So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.—John 10:7–15 

The last three weeks we’ve looked at various passages that address the task of shepherding and oversight in the church. These have been sobering messages for us who serve as elders. This morning we look at a text that undergirds our understanding of the task of shepherding by examining the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

This message is not to convince of the wisdom of the changes or transitions the elders are proposing. We can talk about strategies, tactics, structure, and long-term future, but in this morning I mainly want to help us see the beauty and splendor of Christ. As we look at the trees of shepherding, let’s not lose sight of the forest of the Chief Shepherd himself. 

If you’ve been around church for some time, you may have heard a message or two about how dumb sheep are. These are dumb animals that will run off the ravine, eat excrement, wander off, jump off cliffs, and so forth. We may have heard stories of shepherds needing to break the legs of the sheep and then carrying them on his back. This morning is not about the stupidity of sheep, but rather the glory of the Good Shepherd.

Main Point: By his death, Jesus gathers his sheep to himself by name, gives them abundant life, and guides them as the Good Shepherd. Knowing these truths about Jesus transforms everything.

First we want to look at the two main controlling metaphors in our passage:

• Sheep enter through the door of Jesus (vv. 7–10).
• Jesus is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (vv. 11–15).
• Then, we’ll seek to apply these truths and see the implications of them.

Before we look at John 10, let me situate us to the context. John 10 comes right on the heels of his healing of the man born blind (John 9). Jesus heals him, the Pharisees and religious leaders are angry, they question him and his parents, and eventually the man is cast out of the synagogue (John 9:34). Don’t miss this, the blind man (now healed) sees Jesus, and the Pharisees (with no vision impairment) are spiritually blind.

The Pharisees exhibit a threefold blindness. They are blind to Jesus’ power to heal (9:3), blind to Jesus as the light of the world (9:5), and blind to their spiritual blindness (9:40–41).

My aim this morning, in the midst of all the conversation about live preaching and campus-specific QSMs, is for us not to lose sight of and to fully trust the Good Shepherd of our souls. 

Overview of John 10:1–6

In verses 1–6, Jesus teaches that there is a mutual recognition between a shepherd and his sheep. The image is of a large sheep pen comprised of the sheep of various families or shepherds, with a hired gatekeeper to guard them in the night. In the morning, the shepherds comes and calls out to them with his distinctive voice or sound, and his sheep recognize him and follow him out of the pen to find pasture. This is contrasted with a thief and robber that enters by another way, like unlike the Pharisees of John 9 that cast the healed man out of the synagogue (9:34).

There is a deep intimacy between Jesus and his sheep.

“The sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”—John 10:4

Thieves and robbers—like the Pharisees and religious leaders—are strangers, unfamiliar, and seek to use the sheep, but Jesus knows his sheep and his sheep know him. 

Recently on Twitter (a bastion of thoughtful engagement), I read a tweet by an atheist organization mocking Christianity that read like this:

Christianity: Belief that one God created a universe 13.79 billion yrs old, 93 billion light yrs in diameter (1 light yr = approx. 6 trillion miles), consisting of over 200 billion galaxies, each containing ave. of 200 billion stars, only to have a personal relationship with you.[1] 

John 10 tells us that Jesus “calls his own sheep by name” (John 10:3). 

Sheep Gate (John 10:7–10) 

The people didn’t understand Jesus’ teaching, so he proceeds to use another related metaphor. Jesus says, “I am the door of the sheep.” Surprisingly, Jesus calls himself a sheep gate, expanding upon the metaphor of sheep and shepherd. This might be harkening back to Psalm 118:20, “This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.”

Here Jesus contrasts thieves and robbers who had gone before him, such as false Messiahs, Israel’s leaders, Pharisees, and others. The thief comes only to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10) but Jesus comes so that his sheep might have life, and have it abundantly! 

The image here is of Jesus as the entryway into God’s kingdom, into his family, or into the safety of his flock. This is not unlike John 14:6, where Jesus makes an exclusive claim, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no other way into God’s kingdom and family apart from Jesus.

These verses are a simple picture of the gospel. Especially for those unbelievers among us who are asking questions and not fully convinced of what the Bible says. This is Jesus himself saying that we live in a world where there are forces that want to steal, kill, and destroy you and your joy. Our world is full of things that rob us of joy: anxiety over the coronavirus, current political election, opioid epidemic, health failures and crisis, and dozens of other things that rob our joy. And Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms that if you’re in his family, you have the God of the universe on your side. Jesus gives salvation, spiritual nourishment, and abundant life. 

At the final judgment the Bible says that Jesus will separate the sheep and the goats. 

“And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ … Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
—Matthew 25:33–34, 41 

This morning is a plea for you to heed the voice of the Good Shepherd, to listen and follow him. Jesus came that you “may have life and have it abundantly,” and he makes that possible because he died to take the punishment for your sins against an infinitely holy God. He knows you, and he’s calling you to come and find life, nourishment, safety, and security in Christ.

The whole point of the book of John’s Gospel is “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). So we plead with you to believe in the Son of God. Jesus desires to be the Good Shepherd of your soul.

