Jesus - The Good Shepard
A sermon delivered by Robert Sholl

When we turn to God’s Word we find many descriptions and titles given to Christ. Among some of these are Immanuel (God with us), Messiah (the anointed One), the only begotten son of God, the son of man, counselor, lion of Judah, our advocate with the Father. Many more could be listed. All of these titles and designations describe a particular aspect of Christ’s mission and his nature. But perhaps the most comforting and touching description that we are given of Jesus is that of the Shepherd of God’s flock, which is his church. Consider the following passages:

Hebrews 13:20: "Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus,"

1 Peter 2:25: "For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

1 Peter 5:2-4: "Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ³neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock. ⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away."

In all these passages we can clearly see that Christ is portrayed as the Shepherd. That title is a fitting one because it expresses, in a comprehensive fashion, the relationship between Christ and the church.

Of all passages that deal with the subject of Christ as shepherd, surely John 10 :1-16 is the best and most thrilling for our mortal minds to contemplate. The immediate context of this passage was that Jesus had healed a blind man and the Pharisees were angry with that. No doubt they felt threatened by it since they claimed that they were the true leaders of God’s people. They were so displeased that they cast out the blind man because he told the truth about his healing. Because of their response, Christ speaks a parable. In this parable, he compares these leaders of Israel to the Messiah. He begins that teaching in John 10:1-6 where it is said: "¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ²But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. ⁴When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. ⁶This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. "

The first thing that we notice in this parable is that Jesus is the true Shepherd of the flock.

Implicit in this teaching is that the Scribes and Pharisees, though claiming to be the rightful teachers and leaders, were not. In fact, they had added to God’s Word and taken from it. They had become merely the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14). In fact, they were typical of the false teachers that were warned against in Ezekial 34:1-6, Jeremiah 23:1-6, or Zechariah 11:4-11.

The parable that Jesus uses is a very practical and understandable comparison. Often times in the Middle East, a flock of sheep would be gathered together in one place for the night. The place would have only one means of entrance into it. When the morning came, the shepherd would come to take the sheep out to pasture. Upon arrival, the porter who guarded the entrance would allow the shepherd to come in and lead out the sheep. A thief would not enter in by the door but seek to obtain entrance some other way. Christ is represented as the True Shepherd, the doorman is most likely representing God, the door represents the prophecies with regard to Christ (of which are some 333, all of which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ). So the one who comes by the door, in fulfillment of the prophecies is the legitimate shepherd. It is he, who leads the flock out. The flock hears his voice (one’s who are disposed to seek the truth, not predestined individuals) and knowing the voice follows after him. These false teachers were never able to lead the flock. In fact one of the striking differences between Christ and the Scribes is that he taught as one having authority. They however, were hypocritical and had perverted God’s Word. Yet despite all of their efforts to sabotage God’s plan in Christ, the sheep, the honest truth seekers, still followed after Christ. Anyone other that the true shepherd is a thief and robber. We should always keep that in mind, anyone who would lead one astray is a robber.

In Verse 6 we see that they had not understood the parable, perhaps because their hearts were so hardened. They could not understand the concept of the loving shepherd. Jesus always showing great patience and love explains it again. In Verse 7-9 we read "⁷Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.".

In this instance Christ portrays himself as the door to the sheep. In order for us to fully grasp the significance of this illustration, the relationship of the shepherd to sheep needs to be understood. The sheep, being a very docile animal, will follow its shepherd almost anywhere. When out pasturing, the shepherd would put the sheep in a draw at night. The shepherd would then lay down in the entrance to the draw. This would be the only way in; anything attempting to get to the flock would have to go past him. So Jesus was figuratively referring to himself as the door to the sheep. This is of course representative of the spiritual realm. Jesus Christ is the door to all of the spiritual blessings that are found only in him (Ephesians 1:3). In John 14:6 Christ says in reference to himself "I am the way the truth and the light no man comes to the Father except by me". The inspired Apostle Paul tells us the same thing in Romans 5:1 "¹Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; ²through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.". These passage really needs to be understood by our pluralistic world. There is one and only one door. Not many doors. You cannot enter into the fold any way and every way. There is only one way. Our world likes to think in terms of "you have your Messiah and I have mine." "You’re O.K., I’m O.K." The truth of the matter is it’s not O.K. Jesus Christ is the one and the only Messiah. It is only by that door that we can enter in and be saved (Verse 9). The body of the saved is the church (Acts 2:47), and he, Christ, is the savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23). It is in him that we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7). The parables illustrate the reality that one must be part of the fold in order to be saved. There is nothing but danger on the outside. The protection is within the fold, not outside. Christians must realize that outside the fold is where Satan is lying in wait. Yea he is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

