Temple Baptist Church - 6-14-2023
John 10:11-21
Introduction:
A. Last week, we saw that Christ Jesus is:
1. The Door of Salvation: verse 9:1. Ye must be born again with no exceptions. So many religious people refuse the doctrine of salvation by the new birth. 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2. The Door of the Sheep: verse 7. If you do not go through the “Door” of salvation, you will always be a goat instead of a sheep. Charles Spurgeon was noted for saying that the time would come when pastors would entertain goats instead of feeding sheep.
3. The Door of the Sheepfold: verse 1. The “sheepfold” is the Church, the body of Christ. Colossians 3:10-11 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
B. Tonight, we will see that Christ Jesus is “The Good Shepherd.” Jesus uses an Old Testament example that the Jews were both knowledgeable of and comfortable with.
1. The Nation of Israel were always shepherds. They were both herdsmen and shepherds by both history and in Jesus’ day.
2. The Lord Jesus gave them an example that they were used to singing about. The Book of Psalms in the Song Book of the Jewish people. Many of these Psalms were written by the Greatest King to sit on the throne of Israel. King David was revered among his people.
3. One of the most notable and quotable of all Psalms is the 23rd. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” was a reference to Jehovah God as the “Shepherd” of both David and every descendent of Abraham.
4. I am not going to preach out of Psalm 23 tonight as I will get to it shortly. But I do want to reference it in this message. In the 23rd Psalm, we find that Jehovah God is the Shepherd but the recipient of the Psalm is an individual.
5. David wrote the Psalm showing the relationship that he personally had with the Lord. There are 17 personal pronouns found it this Psalm. Both you and I can take it personal!
C. If there is a “good shepherd”, then there are also must be bad ones!
John 10:12-13 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. (13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
1. Hirelings are not Shepherds! Hireling: a servant or a wage worker. One who is in the ministry because the pay is good, and the work can be gotten around. The first question that a hireling will normally ask is “How much do I get paid?” Cut their salary and they will cut their ties.
Isaiah 56:10-11 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. (11) Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
2. Hirelings do not care for the Sheep! “Whose own the sheep are not.” Ezekiel 34:1-3 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? (3) Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
3. Hirelings flees when the “wolf” comes! In times of trouble, the false shepherd will not stand up and protect the flock. When trouble comes, they leave the sheep to fend for themselves.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Luke 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
Acts 20:29-30 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. (30) Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
D. The Lord Jesus said, “I Am The Good Shepherd.”
1. In the 23rd Psalm, it says “The LORD is my shepherd” but here in John 10:11 it says “I AM the good Shepherd.” “I Am” reveals the Person of the Good Shepherd. This is not a reference to the pastor. It is a reference to Almighty Jehovah God and Jesus said that He was such. What a wonderful Shepherd our Lord is! He watches over us, thinks upon us.
a. The Good Shepherd is Compassionate towards Us - Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
b. The Good Shepherd is a Companion to us - Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
c. The Good Shepherd is the Custodian of Us - 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2. Verse 11, 15. The Propitiation of the Good Shepherd. He gives His life for His Sheep.
a. The Good Shepherd became our Substitute. 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
b. The Good Shepherd became our Sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
c. The Good Shepherd became our Saviour. Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
3. Verse 14. The Personalization of the Good Shepherd. He knows His Sheep. Jesus Christ knows us better than we know ourselves. I thank the Lord that I know Him but even more that He knows me.
a. The Good Shepherd is Passionate toward Us in Salvation. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
b. The Good Shepherd is Personal to Us in Relation. Psalms 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
c. The Good Shepherd is Private with Us in Restoration. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I thank God that He does not share our business.)
4. The Protection of the Good Shepherd.
a. The Good Shepherd Goes before Us. Job 23:11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
b. The Good Shepherd Goes with Us. Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
c. The Good Shepherd Goes behind Us. Psalms 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
5. Verse 16. The Promise of the Good Shepherd.
a. The Good Shepherd will gather His Church. Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
b. The Good Shepherd will gather His Covenant People. Romans 11:26-27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
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