For those who are trusting in Jesus this morning—though we wander, we are fearful and anxious, we are overwhelmed and flustered—Jesus gives us abundant life. Call to mind Psalm 23. Our shepherd leads us beside still waters, we lie down in green pastures, we have our souls restored, we walk down paths of righteousness for his names sake, and we will not fear evil. Or consider Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Isaiah 40:11 tells us of his shepherding care: “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

Jesus gathers his sheep to himself in safety, and gives them abundant life in Christ. Now in vv. 11–15 he calls himself the Good Shepherd. 

Good Shepherd (John 10:11–15)

Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. The contrast here is with the “hired hand” who flees because he doesn’t care. Essentially, “You don’t pay me enough to risk my life,” whereas the Good Shepherd protects at great cost, putting himself in mortal danger.

In the metaphor, a good shepherd is one who is willing, at cost to himself and by putting himself in danger, to protect the sheep. Like King David as a shepherd boy in 1 Samuel 17:34–35. 

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth.”

Look at the contrast between the hired hand and Jesus himself. Verse 12 says, “He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, see the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.” There is a striking difference between the hired hand and the good shepherd. This image of the good shepherd contrasts with what we read Zechariah 11:17, “Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!” 

Perhaps one of the most fearful passages is God’s condemnation of shepherds of Israel:

Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.—Ezekiel 34:2–6

This is a sharp and brutal rebuke for the shepherds of Israel. God then makes a promise of his personal shepherding care through a shepherd like David.

“And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken. I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.”—Ezekiel 34:23–25

Notice the stark difference between the shepherd and the hired hand. A hired hand has no care or concern for the welfare of the sheep. Whereas a shepherd cares for their flourishing, welfare, and safety of the sheep. A hired hand sees danger and threats and flees, leaving the sheep to be devoured and scattered. A shepherd knows his sheep, cares for his sheep, and remains to protect the sheep. 

But the statement, “I am the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep” is actually a really bad scenario. It’s a surprising statement because the death of a shepherd would have been terrible. If the shepherd is dead, then all the sheep are exposed to the elements, predators, and are sheep literally without any guidance, protection, or care. They are ripe for the picking for any thief, robber, predator, or dangerous terrain. Dead shepherds are not good shepherds, except in the case of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd precisely because he dies, precisely because he provides the needed sacrifice for sinners. He dies on the cross, which is what makes him a good shepherd. Jesus is good because he knows his sheep, loves his sheep, cares for his sheep, and his sheep know him. But Jesus is good most foundationally because Jesus sacrifices himself for his sheep as the Lamb of God (now blurring metaphors again). And Jesus’ words make explicit so that there would be no confusion at his crucifixion. There is intentionality in Jesus dying. Jesus was not an unwilling participant that was dragged along, powerless to prevent his death, and blindsided by the cross. No. Jesus lays down his life for the sheep. He does so intentionally, purposefully, and with the rescue of his sheep in view. We have a glorious Savior and a Good Shepherd in Christ!

With no uncertainty, Jesus declares himself to be the good shepherd. But Jesus goes even further, he says, “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:14–15). Jesus knows his sheep just as the Father knows the Son, and the Son knows the Father. This is perhaps one of the most profound statements Jesus makes here.

How well does God know Jesus, or does Jesus know God? Perfectly. Intimately. Fully. No deficit. There is a constant, overflowing, and eternal love between the Father and the Son. There is nothing about the Son that the Father does not know. There is nothing in person and nature of the Father that the Son does not partake in.

Jesus says he knows his own and his own know him like that. There is a profound and glorious image of how much Jesus knows and loves his sheep. Because of Jesus’ death, we have entrance into his kingdom, abundant life in Christ, and a Good Shepherd of our souls. 

Application

So what do we do with these truths about Jesus as the sheep gate and as the good shepherd? Three things I want us to remember this morning.

(1) You Are God’s Beloved Sheep

You are God’s beloved sheep. Jesus says, “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:15). Jesus says to us, “I know you as deeply, intimately, and with a heart disposition of love and joy as the God knows me deeply, intimately, and with a heart disposition of love and joy.” How much does the Father know and love the Son? Infinitely. Fully. No hint of reservation to the Father’s love. And vice versa. There is no reservation to Jesus’ love for you if you’ve been washed in his blood. This is not a mushy, sentimental love, but a reality rooted in the cross, carried out at Calvary that will echo for all eternity: you are God’s beloved sheep. 

Don’t base your self-worth in your performance, success, likability, productivity, respectability, or accomplishments. Your self-worth and value is in Christ, and you are infinitely valuable. Every child of God is of great and infinite worth because Jesus was willing to pay with his own blood to redeem us.

