I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD John 10: 11-15

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1 ï» I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD John 10: Alan Shepard was the first American in space and one of only 12 Americans to walk on the moon But here in our text we see another Shepherd one who came from above and went back again. As we survey the scriptures, we see the savior shown to be a shepherd. Another stunning statement- a metaphor with more meaning than meets the eye.. Vs. 6 tells us the Pharisees missed the plain point of the parable, which was to paint a picture of the person and purpose of Christ. The sovereign saviour is the shepherd of the sheep! Jesus told Peter in John 21, feed my sheep. Psa 100:3 "know ye that the Lord He is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." Jer. 31:10 Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd doth 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. Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. I. reveals his character This Statement.. The word "I" is a personal pronoun. HIS GOODNESS It doesn't refer to an institution as the church, but to an individual - Christ. It doesn't refer to an ordinance as baptism, but to the only begotten Son of God - Christ. It doesn't refer to a sacrament, but to the Savior. Not something that He does--- it is the one who He is! A shepherd, in order to know his sheep and care for them, has to live among them. He has to be close to them. Jesus became both LAMB and LORD! SINGULARITY the SUPERIORITY good Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he

2 began to teach them many things. II. reveals his CARE HE LOVES US ALL other HE LEADS US THROUGH verse 3-4 He doesn t just tell them what to do, but He goes before them He Leadeth me, by His own hand He leadeth me HE LOCKS US IN - lay across the doorway to keep intruders out. I AM THE DOOR. verse 7 HIS GUIDANCE Psalms 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. S EEKS THE SHEEP.. verse 16 Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; Ezekiel 34:11-12 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. Vs 16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away -All other religions are man seeking God, Christianity is God seeking man! 1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. Verse 27, vs. 2-4 ADAM heard that voice!! NoAH-ABRAHAM- MOSES- PAUL READ: Matthew 18:11-13 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Shepherds sought a star- but the BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR seeks His Sheep!

3 H EARS THE SHEEP He also hears us! Its called PRAYER!!!! Jesus is not some DISTAND DIETY- He is close! A. He recognizes their cry Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. B. He responds to their cry Psalms 80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. E NCOURAGES THE SHEEP.. verse 10 Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. A. By His presence Can t have shadow without light! B. By His precepts (thy rod and thy staff) Philip Keller interviewed Shepherds. Around left shoulder of Shepherd was a bag or pouch with oil. Over right shoulder he carried anotherfilled with choicest green. Every now and then he d reach in and pull out some greens. He did not hold hand out in front- but behind. He would walk and lead. The SHEEP THAT WALKED THE CLOSEST TO THE SHEPHERD WAS ABLE TO EAT OUT OF THE SHEPHERDS HAND!!!! P ROTECTS THE SHEEP.. Verse 28 A. From being slain - "they shall never perish" Ira Sankey was Moodys song leader. He was on a ship going up Deleware river near Chrsitmas. Asked him to sing. He set out to sing a Carol but was lead to sing Saviour like a Shepherd lead us. Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care; In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare. Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. Afterwards a rough man asked. Did you serve in the war? Sankey

4 H EALS THE SHEEP replied Yes I did Were you in the battle at Sharpsburg? Yes I was I know-you were on Duty and I had you in my sights- when you began to sing that song, and I couldn t and didn t shoot you Certainly the Shepherd was looking out for Ira Sankey that night!! My heart was touched and I could not fire. I m not one of His sheep. He broke down in tears and was lead to the Lord in Sankeys arms on that ship. He never forgets or forsakes His own! Vs. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the prescence of mine enemies B. From being stolen - "neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" HEAVEN PURCHASED and HELL PROOF! Little lambs were carried on the Shepherds shoulders. All other religions carry there god around- God carries us!!!! Paul Anderson still holds worlds record carrying most weight. On Shoulders he carried table in Toccoa GA with a lead filled safe on it..in it was heavy metals. 6,720 pounds! Jesus carried the weight of the WORLD upon His shoulders! vs the hand of Christ is beneath the believer, and the hand of the Father is above the believer. Ezekiel 34:15-16 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: A. He bathes the wound 1. With the Spirit of God, typified by oil (Ps. 23:5) 2. With the scriptures, typified by water B. He bandages the wound C. He banishes the wound He is the GREAT physician! Not just physical. E XAMINES THE SHEEP

5 Guard duty Halt! Are you American? Give pledge..sing God bless America.quote Gettysburg Address! Man replied I Don t know any of them! The officer let out a sigh and said Youre American come on over. Matt 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. A. He receives His flock Reminds of the lady that phone directory assistance for her boyfriend s new phone number because she had misplaced it. She dialed the number and a woman answered. She wasn t sure who it was so she asked for her boyfriend by name, Is Mike there? He s in the shower, replied the woman on the other end. Okay, we ll tell him that his girlfriend called, and she hung up. When Mike didn t call back, she called again. This time a man answered. She didn t know who this was so she asked, Is Mike there? This is Mike, the man answered. You re not my boyfriend! the girl exclaimed. I know, he replied, That s what I ve been trying to tell my wife for the past hour. He knows our NATURES NEEDS NAMES Knew Simon JOHN 1:42 Knew Zaccheus knew you too! The president doesn t know your name, Govenor doesn t know your name, Mayor doesn t know your name but THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE knows YOU by name!!!!!! B. He rejects the fakes R EFRESHES THE SHEEP Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul... A. He supports the weary B. He strengthens the weak KNOWN OF MINE Sheep should know they are sheep- otherwise they can t follow! A Christian is one who has assurance. As David did. David didn t say The Lord MIGHT BE or COULD BE but IS

6 It's impossible for a sheep to become a goat, and for one who is born to be unborn. Song of Solomon 2:16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. We belong to Him and He to us! Jan-Feb-December HE IS MINE Mon-Firiday.HE IS MINE. in SUNSHINE and SHADOW. He s mine when I m here and mine when I m there, He s mine everywhere! D IES FOR THE SHEEP.. Verse 11, 15 None of the other I AM statements speak of an occupation.however, tonight s statement does speak of an occupation. What is it that makes a person in any occupation good? It is when the person gives themself! III. reveals his CROSS.. Verse 15, How much does God love you? He loves you to death! HIS GIVING You can GIVE without LOVING but you cannot LOVE without GIVING!!! In the OT economy the sheep died for the Shepherd but in the NT economy the Shepherd died for the sheep! Jesus was the only child who chose to be born- an the only man who DECIDED TO die. He didn t HAVE to. Jesus laid down His life for the sheep He saved us from sin and death..but if the story ended here we d have a problem. If a flock of sheep lose their shepherd because he laid down his life to save them from a pack of wolves, they are now shepherdless! And even if no more wolves come, soon they ll wander off and get lost. And the death of the shepherd will have been in vain.

7 But the story doesn t end here with the shepherd dead and the sheep scattered. Verse 18 He s ALIVE & WELL!!!!!!! Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Good Shepherd one who came from above and went back again and He aint done yet!!!!! 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. He died to save the sheep (salvation). He lives to keep the sheep (security). He is coming to reward the sheep (service). Are you in His FLOCK? FOLD? FAMILY?? Scottish Shepherd boy Explaining the Gospel to him, a preacher told The Lord- Is My- Shepherd Checking each finger per word. Led him to Christ. Winter came little boy and flock didn t come home. He was found frozen under deep cliff edge. They Dug him out, he was lying on his back with peace on his face and the fourth finger of his left hand grasped by his right hand. Unto the last, the Lord was His- Shepherd! CONCLUSION: Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray Revelation 7:16-17 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."