Sermon for 6/3/2001
John 10:1-15
Dirty, Dumb & Defenseless
Introduction:
The “Candid Camera” TV show went to an exclusive prep school where all of the students were well above average. The “Candid Camera” people posed as career consultants who were going to advise these brilliant young men concerning the careers that would be best suited to them, on the basis of “tests” and “interviews” that seemed quite authentic.
One young man eagerly awaited the “counselor’s” verdict. Surely the adviser would tell the boy to be a college president or a bank president, or perhaps a research scientist. But, no, the “counselor” had other ideas. You should have seen the look on the boy’s face when the “counselor” said:
“Son, after evaluating your tests and interview, I’ve decided that the best job for you is- a shepherd.”
The student did not know whether to laugh or cry. After all, who in his right mind would want to be a shepherd? Why devote your life to “stupid sheep” who do not seem to have sense enough to find their way home?
WBTU:
A. Read Matthew 9:35-38.
B. Why do we need a shepherd?
C. We are like sheep, harassed and helpless
D. 3-D view of sheep. Dirty, Dumb, and defenseless.
E. Last week, the Lord is my shepherd.
F. We must come to a certain realization before we can say these words. It is that we are like sheep. God cannot be our shepherd if we are not sheep. Overinflated ego or will.
G. We are goats if we refuse to act like sheep. Goats are not shepherded; they are herded. They are stubborn and mean. At the judgement seat of Christ, these are sent into everlasting punishment.
H. The D word that summarizes sheep is dependent.
I. If sheep were left alone in the wilderness, what would come of them? They would not survive. Other animals can be left alone, but sheep cannot be.
J. Men like to talk about their independence. This is good to a point. We should not be like Kings or Queens who do nothing. However, we are dependent creatures. Our food, clothing, health, breath, strength, everything comes from the Lord, and we are constantly dependent upon Him.
K. People who are in nursing homes and completely dependent. We are that way with the Lord.
L. (Jer 10:23 NIV) I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.
M. If man directs his own steps, he comes to ruin.
N. (Prov 16:25 NIV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
O. Like a sheep, without the Lord we die.
P. We think we are something, when really we are nothing but dirty, dumb, and defenseless sheep. Humbling!
Thesis: This morning we are going to look at the needs of sheep and how the Lord meets every one of these needs from John 10:1-15.
For instances:
I. Dumb
A. Sheep are dumb animals. We are dumb individuals. We need direction.
B. Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep, and doesn’t know where to find them, leave them alone… Not!
C. Not completely dumb, they know their shepherd. They know his voice. They hear him calling them each by name. They love him. They follow him.
D. I am the door of the sheep. Vs. 7, 9
1. The shepherd became the door in a sheepfold. Shelter was set over one opening. After all the sheep had been counted and brought into the pen, the shepherd lay down across the doorway so that no intruder could enter without his knowledge. The shepherd became the door.
2. Jesus is saying that He makes it possible for the sheep to leave the fold and to enter His flock.
3. Jesus is the Door of salvation. He is the Door to a happy and contented life.
4. For sheep to be happy they must have security, food and drink, and a field for exercise.
5. This word “saved” means “delivered safe and sound.”
6. We need to go behind the Lord’s defenses if we are to pass through life without fatal harm. We are safe in the sheepfold. Stay in the sheepfold. (Micah 5:4 NIV) He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
7. As we go “in and out” we enjoy abundant life (superabundance) in the rich pastures of the Lord.
8. Pasture refers to purpose. Created to do good works. Sheep is no good without a shepherd. Have no purpose without a shepherd.
9. Jesus’ sheep enjoy fullness and freedom.
10. Fullness in the rich pastures of the Lord. Freedom from harm in the sheepfold.
11. Since Jesus Christ is the “door,” we expect a division, because a door shuts some people in and others out! He is the Good Shepherd and the shepherd must separate the sheep from the goats.
12. It is impossible to be neutral about Jesus Christ, for he is the door.
E. There is a way that seems right to a man, but it leads to death.
II. Defenseless
A. Sheep have no protection.
B. No claws, no sharp teeth, no growl… only baaa
C. The sheep trust the shepherd. The false shepherds can never lead the sheep, so they must steal them away.
D. I am the good shepherd. Vs. 11, 14
1. Our Lord’s goodness was inherent in His nature.
2. The word good means lovely, beautiful, noble, genuine
3. Christ dies for the sheep. Under the Old Testament, the sheep died for the shepherd, but now the Good Shepherd dies for the sheep!
4. Christ dies on behalf of and instead of the sheep.
5. He died as a substitute, willingly laying down His life for us.
6. The Good Shepherd purchases the sheep and they are His because He died for them.
7. The Shepherd’s death is the sheep’s safety. The dead Shepherd has power to guard, guide, and defend. Battle scars. Jesus is unlike the others, hirelings, because he does not leave the sheep.
8. The hireling’s main concern is his pay. Jesus main concern is the sheep. (Isa 40:11 NIV) He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
9. He knows his sheep. Intimate relationship. He knows our names.
10. If we have ever had our identity “Lost” in the maze of computer operations, then we can appreciate the comforting fact that the Good Shepherd knows each of His sheep by name.
11. He knows our needs. I shall not want… all the days of my life. He gives full satisfaction and perfect guidance.
12. Guidance, guardianship, companionship, daily bread- all these are laid upon His shoulders if we just trust Him.
III. Dirty.
A. Sheep does get dirty. Not as much as a pig, but they do get dirty.
A. Mary had a little lamb… its fleece. No way!
B. When I was growing up I had privilege of seeing sheep shorn. They are beautiful after shorn. White and pretty. Getting ready for fair.
C. The main income from sheep is their wool. Can sell lambs for meat mainly the males. However, the wool is the moneymaker. Over the life of a sheep much wool.
D. The wool is washed and sold.
E. (Isa 1:18 NIV) "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
F. White like wool. The wool was taken and washed and the sheep were white again ready to produce more wool.
G. Many times a shepherd would bring his sheep to a sheepfold for the night and that is where they would be shorn. He would stand in the door and shear them one by one.
H. (Mark 7:20 NIV) He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him ’unclean.’(Mark 7:21 NIV) For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, (Mark 7:22 NIV) greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (Mark 7:23 NIV) All these evils come from inside and make a man ’unclean.’"(Mark 7:24 NIV
I. We are unclean, unkempt and dirty. However, when the Shepherd cleans us he gives a robe of righteousness. (Rev 22:14 NIV) "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
J. The Good Shepherd cleans us on the inside and the outside. (Heb 9:14 NIV) How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
K. (Rev 7:14 NIV) And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
L. BC comic strip.
M. Symbolically we are washed through baptism.
N. Only the Shepherd can do that!
O. As a non-Christian. Wash your sins away, calling on His name
P. As a Christian. John 1:9
Invitation:
A. The Good Shepherd wants to clean you. Make you as white as the snow.
B. The Good shepherd wants to direct you. You need direction!
C. The Good shepherd wants to defend you. You need protection!
D. Has Jesus been YOUR shepherd?
E. Hebrews 13:20-21
