Reading: John chapter 10 verses 1-
Ill:
Reaching the end of a job interview,
• The interviewer asked a young applicant fresh out of university,
• "And what starting salary were you looking for?"
• The applicant said, "In the neighbourhood of £25,000 a year,
• Depending on the benefits package."
• The interviewer said,
• "Well, what would you say to an five-week holiday,
• 14 paid holidays,
• Full medical and dental cover,
• With the company matching your retirement fund to 50% of your salary,
• And a company car leased every two years, say, a BMW or Mercedes?"
• The young applicant sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?"
• The interviewer replied, "Yeah, but you started it."
At the time of Jesus being a Shepherd was not a good career move:
• It was a job done often by the youngest in the family;
• So that the other family members could do something more important!
• In society shepherds were the butt of jokes;
• Similar to the way we used to say; “There was this Irishman.....”
• Sheep were seen as stupid animals, that could not even find their way home;
• And so those who looked after them were also seen as stupid!
Now our passage this evening divides into two halves:
• Verses 1-21 took place right after the events that you looked at last week.
• The healing of the blind man and his casting out of the temple.
• Verses 22-42 took place two or three months later.
• John brings these two incidents together not because they are chronological,
• But because they are the same subject matter;
• They are tied together by the symbolism of a shepherd and his sheep.
Note:
• At the time of Jesus;
• The shepherd with his sheep would have been a very familiar sight.
• The reason for it is the topographical scenery of Judea (The layout of the land).
• The land has what is called an open backbone,
• The central plateau of Judea stretches:
• About 35 miles long and at its widest point is about 17 miles wide.
• The central plateau of Judea is not a land, for agriculture, i.e. for the farmer,
• But was naturally more suited for the pastoral, i.e. for the shepherd with his sheep.
Ill:
The sight of a shepherd with his sheep out grazing on the Judean hill side.
• Was as a familiar sight to Jesus,
• As cars on the Motorway are to us.
(A) The illustration Vs 1-6):
• Some versions in verse 6 call these verses a parable;
• A better word would be allegory, the N.I.V says “Figure of speech”.
• Jesus in these verses;
• Is simply reminding his listeners of what shepherds and sheep are like.
Note:
• We are used to English shepherds and sheep
• In the Middle East things are slightly different.
i.e.
• If you were a Middle Eastern shepherd,
• You raised your sheep and you kept your sheep,
• And you did not kill them as we do in England,
• You kept your sheep for the purpose of the fleece,
• The sheep had heavy coats of wool and they were shorn regularly,
• And often a shepherd would be with his sheep for decades,
• So long that he even called them by name according to verse 3
• ill: Julie. (Cows) & Gardener's (Pigs).
(1). In the village.
• You would often keep your sheep at night in a communal pen (Sheepfold)
• One large pen was kept by a guardian who was called the door keeper,
• During the night he would have many different flocks in his pen
• Too many for one person to look after;
• And so he would then hire other men to keep the sheep safe through the night,
• While the shepherd went elsewhere to get a good night’s rest
• The next day the shepherd returned for his sheep
• And the door keeper would allow him entrance to them.
• He would open the gate and the shepherd would call his sheep by name
• Ill: Actually the shepherd had the ability to make with his throat;
• A clucking noise or a light high whine sought of tone,
• And his sheep would know,
• Would recognise the sound from the shepherds throat.
• ill: Same as a dog knows its owners whistle (ill: Irish shepherd calls his sheep joke).
Ill:
• Just like pulling different coloured threads from a jumper
• A shepherd could call out his sheep from the other flocks gathered.
(2). In the countryside.
Now if a shepherd was out on the plains;
• And could not get back to the village pen by night fall.
• He would have to make his own sheepfold (his own pen).
• The shepherd would look for a natural spot to keep his sheep safe,
• Preferably a cave or an area that was boxed in,
• ill: Maybe by against a steep cliff with rocks around the side,
• And then he would lie down and become the living door,
Ill:
The sight of a shepherd with his sheep:
• Was such a familiar sight to those listening to Jesus
• As cars on the Motorway are to us.
Yet in verse 6 we read that the people were confused!
• Their confusion was not caused because this teaching was too hard;
• In fact the very opposite;
• Because what he said was so well known and obvious,
• They just could not see any point to his story, they knew all that,
• They knew the truth of Verse 1:
• That the only one who was allowed in the entrance was the legitimate shepherd,
• They knew anyone else who came,
• Or anyone else who tried to get in the sheepfold was a thief and a robber,
They had probably seen the truth Verse 2-5 lived out, it was a daily ritual, a common sight.
