Bible Message/Preaching : The Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” Jn 10: 11
As in Ps 23 this is also talking about: protection, responsibility & love.
Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear 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 does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (Jn 10:7-10)
Entrance (Door/Gate) = Shepherd!
Freedom of movement – in & out! -> Jesus do not drive but go before and says “follow me” - we're free to make the choice
Contrast with a hireling “But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." (Jn 12-18)
God will replaces uncaring shepherds: For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD. I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment." (Eze 34:11-16 )
Providence: find pasture, rich pasture, feed flock, bind up broken & strengthen sick Symbol of protection - lay down His life for us. Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
He comes after us when we go astray -> We may turn away from Him/ ignore Him / run away from Him. But he never forsake us, He seek us & want us to come back to Him.
Ps 100:3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Ps 95:7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:
Phil 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. (Eph 2: 18)
Lets have a bit more detailed look into this “access to the father”: All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Col 1:15-20)
He not only gives us rest but also asks us to follow His character: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Mt 11:28- 30) Let's look at our “sheepy” side:
Sheep & human have similar behavior:
Ps 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
Sheep have mark on their body: Stamped/ now-a-days RFID -> Baptism in Jesus' Name!
A salve will be bound to life with the owner by piercing his ear. So we ought to bear the mark of Jesus in us! The question is do we? Can we claim: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Ps 23:1)
Meditation:
Let's think about these questions for a moment.
Delivered 25 July 2010
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