If we remain in the fold, Christ will not let us be harmed. A favorite text of mine is Romans 8:39, which tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. The same sentiment is expressed in John 10:27-29, which says that no one can snatch us away from Christ. We, however, can walk away from him; we can, of our own free will, become the goats that are spoken of in Matthew 25:32-33. In 1 Peter 1:5 we are told that we are kept by the power of God through faith, unto salvation. But what is God’s power that keeps us unto salvation? The gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16). Our continued, obedient faith in the gospel preserves unto salvation (see also 1 John 1:6-7). Should we ever abandon that faith, we will have separated ourselves from the shepherd and will be lost (John 15:1-7). How tragic that would be. The Good Shepherd has only our spiritual safety and well-being in mind. All that he does for us and asks of us is out of his matchless love for us! Jesus came not to put a unbearable yoke upon us, but he came that we might have life and have it abundantly. Of course that has reference primarily to eternal life, but it also has application in this life. The attitude of some Christians, with regards to the Christian walk is really not too different from the world’s. They both see it as a bland, gray, cold life of boredom. Too many times, I am sorry to say, we have bought into the idea that the pursuit of worldly things is the abundant life. That being a worldly person is equivalent to the good life. Several years ago there was a television show called Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Each week we were presented with the world’s idea of what life is all about. You know that 1 Peter 3:10-12 tells us that if we desire to see good days we need to do what is right in the sight of God. It does not say go for the gusto, go out to the honkytonks, races and gambling. Go out and cheat on your spouse. The meaning of life does not consist of "caviar dreams and champagne wishes", but the real life, the life worthy of living, is that of the faithful Christian walk. That walk is not drudgery or one devoid of pleasure -- the faithful child of God realizes that there is great pleasure in righteousness.

In Verses 11 through 13 Christ then illustrates just how much he loves the sheep. Jesus says "¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. ¹²He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: ¹³he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, ¹⁵even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

We can see that not only was Christ willing to lay down his life, he in fact did so. Unlike many people who will abandon ship at the first sign of trouble, Jesus Christ made the supreme sacrifice for us. We are told in Romans 5:6-8 "⁶For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die. ⁸But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.". The church was purchased with his own blood shed on Calvary (Acts 20:28). If the flock is purchased with his own blood, then what does that say with regards to the value of the flock? Is it not of equal value to the Lord’s blood? And if it is of the same value should it not be of primary importance to us? It is worthy of the very best we have to offer. It should be first in all aspects of our lives (Matthew 6:33). In Verse 11 we see a very intimate relationship between the Good Shepherd and the sheep. The oriental shepherd knew his sheep. To point where he gave them names. Not only that, but the sheep could recognize the voice of their shepherd. That is the same type of relationship that we have with Christ. Jesus knows all about us, he knows what is in a man (John 2:25). Jesus is our advocate and he knows our minds and make intercession for us (Romans 8:34 ). The Lord knows our wants, needs and fears. Oh how grateful we should be for that. But faithful children of God know the savior as well. Philippians 2:5 tells us that we are to have the mind of Christ. His attitude and disposition are be in us. That cannot happen unless we know him, anymore than I could be an imitator of you unless I know you. But how can be sure that we know Jesus? According the inspired Apostle John, it is by keeping his commandments (1 John 2:3-6). It is by conforming our will to his that we know him in his saving power. Submission to the Lord is more that just a mere acceptance or mental acknowledgment of him. Many claim to know God and Christ and claim a relationship with him. But, many have not conformed their will to his. The person that does so, John says is a liar. It is only God’s sheep that have a relationship with the Savior.

What a tremendous and thrilling thought that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is the True Shepherd, the one to whom all the Old Testament prophecies pointed to. He is the door, the means of approach to all spiritual blessings. He is the one who protects the flock and has purchased it with his own blood. May we as children of the Most High God always ensure that we are his sheep.

If you were to die this very moment, would your eternal destination be? Would it be Heaven or Hell? That is the most important question you will ever be asked. All else fades into insignificance. If you are outside of Christ, you are not part of Christ’s flock which is his church. If that is the case, then you do not and cannot have a relationship with God, because you have not conformed to his will. To do so, you must hear the word (Romans 10:17). Having heard the gospel you must believe in it with all you heart (John 3:16, Romans 1:16-17), and you must obey it (Hebrews 5:9). The gospel says that having believed you must repent, turn away from your sins (Acts 17). Then you must be baptized into Christ, buried with him in baptism, unto the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16, Galatians 3:26-27). Then when you come up out of that water grave of baptism, you are a new creature in Christ Jesus. If you are a sheep who has gone astray, we urge you to return to the fold. Jesus Christ bids you to come back to the fold, be restored and again know salvation. Now is the accepted time.

*All Scripture Quotations Are From The American Standard Version Unless Otherwise Noted