Download the UBF brochure here
Weekly Message | June 29th, 2008
Passage: John 10:1-13
Key Verse(s): 10,11
Jesus is the good shepherd for all—both the weak and the strong. In this passage Jesus describes himself. Jesus reveals who he is and what he does. Jesus also urges his disciples to learn and follow him. Any biblical message has two important elements: (1) declare the greatness of God and his truths; (2) explain their relevance to us at the present. The central questions of this chapter are the same. “If Jesus is the great shepherd of all people in this world, what does he have to do with us? How can we ever learn his great shepherd heart and life in realistic ways?” These are some of the questions we consider today.
First, Jesus leads his sheep (1-6]. The Bible uses shepherd-sheep analogy to describe the nature of relationship with God and his people. What is God’s perspective of his people? People are just like sheep. What is the context of the sheep? Thieves, robbers, shepherds, and watchmen, pastures and wolves are all around sheep.
From verses 1 through 6, Jesus contrasts a shepherd and a thief in the form of a parable. In Palestine, shepherds placed sheep in sheep pens surrounded by low stone fences. Each sheep pen had a small gate that was the entrance. The good shepherd enters by the gate (2).
A thief does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way (1). Sheep are quite unique. With their short legs they move very slowly. Therefore, a good shepherd stays very close to his sheep, and yet still leads them to the green pastures. A good shepherd leads his sheep by example, by going ahead of them (4, 5).
The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. A shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out (3). When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice (4). But sheep do not follow a stranger; in fact, they run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.
Here, Jesus gives a clear picture of a shepherd. A shepherd goes ahead of his sheep. A shepherd knows his sheep and his sheep know him. Jesus leads his sheep whom he knows. This is about pastoral leadership. It is about leadership that captures the hearts and souls of people and leads them where they should go. Jesus dwells in our hearts as Savior and Lord.
The stories of the four gospels are simple. If we count the numbers of people with real stories of Jesus may no more than hundreds of people. The names are the Twelve starting with Peter, James and John. Names of women are there. People who happened to meet Jesus only a short time—Zacchaeus, the blind man Bartimaeus, the lepers, demon-possessed people, and Samaritan woman. Jesus might have touched thousands of people. The names are no more than couple of hundreds in the gospel. The emphasis of the Bible is not how many people Jesus touched. Each gospel does not end with the statistics—Jesus touched one million people. Rather, the gospel records the names of people Jesus touched and the details of his leadership for them. Rather, who and to what extent. The people recorded in the gospels are the names and the details of how Jesus their true Leader impacted them.
Then in what sense is Jesus our true Leader? Even now Jesus inspires common people to high ideals. Jesus urged his disciples to go deeper, stretch farther, expand greater and strive higher. Before he met Jesus, Simon Peter lived as an ordinary fisherman in Galilee. Jesus said, “Come, follow me, “Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”(Mk 1:17). They were so quick to settle little goals in life. But Jesus set high goals for life when he said, “You are the salt of the earth….You are the light of the world (Mt 13, 14). Jesus expands their vision not just for high goals in this world but all the way to the kingdom of God. Jesus went ahead of them as the good shepherd. He showed them the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14:6). Jesus displayed enormous courage dealing with hostile responses of the world. Jesus exercised grace in serving all types of sinners. Jesus did not settle for building a thriving ministry that gathers hundreds of thousands of people. Jesus lived and died for the glory of God. Jesus’ disciples saw that in Jesus it is quite possible to seek great ideals for God’s glory in this fallen world.
Life’s happiness may require certain conditions. An essential aspect of happiness in life is to experience the mind and heart of Jesus. How do people come to know Christ? Have you come to know Jesus Christ the good shepherd? If so, you probably experienced someone in your life that displayed some the qualities of a good shepherd like Jesus. Never forget them. Most of all, remember Jesus Christ behind them. It is through people who display the mind and heart of Jesus. Because we accept Jesus our true Leader, we follow him. We learn from him. Then, we adopt the attitude of Jesus.
This world speaks of leadership that inspires and makes people to perform. Jesus speaks of the pastoral leadership that touches the hearts and souls of people. As a pastor I have two important priorities: the first priority is to raise up leaders who can lead others (2Ti 2:2). They are godly, healthy and influential. They are prepared to serve and lead others. The second priority is to touch the hearts of people who may or may not be able to lead others at all. Our Lord Jesus serves the people who remain weak and powerless. Some people may never become normal in our society’s standard. Many may never become powerful and influential leaders as we define. But that’s O.K. Jesus loves them. Jesus has the Spirit of God. Jesus proclaims justice to all nations. He does not break a bruised reed. Jesus does not snuff out the smoldering wick. In his name the nations put their hope (Mt 12:18-21). The man who was once blind probably might have never become powerful and influential in his life. At best he could live as a normal and happy soul. But in the course of leading these numerous weak and powerless people Jesus raised up leaders that were willing to serve. The ministry of Jesus Christ is beautiful because its leadership is humble and strong enough to serve and lead the weak and sick to God.
Second, Jesus gives life and life to the full (7-10) Look at verses 7, 8: "Therefore Jesus said again, 'I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers...'" Here, Jesus makes a big switch. Jesus now refers to Himself. Jesus declares that He is the gate for the sheep. In the Old Testament a good leaders that God blesses is a good shepherd. The God of Israel speaks as the chief shepherd of his people, who appoints under-shepherds to look after them. When they come worthless for not taking care of the sheep entrusted to their care, they are removed. God Himself will seek his scattered sheep and gather them back into one flock from the distant places and commit them to the care of the good Shepherd (Ezk. 34:23, 37:24, 25). Therefore, when Jesus declares that He is a good shepherd, He simply assumes the title of the good Shepherd that is limited to the Messiah or the Savior of the world.
