Sermon Central
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The Self-Sacrifice Of The Shepherd.
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 18, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: He is the Good Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep, and dies for His flock.
THE SELF- SACRIFICE OF THE SHEPHERD.
In the fourth “I am” saying of John’s Gospel, Jesus appears as the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11). Thus He is made known to His sheep (John 10:14).
In John 10 Jesus effectively castigated the Pharisees for their failures as the spiritual shepherds of Israel. The image was familiar in a pastoral society, and echoed the Old Testament (e.g. Jeremiah 23:1-4).
The teaching of Jesus is that He is the Good Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep, and dies for His flock (John 10:11). This is in contrast to those who are not shepherds at all, but merely hired helps (John 10:12-13).
This self-sacrifice of Jesus is rooted in His relationship with the Father (John 10:15). He was aware of the Father’s love and approval as He prepared Himself for both death and resurrection (John 10:17).
Soon Jesus would lay down His life, and take it up again, by His own power. Jesus claims that He has this commission from the Father (John 10:18).
The Good Shepherd laid down His life for those whom He calls out of darkness into everlasting light. He is the Shepherd of Israel (Psalm 80:1), but His flock includes those out of every nation, throughout all of time, who respond to His call (John 10:16). He is calling us by name.