(2) You Have a Good Shepherd

Second implication we ought to see is that we have a good shepherd in Christ Jesus. He is leading and guiding you. The metaphors that Jesus uses are helpful to see the contrast of how Jesus cares for his sheep:

• Jesus is not a thief or robber. He doesn’t want you so he can sell you on the black market. So he can get something out of you. So he can benefit from you. Instead he lays down his life for you so that you might have life and have it abundantly. His commands are not burdensome, but lead us to abundant life and joy.
• Jesus is not a stranger. God calls us with an irresistible love so that when we hear his voice, we know him deep in our souls, his voice and truth is familiar and causes our hearts to burn, and we know him and follow him. Do not harden your heart to the Good Shepherd. Turn from sin, self-sufficiency, self-condemnation, and other insufficient saviors and return to the Good Shepherd of our souls.
• Jesus is not a hired hand. He doesn’t see danger and run the other direction. He doesn’t do it for the wages, or for what he can get out of it. He doesn’t flee when things get tough. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He knows, loves, and cares for the sheep with his own life, with his own blood. He knows and loves his sheep like God the Father knows and loves Jesus. 

(3) Your Under Shepherds Are Looking to Good Shepherd

I have intentionally tried to not draw a straight line between the Good Shepherd and the changes and transition we’re talking about. Yes your elders want to know you, but we won’t know you like Jesus, and Jason, Dave, or I won’t know each and every single one of you.

Elders, overseers, pastors aspire to shepherd more like the Good Shepherd. As has been said previous weeks already, we know that we will have to give an account for how we cared for and protected those entrusted to us (Hebrews 13:17). The elders of Bethlehem are indeed eager to shepherd the flock that is among us, exercising oversight, willingly, not for shameful gain, and as examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:1–4). This passage is both beautiful and sobering. We are not Jesus. We are not the Good Shepherd, but we look to him in our shepherding task. Consider the following:

• We model our ministry after the Good Shepherd. We want to know those we are called to serve. We want to know, feed, lead, and protect the sheep, in preaching and teaching, leading, and providing pastoral care.
• We labor to be approved and faithful. We want to labor not as thieves, robbers, strangers, or hired hands, but those who “do [their] best to present [themselves] to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
• We are sheep. We too are sheep, and we need the Good Shepherd. Interact with any of your elders and you know that we are sinners in need of grace. We are beggars that have found bread and get to point fellow beggars to the Bread of Life. Your under shepherds are first sheep that need a Good Shepherd to lead them.

We will labor imperfectly, sinning at times, and yet we’re eager to shepherd this flock entrusted to us with wisdom and care. 

Closing

In the midst of all this conversation about possible change and transition—which makes some really excited, whereas others don’t like change—be reminded that our hope and trust is not on strategies, tactics, FAQs, models or methods, but our hope and trust remains in our Good Shepherd. He will lead and guide his people, and he will build his church. And as you pray, consider these changes, and ask good questions, place your trust not in Jason, not in Dave, not in Ken, not in Steven, but on the Good and Chief Shepherd of our souls.

Shepherding is not the end goal. Shepherding leads to delighting in Jesus, and mature, godly, blood-bought, God-centered, Word-saturated disciples that make disciples. All of this is so that we can get out there and fulfill our mission. Jesus himself tells us in John 10:16, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” In this context, he might have been talking about the Gentiles that he would bring in, but today, as God’s people, when we open our mouths to bear witness of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, we get to be used by God as Jesus’ voice that would beckon others into his everlasting flock. So let’s not lose sight of the mission of the church as we live out our calling as disciple-making disciples who know and follow the voice of our Good Shepherd. 

_______

1. https://twitter.com/ForumAtheist/status/1230583949593907201

Sermon Discussion Questions

Outline

1. Jesus Is the Sheep Gate (John 10:7–10)
2. Jesus Is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11–15)
3. Application & Implications

Main Point: By his death, Jesus gathers his sheep to himself by name, gives them abundant life, and guides them as the Good Shepherd.

Discussion Questions

• What is some of the surrounding context that gives rise to Jesus’ teaching in John 10:7–15? (See John 9.)
• What are some of the contrasts that Jesus highlights between himself and others? Why?
• Consider other sheep/shepherd passages in the Bible (e.g., Ezekiel 34, Psalm 23). How do they add texture to our understanding of this passage?
• What is the significance of Jesus as sheep gate (v. 7–10) and good shepherd (v. 11–15)?

Application Questions

• In light of John’s purpose in writing (John 20:31), what should we do in response to these truths and with whom might we share this good news?
• How does the truth of being God’s beloved sheep combat some of the lies we’re tempted to believe about ourselves?
• How does Jesus as the Good Shepherd elicit in us fresh praise, adoration, and worship for who he is and what he does?
• As under shepherds, your elders look mainly to the Good Shepherd, and they are likewise sheep. How does that truth help you pray for your elders? How does that help you appreciate their labors but not unduly idolize them?
• How does the ministry of Jesus as Good Shepherd relate to some of our church-wide conversations about preaching and transition?

Prayer Focus
Praise God for dying for sinners in order to give them entrance into his kingdom. Praise him for being the Good Shepherd who knows, loves, and shepherds his people. Confess your sins of failing to trust him, being blind to his love and care, or putting your trust in other people or things. Thank him for rescue, redemption, and for his present love, care, and protection as our Good Shepherd. Ask God to help you to trust him in all the trials and challenges of life, and ask for open doors to introduce this Good Shepherd to those without the hope of Jesus.