John 10:14-30
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. 20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God
22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. 23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
We often hear negatives about sheep; how they are dumb and helpless animals...Kind of like us.
>Here are four examples:
1-Sheep cannot clean themselves. The same with us – We’re unable to clean ourselves from the filthiness of sin. We need Jesus!
2-Sheep cannot defend themselves from predators. The same with us – We can’t defend ourselves from Satan without the Shepherd. We need Jesus!
3-Sheep cannot find food and water for themselves, but depend upon the shepherd for water and food.
The same with us – We depend on the Good Shepherd for daily bread & living water. We need Jesus!
4-Sheep are prone to wander & stray. The same with us – “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” (Isaiah 53:6)
Hymn: Come Thou Fount – Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.
A sheep strays when its head is down grazing; it fails to keep its eye on the shepherd. When we keep our heads down and graze on the world, we wander & stray. We need Jesus!
>Let’s consider some truths about sheep behavior. Behavior can be defined as an animal's response to its environment. A little knowledge of sheep behavior will help us understand our relationship with the Great Shepherd. It may even help us to learn how we can be better sheep. Here are some traits we could learn from sheep to grow in our faith.
1-Sheep exhibit a flocking behavior. Sheep are known for their strong flocking instinct; they flee from danger & band together in groups. It’s their strongest protection from predators – Safety in numbers. “A person alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a cord of 3 strands is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
2-Sheep are social animals. – They exhibit less stress when they are with other sheep. Sheep are very social animals. In a grazing situation, they need to see other sheep. A sheep will become highly agitated and stressed if it is separated from the rest of the flock.
3-Sheep exhibit sharpness in each of the 5 senses to ensure their survival:
>Sight – Sheep depend heavily upon its vision. The eye is placed more to the side of the head, which gives sheep a much wider field of vision. With only slight head movement, sheep are able to scan their surroundings. They tend to avoid shadows and are reluctant to go where they can't see. As sheep in the Good Shepherd’s fold, we must walk in the light!
>Hearing – Sheep have excellent hearing. They can amplify and pinpoint sound with their ears & are frightened by sudden loud noises. When alerted by a loud noises and unnatural sounds, sheep release a stress-related hormone. This causes panic and they become nervous, which makes them hard to handle and calm down. To settle the sheep, the shepherd must speak in a quiet, calm voice...Just a God calmed Elijah. “The Lord spoke in a still small voice...the sound of a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:12) As sheep in the Good Shepherd’s fold, we must listen for His voice!
>Smell – Sheep have an excellent sense of smell. Sheep know what predators smell like, which helps them to sense trouble. They also use the sense of smell to locate water & recognize good grazing grasses on which to feed. “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:15-16a) “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16) As sheep in the Good Shepherd’s fold, we must use our spiritual sense of smell to sniff out the danger Satan’s traps.
>Taste – The sheep have a sensitive sense of taste to can distinguish between good or bad food supplies. When presented a variety of feeds, sheep will select certain feeds over others. As sheep in the Good Shepherd’s fold, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
>Touch – A lamb seeks bodily contact with the mother which gives a feeling of security. As sheep in the Good Shepherd’s fold, we must stay in close contact and put our trust in Him to protect us from danger.
4-Sheep flee from danger. Sheep are prey animals; their natural instinct is to flee from danger...Shouldn’t we do the same? “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Domesticated sheep rely on man for protection from predators, just as we are to depend on God and now our own power.
5-Sheep exhibit an amazing tolerance for pain. If sheep show pain, they are more vulnerable to predators that look for those who are weak or injured. We too can stand strong against the evil predator by depending on God’s grace. Remember the words God spoke to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you; My strength is perfect in your weakness.”
6-Sheep exhibit a strong appetite. A strong appetite is a strong indicator of good health. Healthy sheep are eager to eat and are almost always hungry. To remain spiritually healthy, we must have a strong hunger for the word of God. “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
7-Sheep know their Shepherd and recognize his voice. In verse 14, Jesus tells us He is the Good Shepherd...He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. We live in a world that has a lot of false shepherd knocking at the door of the sheep fold. False shepherds look for ways to lead the sheep astray by distorting the truth in one way or another. People are being misled by many who are teaching and preaching a false gospel. These false teachers know the scripture, but they don’t know the Shepherd.
(Story of thespian and preacher) A famous actor, well known for his theatrical voice, was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at a big fund-raising dinner. As he approached the podium to speak, he invited his audience to choose a poem for him to recite. There was a long silence until a retired clergyman raised his hand and asked for him to recite the 23rd Psalm. The actor was slightly taken back, but agreed to read the Psalm with the condition that the pastor recite it after him. The old pastor reluctantly agreed. The actor began to recite the verses and spoke with such eloquence and grace and upon the conclusion, he received a great applause. Next the clergyman stood and recited the scripture and as he spoke, everyone was captured by his voice and by the time he was done, there was not a dry eye in the room as the crowd responded with a standing ovation. Upon seeing the reaction from the crowd, the actor went over and laid his hand on the shoulder of the retired pastor and said to the guests “Do you know the difference between his version and mine? I know the 23rd Psalm; but this man of God standing before you tonight, knows the Shepherd.”
A good sheep doesn’t just talk about Christ, but truly walks with Christ. The true Shepherd knows His sheep and calls them by name...We must always listen for His voice. “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:3)
(Illustration) A man was accused for stealing a sheep he claimed was one of his own. When the case went to court, the judge was puzzled on how to decide the matter, so he asked for the sheep to be brought into the courtroom. Then he ordered the man’s accuser to step outside and call the animal. The sheep responded by raising its head with fright. 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 bounded toward the door. It recognized the familiar voice of his master. “His sheep knows him,” said the judge. “Case dismissed!”
My question for today is...How well do you know the Shepherd?
Do you recognize His voice when He’s calling you?
