The Good Shepherd looks out for his sheep

March 31, 2003

LifeWay Family Bible Series for April 13

The Good Shepherd looks out for his sheep
___ John 10:11-16, 22-30
___By Tim Owens
___First Baptist Church, Bryan
___John 10:22 contains a clue the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem was being held. People asked Jesus how long he was going to keep them in suspense. They demanded, "If you are the Christ, just tell us plainly" (John 10:24). The Feast of Dedication also is known as the Festival of Lights, better known today as Hanukkah. It was a celebration of an event that happened about 100 years before the ministry of Christ.
___Two centuries prior, Antiochus III gained control over Palestine by defeating the Ptolemys of Egypt. A Greek-Syrian control was established, known as the period of the Seleucids. After Antiochus III died, his son, Antiochus Epiphanes, came to the throne.
___This ruler wanted to eradicate the Jewish faith. He attacked Jerusalem, ransacked the city and destroyed the temple. Eighty thousand Jews were slaughtered. Many others were sold into slavery. The great altar in the temple became a sacrificial base on which swine were offered. These were dark days for the Jewish people.
___There was an old priest at the time by the name of Mattathias who had three sons. They became famous as the M

accabean brothers--Judas, Jonathan and Simon. They rose in revolt against the Seleucids and were able to banish them from their land. Ever since, the Jewish people have celebrated the Festival of Lights.
___During the festival, Jewish families placed a candle in their windows to celebrate their new-found freedom. The temple was cleansed, the altar rebuilt and worship of one true God re-established.
___Unfortunately, this lasted only for a short time. Barely 100 years later, Jesus walked through the temple precincts, and those candles had gone out. It was the Roman soldiers who now were marching through the streets of Jerusalem. What seemed to be the promise of a new Maccabean day had quickly vanished.
___Jesus was ministering in a situation where there was nothing but deep despair. He used the occasion to tell a shepherd story.
___The shepherd built a temporary sheep pen. He left an opening where the sheep could come and go. Here they would be safe. All that remained was to close the door, but there was no door. Somehow a door had to be provided in order for the sheep to dwell in security. The good shepherd simply laid down across the small opening. The shepherd became the door, and in this way the sheep remained inside and the wild beasts remained outside. Because the shepherd had become the door, there was nothing for the sheep to fear. Their protector and provider had guaranteed their protection.
___Using this shepherd story, Jesus makes the claim, "I am the gate for the sheep," (John 10:7) and "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14).
___One of the major theological insights from this passage is that there is only one door for the sheep. It would be a strange pen if there were many openings in the pen. Where would be the protection? Jesus said, "I am the gate for the sheep," a gate into security and the only access into the sheep pen. This claim is crucial to the Christian faith.
___In a climate in which all religions are touted as authentic ways to gain access to God, Christianity is often attacked because of its exclusivity. People say it is intolerant to make the claim that there is only one "gate" into access to God. Christians say that if there were any other way to God, God would not have sent his Son to die in such a heinous way.
___To counter the exclusivity of Christianity, Jesus made it clear that while he is the door, anyone can enter, and upon entering there are certain benefits that accrue to the one who trusts in Jesus as the Good Shepherd. What are some of these benefits?
___Jesus loves us. Did Jesus lay his life down in a field? No--he laid down his life on a cross. This demonstrates how much Jesus loves all people, especially those who receive him as the Good Shepherd.
___Jesus cares for us. Jesus said, "If you will enter through Me, you can come in and go out and find pasture" (John 10:9). When someone in ancient times could leave the city and come back into the city without fear, it meant the country was at peace. Jesus is guaranteeing security, safety and provision for those who trust in him as the Savior and Lord of life.
___In Numbers 27:16-17, Moses cried out, "May the Lord ... appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."
___Moses was praying as he neared the end of his life that God would raise up a person who would care for his people. God raised up Joshua, who led them into the promised land. The Hebrew name "Joshua" translated into Aramaic is the name "Jesus." Perhaps long ago when Moses prayed, God raised up Joshua, but in his mind he was preparing another Joshua--Jesus, who would lead his people out of sin and lead them into relationship with God.
___May those who have embraced Christ as the Good Shepherd praise God for being the recipients of that answered prayer.
___Question for discussion
___ We know Jesus is our Good Shepherd, but how good a sheep have you been?

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