05-20-2018 – God’s Son, the Good Shepherd

This is the insert from the Sunday Morning bulletin.

05-20-2018

God’s Son, the Good Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Read John 10:1-5… Shepherding was always a part of the life in Israel. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David, were all shepherds.
God is the Shepherd, Israel is the sheep.
Psalm 23:1, “A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”
Isaiah 40:11, “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”
Ezekiel 34:11-12a, “For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after My sheep.’”
The Old Testament prophets warn Israel’s leaders who don’t care for God’s people (see Isaiah 56:10-11; Jeremiah 23:1-2; Ezekiel 34:2-10).
Matthew 7:15, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
Acts 20:28-29, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.”
Read John 10:6-11… There were many false teachers at the time of Jesus; but the true sheep (children of God) were not led astray by them.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, provided payment for the sins of all who believe in Him.
Read John 10:12-16… The hired hand doesn’t care for the sheep, but runs away when trouble comes.
The shepherds in Israel often protect the sheep from wolves, lions, bears, or thieves and robbers (see 1Samuel 17:32-37, 48-50).
God’s flock contains both Jew and Gentile who respond to Jesus Christ (see Acts 10:9-16, 24-28, 34-38, 44-48; Ephesians 2:11-16).
Read John 10:17-18… Jesus always obeyed the Father who loved Him and sent Him to save us (see Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 6:25-29).
Read John 10:19-21… Jesus’ words stir the people up, some saying He has a demon and is insane, as we have seen before (cf. John 7:20; 8:48, 52).
But some don’t agree (verse 21), “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Remember the blind man (John 9:25)? The Jews wanted him to denounce Jesus as a sinner; but the blind man responded, “Whether He is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" Jesus was indeed sent from God.
By referring to Himself as the Gate for the sheep (John 10:9) and the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14), Jesus describes Himself as the Savior Shepherd of all who belong to God, for He lays down His own life for you and for me.
What a wonderful Savior!