• Yet despite their knowledge of the facts,
• Yet despite their knowledge of the story,
• Verse 6 tells us they were confused, "Did not understand".
• It does not mean they did not understand the picture,
• It means they did not understand why he was talking about it,
• To them it was an empty story
ill:
Just like turning a coin over,
• Jesus is about to explain to them the meaning, the point of what he's saying,
• In verses 7-21 Jesus interprets, the meaning of his own story.
(B). The Explanation (vs 7-21)
Twice Jesus identifies himself in these verses:
• Two times as the gate:
• Verse 7 and verse 9.
• Two times as the Good Shepherd:
• Verse 11 and verse 14.
(1). The Gate (vs 7-10).
• As we have noted already;
• Becoming the living gate was the shepherds function, it was his job.
• Now notice how Jesus takes this everyday image;
• And teaches us from it.
(a). A warning (vs 8).
• Verse 8 is the answer or the meaning to what Jesus said in verse 1:
• Just a shepherd in the course of his business will encounter thieves and robbers.
• So in life, the nation of Israel would encounter thieves and robbers.
• This is a reference to false messiahs,
• There were both before and at their time of Jesus;
• Several others who were claiming to be the messiah,
• There was also the leaders of the religious leaders, the Pharisees,
• Who were also preventing people trusting in Jesus.
• Ill: Saw that last week in chapter 9 and the story of the blind man.
• They were robbing the man of his right to know God.
• A Thief: Takes what does not belong to him.
• A Robber: Uses force in order to do so.
(b). An invitation (vs 9).
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
• In this verse Jesus leaves no one confused or in doubt.
• He declares "I am the one, the shepherd, living gate".
• "I am the gate, and you are the sheep and you need to enter the pen, fold".
• To find rest, protection & safety.
Note his words in verse 9:
• To enter his fold you must "Come in by me"
• Note the exclusive access, the only entrance, is through Jesus Christ.
• There is no second door,
• No back door, or hidden pass.
• One gate, you either take it or leave it,
• Or rather you either pass through it or remain outside.
• To enter in is a conscious decision,
• A deliberate act.
• But to remain outside,
• You don't have to do anything.
(2). The shepherd (vs 11-18).
Jesus said: "I am the shepherd the good one"
• That's how it reads in the original Greek,
• "I am the shepherd THE GOOD ONE" as opposed to the faithless one”.
• In verse 12 Jesus talks about this faithless one;
• When danger comes he flees away, because he is only concerned about his own safety.
• Jesus said, I am the kind of shepherd who puts the sheep first!
• I am the kind of shepherd comforts, cares for, loves deeply, knows his sheep
• Therefore "I am the good shepherd";
• Because my actions back up my words! Quote: “Actions speak louder than words.”
Question: What are those actions?
Answer
• Is found in verse 11:
• "I am the Good shepherd who is who is willing to die for the sheep".
• Notice how many times he says that in this passage:
• Verse 11, 15, 17, and in 18 he says it twice. Five times!
Jesus is emphasising that he lays down his life, it is his decision, no-one else’s:
• Don't miss this Jesus was not a martyr or assassinated,
• He was not even murdered (in the technical sense of the word)
• Look at what the verse says; "He gave himself",
• His death was voluntary. His death was vicarious (on behalf of others).
Ill:
• In A Book of Saints,
• Anne Gordon tells the story of Father Maximilian Kolbe,
• Who was a prisoner at Auschwitz in August 1941.
• A prisoner escaped from the camp,
• And in reprisal,
• The Nazis ordered that ten prisoners had to die by starvation.
• Father Kolbe offered to take the place of one of the condemned men;
• Who had a wife and children.
• The Nazis kept Kolbe in the starvation bunker for two weeks;
• And then put him to death by lethal injection on August 14, 1941.
Thirty years later a survivor of Auschwitz described the effect of Kolbe's action:
• "It was an enormous shock to the whole camp.
• We became aware that someone among us in this spiritual dark night of the soul
• Was raising the standard of love on high.
• Someone unknown, like everyone else, tortured and bereft of name and social standing,
• Went to a horrible death for the sake of someone not even related to him.
• Therefore it is not true,
• We cried, that humanity is cast down and trampled in the mud,
• Overcome by oppressors, and overwhelmed by hopelessness.
