The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd - John 10:1-18

This is my wife’s favorite passage and she has asked me for years to teach on this, but somehow it has never seemed to be what I was being lead to preach or teach. Finally, here we are. I guess that is a lesson in itself on patience. C];-)}|>

There are many people in the world today claiming to know the way to God and a godly life. In fact, I would not even try to number the voices and spirits in the world today or the books, radio, TV and computer programs they produce. (1 Cor 14:10, 1 John 4:1) It is no wonder people are confused. All these "shepherds" desiring to have "sheep" follow them and they are all going different ways and saying different things yet claiming they will get the sheep to the same or proper pasture dictates a study on what constitutes a good shepherd and a good voice.

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter open; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. KJV

In the first five verses, we have a parable given. In verse one, we have only one door to enter the sheepfold. In verse two, we have only one shepherd. In verse 3, we have only one voice to recognize. In verse 4, we have only one person to follow and in verse 5, we have only one response to strangers.

At this point, the Jews would have no argument with Jesus. They understood sheep and shepherding and would have no problem with the concept of one in this context. They knew how sheep were sheltered. They knew what thieves were. Some of them were thieves and knew the modus operandi. They knew that sheep would learn the voice of their shepherd and would only follow him ignoring the voice of another. Their anger would come with the interpretation of the parable. In our society, we lack this understanding. Few of us tend sheep or know anyone that does tend them.

I think one being emphasized is significant in our day. We want all kinds of legitimate entries into the sheepfold. We want to recognize numerous shepherds. We want equality for all voices and recognition of all who claim to be a shepherd and for the sheep to just follow anyone. All ideas are of equal value is the cry of those who preach tolerance but do not practice it.

Indeed, I have heard that a Supreme Court judge has written that freedom of speech applies to everyone but Christians. If that is true, he needs to be impeached because of such gross ignorance of the Constitution and its framers. That may even border on hate speech and it is most certainly prejudice. What this country needs is a cowboy and truck driver in the White House and some of them on the Supreme Court as well. These rich kids and lawyers we have been electing have lost touch with reality.

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. KJV

In verses 6-10, Christ explains the parable and then the fireworks begin. To tell the Jews that He is the Door, Jesus warps their minds. (Vs. 6,7) They are expecting a Messiah, but Jesus does not fit their bill. They want a military leader and a King. Ironically, when God was their King ruling from glory, they wanted a human king to rule and God to stay in Glory. (1Samuel 8) Now God comes to them in human form to be their King and they just want a human warrior king with a God conveniently in Glory. Some things never change.