The Good Shepherd
John 10: 1-11 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
The Shepherd and his sheep is a beautiful picture taken from this world and applied many times to the relationship between God and his people, the shepherd and his flock of sheep. Many passages come to mind, Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." God sometimes is pictured as a loving shepherd that feeds his flock, Isaiah 40:11 "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." We also know there are evil shepherds: Jeremiah 23:1 "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD" When sheep are forsaken they easily become pray to wild animals, and then of course there is the Good Shepherd, the Messiah, Ezekiel 34:23 "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd." Sheep need a shepherd. When you look up the word sheep in the dictionary one of the things it says is that sheep wander, they are defenceless when they wander because they are helpless and weak. They get into trouble when they wander. They don't understand why they get into trouble and to get out of trouble they need to go back to the flock they have left, back to the place they departed and until they do that they will always be in trouble. Sometimes the shepherd has to come and get them and lead them back. The rod is for rescuing, the staff is for discipline because sheep have to stay close to the Shepherd.
Are you a member of God's flock? if you are, do you wander away? How far do you wander? How many times has God had to bring you back? What will he do if you keep wandering?
This parable of the Good Shepherd was preached to the Pharisees, thieves and robbers.
How many entrances are their to the sheepfold? V7 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." Those words are a heavy emphasis on what Jesus is to say. I am the door of the sheep. Singular, only one door. Only one way. If you want to get into the flock of God the Lord Jesus is the only entrance. Any that come in any other way are thieves and robbers. Whether you are minister, pastor, or a sheep, you must have entered through the Lord Jesus Christ. But many would say, especially in our day, many other leaders in the church so-called say there are other ways into God's flock. The Lord Jesus knew that would happen. That's why he said in V8 "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them." Jesus is not talking about all the preachers who came before him through time, it doesn't mean time, it means "put before" as more important than me. or "put above" me. All that put themselves before me. Jesus says I am the door. Some say no, there are other doors. What are they doing when they say that? They are putting themselves and their ideas before Christ, they are counting what they say as more valuable than what Christ says, they are putting themselves before Christ and they are thieves and robbers, says Jesus.
Anyone who says there is any other entrance to the flock of God, the sheepfold, they are all thieves and robbers. Robbing God's people of the gospel, of life and hope. It doesn't matter what their title is, if they say that Christ is not the only way to God's flock of sheep, they are thieves and robbers. But Jesus says that the sheep did not hear them. True sheep don't listen to nonsense. They don't hear the voice of strangers, they know the voice of the true shepherd, V4,5 "And when he putteth forth his own sheep he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." The message that there are many ways is preached in many churches today, sadly. Because its the world in those churches, and the people are not saved and God's people do not listen to people like that. Believers do not listen to false preachers and false teachers. What about Christians in churches when the minister is not saved? It says in V5 that the true sheep of Jesus will not follow a stranger but will flee from him and get away from him..
What happens if we go through the one door and enter the sheepfold? V9 "........he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." If any man enter in, that is a past completed action. Once for all. If any man enter in he shall be saved, saved from sin, given eternal life John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." To enter in to God's flock through the only way is to be saved and receive eternal life. But also, there is more to the Christian life than that. "and shall go in and out and find pasture" safe passage, sustenance, protection, spiritual food. If any one enters in through the only door they will be looked after. The good shepherd becomes your shepherd. His rod and staff will comfort you, he will lead you, he will guide you to walk in the paths of righteousness for his names sake and some day at death's dark veil you will not be afraid because you will not be alone, the good shepherd will be with you and he will take you to glory and there he will give you blessings and joy unspeakable.
Isn't that what you want and what you need? How many ways are there into the sheepfold? just one, Jesus Christ. Don't be listening to thieves and robbers. Will you come through Christ into God's family? That is what the gospel is about. It is showing people the way to heaven and asking people will they come through that door. Will you enter though the door today, will you be saved today? If you will, Jesus the good shepherd will look after you in years ahead, all you have to do is believe and trust in him. The modern churches have lost the idea of what faith is. It is not just believing about Jesus, but it is about trusting in Jesus. It's all the difference in the world between believing about Jesus, the technicalities, and trusting in Jesus, saving faith. Will you place your trust in Jesus? It's not just the facts, it's trust. It's trusting in Jesus for your salvation and you do that every day.
_____________________________________
The notes above were made by myself from the sermon by Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational (Reformed) at Sermon Audio
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=620101115120
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your thoughts are welcomed..