Hello family and friends,

Here are my sermon notes from Sunday, September 13, 2015

Please feel free to copy and share with others.

 

Sermon Title: “The Shepherd and His Flock” - Part 1 of 2

Opening statement: This chapter is filled with Spiritual Truths and begins with an extended figure of speech or illustration, similar to a parable, about shepherds and sheep. The Apostle John provides two aspects of the illustration: the “gate” and the “shepherd”, each with its own interpretation - the “gate” is interpreted in verse 7-10, and the “shepherd” is interpreted in verse 11-18.  Theme is: Salvation and Jesus is The Good Shepherd. Its' about our relationship with the Lord. You see, Christianity is more of a relationship than it is a religion. I must say that the lessons learned here are applicable to all generations. We’ll discover a lot of symbolic meaning in today's scripture. 1. True believers know and hear the shepherd's voice and follow him. 2. The True Shepherd is revealed to believers through the Holy Spirit. 3. Jesus is the One and only way, and there is no other! Not Muhammad, not Buddha, etc. Comment: Often Jesus uses physical objects, or settings to depict a certain spiritual aspect and to teach a lesson. In today's scripture message he uses the sheep and shepherd to teach us. Note that Romans 9:6 – 9 addresses the Islamic / Jewish question as to who are the true children of Abraham. Also Genesis 17:21 addresses the Islamic / Jewish question.

Was presented September 13, 2015

Written by: Bill Ferguson

 

Scripture Reading …......................................... John 10: 1 – 21

Also Romans 9:6-12

Referring Scripture ....................Isaiah 40: 1-11.

Responsive Reading …...... Psalm 24 … # 755 & 756

The Words of God for the people of God, thanks be to God!

     Paralleling leaders with shepherds and their people with sheep was a common analogy in the Bible (it still is in the Middle East). Shepherding was a common occupation; many of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) leaders were shepherds, as were most of the ancestors of the entire nation of Israel. God is often called a shepherd and his people the sheep. Several of the

illustrations in verse 1-18 can be readily assigned a symbolic meaning. Here are some examples:

1. The “good shepherd” is the Messiah – who is Christ Jesus

2. The “sheep” are the Jewish believers – followers of Jesus

3. The “sheepfold” is Judaism (and the flock of believers)

4. The “gate” is Jesus - as the way to life

5. The “other sheep” are Gentile (non-Jewish) believers

6. The “gatekeeper” is God

7. The “thief or robber” is Satan or someone up to no good

     The entire passage calls to mind the imagery of Ezekiel 34, where the prophet severely reprimand the false prophets (Israel's evil leaders) and predicted that the true Shepherd (the Messiah) would come and provide God's people with genuine care and leadership. In comparison to the Pharisees, who were bad leaders of God's people, Jesus was (and still is) the true Shepherd of all God's people. The healed man who believed in Jesus (in the previous chapter - who had been born blind) represented all believers who would come out of Judaism to follow Jesus, as sheep follow their shepherd. We must remember that the first Christians were Jews.

     Listen closely to Jesus' words in verse 1 – 2 - NIV. “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.” The “gate” is the main entrance (is also translated “door” - NKJV).  It is important that we realize that the sheepfold had only one entrance. Jesus explained that anyone who tried to get in any other way besides going through the gate would be a thief and a robber – that person would be up to no good. The gate represents the position of Messiah because Jesus went on to say, “The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.”

     Listen. Only the shepherd has the right to enter the sheepfold and call his own sheep out to follow him. Friend Jesus is the only way to Salvation. That’s what this scripture is saying. Jesus is the gate and the shepherd. No one else. There is no other door by which we may enter to meet God.

     These words speak clearly to us about false leaders and false religions. Jesus rebuked those who claim to lead God's people without regarding the Messiah (who is in their midst, but unrecognized by them). Such leaders have false ambitions, selfish desires, and evil intentions.

     There is an important lesson here. Listen. Jesus' love for his people is contrasted with the treatment given the people by the Jewish leaders of the day. That contrast would hold for any leader, in any generation (past, present and future), who attempts to use the flock of God to his or her own selfish purposes.

Let’s take a look at the contrast of character:

False Religious Leaders                             Jesus                              

Self-centered                                      From God, is true

(thieves and or hired hands)

Strangers                                            Knows his sheep and they

                                                            recognize him.

Lead sheep away from God               Leads sheep to God

 

Flee when danger threatens               Provides real safety and

                                                           assurance (Psalm 23)

Have no heart of compassion           Lays down his life for the

for the sheep                                      sheep (Psalm 22)

 

Will abandon the sheep in                 Will return for his sheep

time of trouble or danger.                   (Psalm 24)

     Listen to Jesus in verse 3-6 - NIV. “The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.” Scripture tells us that “Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.” Jesus explained it in verses 7-11.

     Friend the shepherd is also the gate for the sheep – which in the illustration meant Jesus is the only way to eternal life, the only way into the kingdom of God. The sheepfold of Judaism held some of God's people who had waited the coming of their Shepherd-Messiah (recorded in Isaiah 40:1-11). When the true Shepherd came, believing Jews recognized his voice and followed him. It is important that we realize that not all Jews were God's people. Listen closely to what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 9:6-8, “It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, ‘it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.” In Romans 9 Paul address the Islamic/Jewish issue as to who are the true children of Abraham. Read it closely. The promise in Romans 9:9 includes Sarah – Abraham's wife, not Hagar! Hagar is the mother of Islam.

     We could say that this scripture lesson is a revelation in Reverse.  From the vantage point of the resurrection and two thousand years of church history, our position is almost exactly the reverse of what Jesus' listeners experienced. We understand

better what Jesus meant, but are largely unfamiliar with the shepherding process that he described.

     The challenge for us is to take Jesus' self-description seriously. He called himself the Gate and the Good Shepherd. Beloved, Jesus is the entry point and the caring master. The question is: Have you and I responded to his voice and are we following him?

     I'm not out of sermon but I am out of time. Lord willing, we'll continue our study next week and have a part 2.

     Dear Heaven Father, we praise your name. Forgive us of our sins and guide us into thy sheepfold. We ask this in your Son’s name, Amen.