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Weekly Message | January 7th, 2007
Passage: John 10:14-42
Key Verse(s): John 10:14-15
I started go to the church when I was freshman in high school. There were many paintings of Jesus on the walls of the church. My first image of Jesus was formed through the picture of Jesus leading a flock of sheep to a green pasture next to a stream of water. Thus, my spiritual journey began. I had very little knowledge of Jesus at that time but the image of the good shepherd Jesus made a great impression on me. It helped me to have genuine desire to learn about Jesus.
As a Christian we need to have a personal image of Jesus, much more so than any painting can depict. Toledo’s key verse this year is John 10:10-11, Jesus is the good shepherd. Last week we learned that Jesus has come to give life, and for us to have it to the full. He gave new life to a man born blind. The blind man not only received his sight but believed and worshiped Jesus. We also learned that Jesus lays down his life for the sheep. When Jesus served the people, he laid down his life for them in love. He died for us so that we might live. Today let’s think about the good shepherd Jesus who knows his sheep and gives us eternal life.
First, Jesus knows his sheep (14-15). Look at verses 14, 15: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.'" Jesus again declares that he is the good shepherd. He is the good shepherd in that he knows his sheep and his sheep know him. Jesus used the word "know" to describe his intimate relationship with God the Father and in turn with his sheep. In light of this trust and love relationship with the Father, Jesus lays down his life for the sheep.
Let’s think about the relationship that Jesus has with the Father. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning (John 1:1-2). Their relationship was based on the truth that comes from the mutual knowledge of each other. They know each other very well because they are one. God and Jesus along with the Holy Spirit worked closely together in the creation of the universe. When he said that he knows the Father, it meant that he shares God’s plan for sinners. Jesus knew that his Father wanted to send him to be the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. Jesus willingly obeyed God’s will. God was deeply moved when Jesus gave up all the glory and honor in the heaven to be with sinners. Jesus humbled himself to the point of serving sinners and dying for them on the cross. While on earth, Jesus maintained a close relationship with God through prayer. Before making any big decisions, Jesus prayed to God to consult with him. God was in full support of Jesus. God gave Jesus strength and affirmed his love. Jesus put his complete trust in God. In turn God trusted Jesus completely. In short, their relationship was based on mutual knowledge, love, and trust.
Jesus knows his sheep even to the intimate details of life. Jesus, the good Shepherd, knows us from the beginning to the end. Even when we ourselves wonder who we are and where we are going, Jesus guides us in his path and shows us his unconditional love. We are not strangers to him. We are his sheep. Sheep also know Jesus. When sheep know Jesus, they recognize his voice and listen to him. Christian life begins by being a sheep of Jesus, often under the care of God’s servants. Each person has the challenge and privilege of becoming a good sheep of Jesus. Without becoming a good and faithful sheep, a person cannot magically become a good shepherd. A bad sheep makes for a bad shepherd. This is hard for college students and even us to accept. We want to be powerful and influential leaders not good sheep, baaaaah, but the life of a good shepherd begins by living the life of a good sheep. This speaks to the overall importance of our relationship with Jesus in love and obedience.
Our relationship with Christ is patterned after the wonderful relationship with God. As Jesus shepherded the apostles, they came to know the heart of Christ. Peter says in 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Paul learned how to love many types of people like Philemon and Onesimus after he met Jesus. He also raised them as good and obedient sheep who in time became influential leaders like Timothy. He brought his disciples to God and let them experience the heart and mind of Christ. A good Bible teacher displays this pattern of relationships with God and with his/her shepherd. His/her sheep also imitate such a beautiful pattern of love and obedience. A shepherd knows personal and intimate details of both Jesus and his sheep.
Having a deep love and trust relationship is important for all of us. Last time when Mother Barry visited Toledo, I had chance to ask her a question. I asked her what would be the key for me to understand American college students. She said in one word “brokenness.” I took her advice into my heart. Many sheep are from broken families, and they are yearning for trust and love relationships. When I first came to USA, I had to learn many things just to survive. One of the most difficult things to learn was how to develop meaningful relationships with Americans. It took more than just learning the language and culture and being more sensitive. As I experienced repeated rejections, I also closed my heart to them and despaired greatly. Then I realized that Jesus was not welcomed by everyone. Some people challenged him all the time and even plotted to kill him. Jesus did not remain in despair, but he started to love people who would listen to him. Jesus considered them precious and committed himself to raising them as future leaders. They became Jesus disciples and dear coworkers. In an effort to follow Jesus example, I made a decision to accept the people God brought into my life and regard them as precious as Jesus sheep. I committed my life to know them, even in the deep and intimate details of life and to help them become good sheep of Jesus. We may each consider our life as a good sheep of Jesus and see how to better model our relationships with our sheep.