To clarify this point, Jesus even said, "All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them."(8) Here, "came before" is not about timing, but position. Jesus takes absolutely preeminent position. There is no one greater than Jesus. Those who came before Christ refer to those who claim to be greater than Christ or who refuse to be under Christ. If anyone assumes more preeminent position than Christ, such a person is a thief and a robber. Therefore, a good shepherd is always under the authority of Christ.
Look at verse 9: Jesus said, "'I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.'" These verses teach the threefold effect of entering through the gate. First, whoever enters through Jesus will be saved. There seem to be many secret ways for salvation, but we only find salvation through Jesus. Second, those who are saved have a pass that Jesus recognizes, so we can come in and out freely from the sheep pen. Third, those who pass through the gate will have life--abundant life.
Look at verse 10: Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' Jesus, the good shepherd gives life to his sheep. What is life that Jesus gives? Jesus protects his sheep. Jesus provides our needs. Jesus becomes the purpose of his sheep. Jesus leads us to God's peace. Jesus helps us to experience God's power. Jesus supplies us with his life. Jesus blesses us with the life to the full.
The blind man in John 9 is a good example. Once he was like a dead man. As a blind beggar he was dead in real hope. But Jesus made him alive by opening his eyes. Since he was alive, he confronted the problems. He told his life story. He explained how his eyes were opened. People did not listen to him. Although he was driven out of the society, he was happy to be alive. He was happy to confess and worship Jesus the Lord.
Once we were all dead in sins and transgressions. We were by nature objects of God’s wrath (Eph 2:1-2). We were just like sheep led astray going our ways. Jesus makes us lie down in green pastures. He leads us besides quiet waters. Jesus guides us in the paths of righteousness. He revives our souls. Jesus makes us alive in this world. Jesus makes God’s workmanship out of us so that we may do good works that has been prepared us.
Let's read verse 10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Here is the realistic picture for our spiritual journey. A few years ago I visited one ancient church in Bulgaria. It covered an entire wall and showed people struggling upward toward heaven. The way toward heaven is not a highway. Rather, each pilgrim has to climb through many steps upward and forward. Surrounding them were numerous angels, encouraging and helping them on their journey—but below were numerous demons, pulling at their heels and trying to drag them off the ladder and into the fires below. This is the scene that shows that spiritual reality. We are part of a invisible spiritual conflict that we may not be aware of. Powers of evil try to destroy and kills us. Power of Jesus guide, protect and give us life and life to the full. Our journey in this life is never easy. It is full of conflicts and struggles. As much as we accept the truth that Jesus gives us his life and in fact the life to the full, we must accept that thieves and robbers also try overtime to kill and destroy many. Admitting this reality in life helps us to be more realistically prepare to handle life’s challenges. Therefore, trust Christ life and life to the full. Be prepared to fight with the thieves and robbers that damage our souls by the power and protection that Christ provides.
Third, Jesus lays down his life for his sheep (11-13). In this part Jesus teaches about the difference between a good shepherd and a hired hand. Look at verse 11: "'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.'" "Lay down" has combined meaning of to "give," "commit," "dedicate," and "risk" one's life. Then what is the context in which the good shepherd lays down his life?
Look at verse 12: "'The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.'" Usually, wolves attack sheep at night. Wolves are ferocious and ruthless. They declare their coming with an eerie cry. In this time of danger a good shepherd risks his life to protect his sheep. On the other hand, the hired hand runs away to save his life.
To whom does Jesus lays down his life for? It is for his sheep. Jesus’ sheep are not all one type of people. Some are good. Some are bad and many are in between. Jesus lays down for them all. This is sacrifice. Sacrifice should be worthy, not useless. But bigger concept than sacrifice is love. God’s love does not distinguish always the good and bad, the strong and the weak. God’s love pours on the godly and ungodly, the unworthy and worthy. By worldly standards some people may never become normal again. But by God’s standards they are normal. They are normal if they can celebrate their uniqueness before God. They are loved and given a place in God’s kingdom.
Think about a chicken in a coop. It would be depressing for a chicken to hear so much about an eagle that flies far above the sky. Wouldn’t it be better for a little chicken to focus and set his mind to be a good and fat chicken? Is imitating Christ such a vain struggle? Can we ever become like Jesus the good shepherd? If we would never become like Jesus, why should we ever try and even feel guilty about not becoming someone whom we will never become anyway?
Here we must consider the truth of God’s creation and his salvation. God created us in His image. We are loved, honored and exalted in him. But we are in this fallen world. The beautiful image of God in us is stained and damaged. But our Savior removes the heavy burdens of sin, repairs us and recreates us. Right now we are not able to fly as freely as we want. Someday, because of Jesus we will be just like him (Rom. 8:29; Phil. 1:10). Because of this hope we live.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” We can become like Jesus. Just as Jesus laid down his life for us, so can we lay down our lives for his sheep. We keep learning, following and obeying this Jesus the good shepherd. By the grace of God we do not remain as mere sheep who go on our ways. Rather, God transforms us as good shepherds who love Jesus and accordingly lay down our lives for Jesus’ sheep. The beautiful and great image of Jesus slowly and surely displays in our lives. We reflect Jesus. We experience his life even to the full in the course of learning Jesus the good shepherd.
June 29, 2008. Toledo UBF.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
