
· The setting:
o John 9. Jesus heals a man born blind.
o He does this to reveal the works of God.
o The end result is:
§ His parents will not stand with him.
§ And his local church leads throw him out of the synagogue.
§ And he believes in Jesus
o When the religious leaders of the day throw the man out, this once again sets Jesus up to teach more on who He is. The religious leaders throw him out and Jesus welcomes him in.
I) Lions and Tigers and Bears – oh no!
A) Jesus in John 10 describes what one leaves behind when they believe or choose to follow him. We have to look at this because I want you to see the heart of a shepherd when we get there.
B) In chapter 10 the Pharisees are called all kinds of things by Jesus let’s look at few.
1) Thieves and robbers 10:2, 10.
2) Strangers 10:5
3) Hirelings 10:12, 13
4) None of these are comforting words if you like any kind of security at all.
C) Characteristics of thieves, strangers, and hirelings. Let’s be reminded that we are talking about a spirit.
1) Thieves—carjacking, home invasion, breaking and entering
(a) Steal—you know what that means. Something of value to you is taken away. When something is stolen like that, do not blame God.
(b) Kill-word is used of the taking of life. Closely tied to the understanding of sacrifice. Think about our world. Ie. 50 million babies sacrificed on the altars of convenience. Children sacrificed on the altars of ‘keeping up with the Jones’. Marriages sacrificed on the altars of selfishness.
(c) Destroy—Gr. Appolumi – to destroy, as in to kill, imprison, to render useless, to render valueless. Ie. It is what vandal’s do, it what gangs do to quiet communities; it is what war does to both people and property. It is what the devil does to marriages, to family relationships.
(d) Thieves do all the above: they steal, they kill, and they destroy. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior that is the spiritual community that you live in!
2) Strangers
(a) Are scary 10:5 cause sheep to flee.
(b) Can’t and shouldn’t be trusted
3) Hirelings
(a) Only cares about himself. When he sees trouble he runs. Vs. 12 & 13.
(b) Runs at the first sign of trouble.
(c) The devil doesn’t care about your life. When he is done with you it is over. Ie. If the wages of sin is death, and that is what the devil pays---Why work for him! Doors of escape never looked so good when you have been living in the land of thieves, strangers and hirelings. That is why the blind man who got his sight rejoiced when he heard Jesus say, I am the door.
II) I am the Door vs.7
A) When Jesus declares that I am the door he is declaring
1) I am the entrance in—this is the door way from one realm into another. Doors exist to get us from one place to another.
(a) There really are only two realms. Light vs. Darkness; Life vs. Death; Blessing vs. Curses. Moses and Joshua also spoke of these when they said to their people, “Choose you this day who you will serve.” Dt 30:19
(b) Jesus was the door to the blind man who had been given sight. 9:35-38 He is the access point! Everyone is born on the wrong side of the fence. He is the only way out of this mess!
(c) Notice how easily this man passes from one pen into the other. John 9:38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him. NKJV
(i) I believe 9:38
(ii) And he worship Jesus 9:38
(d) I.E. If he house is one fire you are looking for a way out. If you are being held captive you are looking for a way of escape. Jesus is the only access to light, life, and blessing.
2) I am the way —doors are not only the access point but they are the pathway into the place of blessing. Show me the way. Jesus is literally the way. He calls himself that:
(a) John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJV
(b) The early church was referred to as The Way. Because they spoke of Jesus as the way the truth and the life. Acts 9:2; 19:9,23; 24:14,22.
(c) A way is a
(i) Passage—similar to what we just discussed, access. Implied is the fact that you must keep on going. You get to the door but you must keep on going to get to all the rest of the goods/blessings. They are all accessible at the door but you must continue in the way to discover them or learn of them.
(ii) Road—It takes you somewhere. Is. 35 when you get on the highway of holiness it is leading you somewhere. It is leading you out of the prison, bondage, darkness and death you were in. I don’t know about you…but the further I can get away from there the better!
(iii)Course of direction—there is only one way-Jesus-if eternal life is your goal.
(iv)Method—where the Methodists got their name. John Wesley had a method of making disciples. It was easy to observe those who were Christians because they took on a new way of living life.
3) I am the security check point—Door also provide security.
(a) It was typical of the Shepherd to sleep at the door of fold.
(b) This provided security for the sheep.
(i) Wild beast had to go through the shepherd to get to the sheep.
(ii) Thieves had to go through the shepherd to get to the sheep or to get away with the sheep.
(iii)Ie. You close and lock your doors at home for protection.
(c) Jesus says I am the door.
(i) I am your access to a better life
(ii) I am the way to living a better life
(iii)I am your security—rear guard, ps 91, etc.
B) The heart of Jesus is to make a way for people.
1) God the Father made a way for Adam and Eve He clothed them in skins.
2) God has always been making a way for people to change, and to change their circumstances.
3) God hates poverty, hates sickness, hates sin and the effects of sin. Therefore he makes a way out for those who will trust Him and believe.
III)I am the Good Shepherd—A good shepherd…
A) Is with his sheep continually—therefore they know him.
1) When you spend time with and are around sheep or any other animal they get to know you and your voice.
2) Ie. My dad and the Landrace Bores. They would hear his whistle and come to the fence. He would get in the pen and they would come to him for him to scratch their ears. They would lay down to have him scratch their bellies. Why? Over time they trusted him. His voice did not spark fear.
B) Cares about the sheep vs. 13, 14
1) Good – gr. Kalos=beautiful to look at, excellent in nature, morally good, pure, honorable, and comforting. This is his heart towards you if you will only believe like the blind man who got his sight did.
2) Melei- to be of interest or concern.
(a) The devil is not interested in you only the purposes you can serve him for. When those are done he is done with you.
(b) Christ is interested in you. He would rather suspend/jeopardize his plan in order to reach you than to say that you are expendable in his plan.
C) Gives his life for his sheep 10:11, 15
1) This is genuine love! Christ is the Good Shepherd who dies for the sheep. (In the OT the sheep died for the shepherd!)
2) Jesus says, I am willing to die for you. To take your place of punishment. There is nothing more I’d rather do than that.
3) We are the object of His affections! While we were yet sinners—in the wrong room, on the wrong side of the fence. He is still willing. Ie. Hosea—who takes an unfaithful prostitute as a wife.
4) Romans 5:8 It is how God demonstrated his love to us.
D) Faces trouble/danger for the sheep vs. 12
1) Because he is willing to lay his life down for the sheep facing danger or the things that threaten him is easy.
2) Jesus for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it shame. Heb. 12:2.
E) Know his sheep and is known by them. 10:14
1) To know, perceive, understand.
2) It is said that Jesus knows us and also that we know him.
(a) That is called intimacy. That is something you will never get with a thief, stranger, or hireling.
(b) That is the joy, of marriage—companionship, sharing your life together.
(c) Jesus is willing to share his life with us if we are willing share our lives with Him.
3) This takes away loneliness.
4) What satisfaction and peace to know that you are know in heaven. That God knows you.
Conclusion
· Which side of the fence are you on today?
· Are you living in the realm of thieves, strangers and hireling?
· It does not have to be that way…you can give your life to Jesus today and come through the door into a place of life, light, love, and friendship. Friendship with the Most High God!!!
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