Jesus is The Good Shepherd

In ancient times, the Shepherds crook was a sign of leadership.

Prophetic Context

Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty. So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are easy prey for any wild animal. They have wandered through all the mountains and all the hills, across the face of the earth, yet no one has gone to search for them. “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:

Ezekiel 34:1‭-‬7 NLT

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!

Ezekiel 34:11‭-‬16 NLT

• it is with this hope that Jesus comes into the scene

Jesus Claims to be the Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,

John 10:14 NLT

• Jesus is unapologetically saying that he is the one. He is the premier shepherd

Understanding Sheep

Sheep are pretty much defenseless. They are notorious creatures of habit. Very stubborn. Will graze in the same area even if there is no more grass. Become restless very easily. Wander and get lost easily, bad depth perception.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

Isaiah 53:6 NLT

Jesus is the Gate

so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.

John 10:7‭-‬9 NLT

• Jesus is saying he is the only way to eternal life
  • the only way to peace
• only within the presence of the shepherd can the sheep rest and feel secure

No Snatching

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

John 10:27‭-‬30 NLT

• there is nothing we can do to be part of his flock
  • we are freely invited
• we are once and always part of his flock

There's an Adversary

After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:4‭, ‬9‭-‬10 NLT

• a shepherd would call his flock, and the sheep would know his distinct voice
• we can hear God's voice by being in his Word, paying attention to where he is leading us, etc.
  • dont become to busy

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Psalms 23:1‭-‬4 NLT

• the kingdom Jesus calls us to is paradoxical
  • imminent and transcendent at the same time
  • fully man and fully God
  • grace without minimizing truth
• he calls us to see how we are the sheep, but to strive to be like the shepherd
  • invest ourselves in others for the sake of all eternity

Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

Hebrews 13:20‭-‬21 NLT