Handout for Sermon: Jesus the Good Shepherd. March 13th, 2022, Manchester, TN. 37355
Introduction: I would like to share with you an event that took place in Palestine around 1980. A story about the Israeli soldiers confiscating villager’s livestock. We will notice the relationship about sheep and their shepherd.
God often uses this idea in the Bible.
Psalm 23 is an example of this.
Psalm 23 Read aloud.
There is peace and security when we follow a good shepherd.
1-3 David is telling others about His Shepherd!
4-6 David is honoring His Shepherd for who He is and what He does.
Notice what a good shepherd does: He makes, He leads, He restores, He guides, He prepares, He anoints.
The sheep are simple!
Think about YOUR SHEPHERD=YOUR SAVIOR=Jesus Christ.
Lesson: JOHN 10:1-18 Jesus speaks of Himself as A Shepherd, so let us listen to Him. Read: v. 1-5 & 11-15
Jesus wants to establish/ build and strengthen a relationship with US, just like the relationship that He has with His Father. Verse 15
UNDERSTAND WHO HE IS-THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
In the first part of our lesson let’s consider 4 observations from John 10.
1.HE ENTERS BY THE OPEN DOOR. John 10:1-6 & 11-15 Enters by the door, yet someone else wants to go in another way (the devil). The devil has NO right to you. Jesus has the RIGHT to be your shepherd. The legitimate claim to you! Jesus created you, He sustains you and in Him you live, move and have your very being.
I should step down and walk up to each one of you here today and take your hand, look into your eye and ask you: Do you understand Jesus has the right to own you and be your shepherd?
He wants to shepherd you and lead you HOME!
John 14:6-7 “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
John 10 – 2 images: Jesus the shepherd, then the door, then the shepherd. Which is He, the shepherd or the door.
I am the shepherd-I have the right to lead you.
I am the door-I have the right to let you come home.
2.CALLS HIS OWN SHEEP BY NAME. JOHN 10:1-6 Any animal owners here today? Sheep, goats, chickens, horses, cattle….. I am sure you have a close relationship with your animals.
Christ’s relationship with you is personal: He knows his by name and they know Him! You must make your relationship with JESUS personal-Jesus is a person, a personality, talk to Him, look up to Him, lean on Him, follow Him!
Sheep have tendency to wander off! To walk away and to get lost! Read: Luke 15:4-7 What does the shepherd do?
Goes looking and He finds lost sheep! He lifts it up and puts it on His shoulders.
That one, difficult sheep that won’t stay close by– He left the good 99 to find.
Let us rejoice & celebrate this stubborn, difficult sheep! WHO DOES THAT!? Jesus does.
3.HE LEADS THEM OUT TO PASTURE. John 10:3-6 He finds you. Then leads you out. He goes a head of you. He leads you HOME. V.4 You must keep listening and following for Him to lead.
How does Jesus do that?
By instruction. The reed or staff is used by a shepherd. Our reed or staff is the Word of God. We never close the book. We allow God to direct us, lead us, correct us by His word and love.
By example. There is nothing that Jesus tells or asks you to do that He himself did not do first! He obeyed His Fathers will, He was baptized, He lived faithful until death, He died and was raised to new life! His example to US!
Hebrews 4:14-16 Jesus as my High Priest. Consider what He has gone through: He sympathized for me, He was tempted as me. We must draw near to Him and follow Him. My High Priest has gone before me, v.15 He has faced sacrifice and great difficulties. Experienced life’s challenges and faced Satan. He was disappointed and rejected by friends and family.
HE LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP, John 10:11-14 (Lays= He has and continues to.)
The hired hand (no need to think he is a bad guy!). He is just a regular guy trying to do a job, but a job for sheep that are not his sheep. No ownership! Along comes a lion or bear or wolf….well it is just one sheep of many, and I am NOT going to risk my life for someone else’s sheep!
CONCLUSION: Jesus blesses those who hear His call, those who know His voice and those who follow Him fully.
Homework: I encourage you to read from Psalm 23 and John 10:1-18 each day this week.