• Thousands of prisoners were convinced the true world continued to exist
• And that our torturers would not be able to destroy it. "
To say that Father Kolbe died for us or for that person's family is too great a simplification.
• His death was the salvation of thousands.
• We were stunned by his act,
• Which became for us a mighty explosion of light in the dark camp."
Ill:
• The death of any important person can effects us;
• How much more the death of the Son of God!
Ill:
Throughout the Old Testament sheep died for the people;
• They were sacrificed on the altar.
• Now in the New Testament the Good Shepherd does for the sheep!
(3). The flock (vs 16-21).
• Did you notice as you read (watched) these words;
• That you and me actually get a mention in this passage,
Let’s look at the passage again and I will show you where:
• Question: In verse 16 to whom was he speaking?
• Answer: He was speaking to Jews,
• The whole passage that stretches back into chapter 9 (remember this section is connected)
• Tells us he had a Jewish audience.
There was in the crowd a number of Jewish people who had believed in Jesus (i.e. blind man):
• Because they were committed to Jesus;
• They were as verse 16 puts it: "In the fold"
• But Jesus goes on to say (verse 16):
• "I have other sheep that are not of this fold"
• That is non Jews (Gentiles who will also respond to his voice).
• They are outside of the Jewish fold.
• Yet notice the end of verse 16;
• When they trust Christ they become part of that ‘one flock’ and ‘one fold’.
Note verse 19:
“At these words the Jews were again divided. 20Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"
• At the time that Jesus is speaking of unity;
• ‘One flock’ and ‘one fold’.
• His listeners are anything but one;
• They are divided by his words.
• "At these words". You cannot separate Jesus from his words,
• And Jesus constantly says things that make a person(s) uncomfortable!
Question:
• Did you notice;
• How he will bring in his sheep into his ‘one flock’ and ‘one fold’.
Answer:
• Was in verse 16:
• He will do it through his voice! Or as we apply it today; his word!
Ill:
• Acts chapter 10 when Peter takes the gospel to Gentiles we are told;
• Peter preached the word; they believed and were saved!
Question:
• Have you responded to his voice?
• Are you in his fold?
• Are you part of his flock?
ill:
D.L. Moody was once asked by a heckler;
• “Mr Moody, exactly how far is it to heaven?”
• He replied; "One step will you take it?"
(c). The Application (vs 22-42)
Ill:
How would you like to spend 2 years making phone calls to people who aren’t home?
• Sound absurd?
• According to one time management study,
• That’s how much time the average person spends;
• Trying to return calls to people who never seem to be in.
• I can’t help wondering how much time God must seem to waste;
• Waiting for us to respond to him and what he says to us!
• We have his word, we have I assume understood it!
• Now will we apply it!
Note:
• Between verses 21 and 22 there is a gap of about two or three months;
• The Jews are still arguing with Jesus about what he said.
• In verse 26 Jesus tells them ‘they are not of his sheep’;
• He then gives a beautiful description of a true believer (‘his sheep’).
(1). They hear and respond to his voice (vs 27).
Ill:
A man in Australia was arrested and charged with stealing a sheep.
• But he vigorously protested that it was one of his own;
• And it had been missing for many days.
• When the case went to court, the judge didn’t know how to decide the matter.
• Finally he asked that the sheep be brought into the courtroom.
• Then he ordered the plaintiff to step outside and call the animal.
• The sheep made no response except to raise its head and look frightened.
• The judge then instructed the defendant to go to the courtyard and call the sheep.
• When the accused man began to make his distinctive call,
• The sheep ran toward the door and that voice.
• It was obvious that he recognized the familiar voice of his master.
• "His sheep knows him," said the judge.
• "Case dismissed!"
If you and I want to hear his voice:
• We must get to grips with his word;
• For God speaks clearest and loudest of all through his word!
(2). They know Christ and are known (vs 27 & 14):
• Sheep look a lot alike to the untrained eye,
• But the shepherd knows them personally… in fact, He knows them by name
Ill:
In the book Chicken Soup for the Soul,
• Eric Butterworth tells the story of a college professor who had his sociology class go into the Baltimore slums to get case histories of 200 young boys.
• The students were asked to write an evaluation of each boy’s future.
• In every case the students wrote, "He hasn’t got a chance."
• Twenty-five years later another sociology professor came across this earlier study.
• He had his students do follow up on the same 200 boys who were now men.