Second, There shall be one flock and one shepherd (16-21). Look at verse 16: "'I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.'" Here, Jesus is referring to Gentiles who would come to believe in Him through the ministry of His disciples. At that time, the Jews disregarded the Gentiles because of their national pride. But Jesus cared for them and wanted them all to be members of his Father's house. Jesus is the good shepherd because he cares for all people of the world. He knew all people needed to be brought in. God's desire is to save His people from their sins and bring them into Jesus' Sheep Pen no matter who they are. From the early years of its ministry, UBF prayed for world mission. God has blessed our prayers and more than 80 countries have been pioneered.
The reality however is that it is not easy to love sheep who are not in Jesus’ Sheep Pen yet. They are usually controversial and rebellious. At best, they are bad sheep. They love to argue rather than listen. Some seem to listen very well but do not follow. There are many reasons for this. Primarily it is because they do not know Jesus and the certain future of there being only one flock and on shepherd. Whatever we do, does not seem to have any impact on them at all. But Jesus promises that they too will listen to Jesus’ voice. Our job is to speak Jesus message to them with love and confidence.
Look at verse 17 and18: “The reason my father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord, I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” Jesus laid down His life. Jesus exercised His authority by His personal decision. Jesus did so willingly, of His own accord. Because of Christ, we have new life. We should lay down our very life for our good Shepherd Jesus. We need to find God's purpose and vision in our own lives. There shall be one flock and one shepherd. Ultimately, we have to make a decision to serve God. This is a decision made willingly based on love and obedience.
At his words, the Jews should have repented of their sins and had faith in Jesus the good shepherd. But many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?" (20) Yet others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" (21) When Jesus talked about himself as the good shepherd, the majority of people did not accept his words. Some were destined to stay outside of Jesus sheep pen and pay the eternal price for their rejection. But some of them had eyes to see that Jesus is the Son of God.
Third, Jesus gives eternal life (22-30). Look at verses 22-24: “Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." John recorded the event during the Feast of Dedication. The Feast begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev and lasts eight days. This Feast, known as Hanukkah, commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians in 165 B.C., and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It was also called the "Festival of Lights". During this Feast some people came to Jesus. They asked Jesus to tell more plainly about His true identity. This was to trap Jesus.
Look at verse 25, Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me." Jesus did not teach the truth in secret. Rather, He taught the truth very plainly and straightforward. Jesus performed many miracles. In John’s gospel, there are 8 miracles recorded including Jesus’ own resurrection. Jesus performed all the miracles in order to show them the evidence that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. In spite of all His mighty miracles the Pharisees did not believe in Jesus. They rejected him. How did Jesus explain their rejection? Jesus said, "...but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." They did not listen to His voice. They did not listen to Jesus simply because they did not belong to Christ. They were not Jesus' sheep. They were given plenty of chances to believe Jesus but they chose to close their mind and remained on the path of destruction.
Look at verse 27 and 28, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." Jesus' sheep surely listen to His voice. His sheep follow and obey him. Jesus said, "I give them eternal life." This is what God alone can do. Jesus also guaranteed that they shall never perish. Eternal life is a life free from sin and living in the presence of God forever. Jesus gives eternal life through his death on the cross.
Look at verse 29, "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." God's children, once saved, will never lose their salvation. Nothing in all creation can take away this precious salvation. Temptations, trials and hardships will follow us always, as long as we live, but we are absolutely secure in our salvation. The eternal life we receive cannot be taken away from us. God will also protect our weak and feeble sheep to the end. No one can snatch them out of the hands of the good shepherd.
In conclusion, I hear many of you are choosing John 10:11 as your personal key verse this year. I also chose John 10:11 as my key verse. I am greatly encouraged by your faith. By accepting this verse, we are committing to be good shepherds. Jesus is our good Shepherd. Jesus lays down his life for sheep. Jesus knows God the Father. Jesus knows us. Laying down ones life requires self-denial and sacrifice. May God help us to serve our sheep with sacrificial care and grow in the image of Jesus the good shepherd. In Toledo UBF, 2007 may be remembered as the year of the Good Shepherd.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