• With the exception of 20 boys who had moved away or died,
• The students tracked down the 180 men.
• They learned that 176 of the remaining 180;
• Had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors, and businessmen.
• The professor was astounded and decided to pursue the matter further.
• Fortunately, all the men were in the area and he was able to ask each one,
• "How do you account for your success?" In each case the reply came with feeling,
• "There was a teacher."
• The teacher was still alive,
• So he sought her out and asked the old but still alert lady;
• What magic formula she had used to pull these boys out of the slums;
• And into successful achievement.
• The teacher’s eyes sparkled and her lips broke into a gentle smile.
• "It’s really very simple," she said. "I loved those boys."
• Their success was based on the love of a teacher.
• Who wanted to know them and be known by them!
• Our success as followers of Jesus is based on the love of a shepherd;
• Who was wants to know us and be known to us.
Note:
• There are no short cuts to knowing someone;
• You need to spend time building a relationship with them!
• For the Christian prayer and fellowship;
• Are not optional extras but essentials!
(3). They follow Christ (vs 27)
Ill:
A cemetery has a tombstone that bears the following epitaph:
• Pause Stranger, when you pass me by,
• As you are now, so once was I.
• As I am now, so you will be,
• So prepare for death and follow me.
An unknown passerby scratched the following reply underneath:
• To follow you I’m not content,
• Until I know which way you went!
We follow one who we can know:
• His character is GOOD!
• And he proved it by his actions!
• To follow reminds us that the Christian life is a journey;
• Every day is another step along the road!
(4). They have eternal life & are secure (vs 28&29).
• We are in Christ’s care and the Father’s hand.
• A double assurance!
Final Quote Warren Wiesbe:
• “Sheep are a good illustration of Christians.
• Sheep are clean animals, and Christians have been cleansed from their sin.
• Sheep flock together, and so do true believers.
• Sheep are harmless, and Christians should be blameless and harmless.
• Sheep are given to wandering
• And so are we!
• Sheep need a shepherd for protection, guidance and food;
• And we need Christ for spiritual protection, daily guidance, and spiritual food.
• Sheep are useful and productive;
• So are true Christians.
• Finally sheep were used for sacrifices;
• And Christians are called to yield themselves as ‘living sacrifices’”.
Ill:
A pastor was taking a group of parishioners on a tour of the Holy Land.
• He had just read them the parable of the good shepherd;
• And was explaining to them that, a
• As they continued their tour,
• They would see shepherds on the hillsides just as in Jesus' day.
• He wanted to impress the group,
• So he told them what every good pastor tells his people about shepherds.
• He described how, in the Holy Land, shepherds always lead their sheep,
• Always walking in front to face dangers,
• Always protecting the sheep by going ahead of them.
• He barely got the last word out when, sure enough,
• They rounded a corner and saw a man and his sheep on the hillside.
There was only one problem: the man wasn't leading the sheep as the good pastor had said.
• No, he was behind the sheep and seemed to be chasing them.
• The pastor turned red. Flabbergasted, he ran over to the fence and said,
• "I always thought shepherds in this region led their sheep — out in front.
• And I told my people that a good shepherd never chases his sheep."
• The man replied, "That's absolutely true... you're absolutely right...
• But I'm not the shepherd, I'm the butcher!"
Extra illustration:
Sheep are an important commodity today!
Meat for our tables
From Sheep Hide and Wool
• Lanolin (used in lotions to help keep our skin soft and moist)
• Clothing
• Yarns
• Baseballs
• Insulation
• Tennis balls
• Carpet
From Intestines
• Sausage casings
• Instrument strings
• Surgical sutures
• Tennis racquet strings
From Manure
• Nitrogen Fertilizer
• Phosphorus
From Fats and Fatty Acids
• Explosives
• Chewing Gum
• Paints
• Make-up
• Dog Food
• Margarine
• Medicines
• Dish Soap
• Tires
• Chicken Feed
• Antifreeze
• Crayons
• Floor Wax
• Candles
• Herbicides
• Shaving Cream
• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Lotion
From the Bones, Horns and Hooves
• Syringes
• Gelatin Desserts
• Piano Keys
• Marshmallows
• Bandage strips
• Adhesive tape
• Combs and toothbrushes
• Buttons
• Ice Cream
• Record Albums
• Wallpaper and Wallpaper paste
• Cellophane wrap and tape
• Photographic film
So you see, sheep and lamb are an integral part of our every-day lives!
