I AM the Good Shepherd
I AM the Good Shepherd
- Greg Waybright
- John 10:10-18
- I Am - The True Identity of Jesus
- 39 mins 51 secs
- Views: 1043
Study Notes
The True Identity of Jesus: I Am the Good Shepherd
John 10:10-18
All summer, we’re considering the true identity of Jesus according to Jesus’ own statements and claims. We’re doing this partly to learn about what Jesus has done and partly to learn about the kind of person Jesus was. But, we’re doing it mainly because of the teaching of Scripture that our lives are changed not by looking at ourselves but by fixing our eyes on Jesus (cf, Heb 12:2). And today, when we fix our eyes on Jesus, we see him saying in John 10:10-18, “I am the good shepherd.”
I’ve been thinking about the many sermons I’ve heard on this passage over the years – and, what I came to realize is that almost all of those sermons focused on the sheep and how dumb sheep are. In general, most people seem to think that sheep are stupid, defenseless creatures that mope about on hillsides doing… well, doing not very much. We think sheep are only good for two things: being eaten and producing wool. The impact of sermons that focus on the stupidity of sheep call us to admit that we too are dumb and defenseless like the sheep so that therefore we need Jesus. And, the last part of that message is true, i.e., we do need Jesus.
But, we human beings are not altogether dumb and defenseless because we are made in God’s image. And, many recent studies are showing that sheep are not so dumb either. The reality is that sheep are actually surprisingly intelligent, with impressive memory and recognition skills. Sheep can remember over 50 human faces for over two years! Sheep build friendships, stick up for one another in fights, and give evidence of sadness when their friends are sent to slaughter. But, sheep do go astray. They are prone to predators. So, they do need a shepherd. They need a good shepherd. And, so do you – and so do I.
I have been feeling a growing need for a good shepherd over this past year. A year ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, normally a slow-developing kind of cancer that often is treated by what is called “active surveillance”, i.e., waiting to see if the cancer progresses. However, a few months, we had some indicators pointing to the possibility that the cancer was a bit more pervasive than originally thought. So, over the past few weeks, I have been having a number of medical tests to examine the situation and, indeed, they point to the fact that it’s wise for me to seek treatment to get rid of the cancer. Because I have a lot of pre-existing ministry responsibilities and because of the slow-developing nature of this kind of cancer, I’m waiting to begin the treatment until this coming September. For all of you who like to do research on such things, the treatment I’ll undertake is called HIFU, high intensity focused ultrasound. It’s non-surgical and without many side-effects.
Throughout this journey, I have sensed the present, guiding hand of the Good Shepherd. I’m really at peace though I cherish your prayers. And, I seek to be a witness and to honor God in each part of the process and with each relationship this reality opens up the door to. But, all this has made preparing for this sermon a very personal and blessed time for me. One big thing that I rest in is that Jesus is good.
The Good – “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd… I am the good shepherd (10:11,14).”
Jesus says three times that he is “good”. The word he uses, i.e., kalos, is a wonderful word. Of course, in English, the word "good" could mean several things, couldn't it? We speak of a good car -- if it runs. Or we speak of a good person -- if that person is moral or honest. But the word Jesus used in v.14 means neither of those things. It doesn't refer to efficiency as in a good car. And it doesn't usually refer to moral uprightness. Instead, the word Jesus uses has the distinct overtone of attractiveness. It refers to the kind of people who have those kinds of qualities that draw people to themselves ‑‑ qualities like caring, kindness, empathy, and compassion. Jesus is the kind of person to whom simple animals, like sheep, are drawn without fear because they sense somehow that he means the best for them.
And that's what Jesus is like. This is why, I think, that young children are almost always drawn to love Jesus. They may not understand much about doctrines like the Trinity and justification, etc. but they know there is something good and loving about this man. And this is also why, I think, that the majority of people who have come to faith in Jesus throughout history usually haven’t been drawn by intellectual debates or by ad campaigns. They're drawn by the enormity of Jesus’ personal character and compassion. We read about him, hear about him and say, "I want to know him. I want to be like him." That’s how I feel about Jesus! I trust him. He’s good.
And in John 10, Jesus points out a few of the ways that his goodness affects what he does.
#1: The good shepherd stays close to us – guiding and protecting us. When a hired hand sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away (10:12).
Jesus describes himself in contrast to a hired hand who abandons the sheep 1) when a thief comes to steal, kill and destroy (10:10) or 2) when a wolf comes to attack. Jesus is talking about complementary things when he speaks of these two enemies, thieves and wolves. When he speaks of a thief, he means anything that takes you away from the one who alone can give you life. A thief might even promise to be helping you while, at the same time, is robbing from you. What he means by wolf is anything that seeks to destroy you personally. Sheep were vulnerable to both kinds of enemies. They needed someone close by who would never leave them even if protecting the sheep might put the person in danger.
Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. I come to give you life –not to take it away. I will not abandon you.” And, in my years of walking with Jesus and encountering many thieves and wolves, I have found him to be true to his word. The presence of the good shepherd has guided me through the storms and struggles.
So, today, you may wonder whether this message is true not only for pastors for you. I can imagine that many of you may be facing a fight that you know you have to fight but you feel ill-suited for it. You assess your own strength and resources you have and you don’t feel you have what you need to deal with the situation that you are in. Maybe that’s what brought you to church today.
Maybe you’re thinking, “How can Jesus be good like you’re saying pastor, and still let me get into this situation I’m in that feels like there are thieves, robbers and wolves everywhere? Doesn’t Jesus know what I’m going through? Doesn’t he understand my emotional make-up that plunges into depression when the kinds of things happen that are happening to me? Doesn’t he know the weakness of my flesh when I get into places like this? Doesn’t he realize that I smell the scent of those wolf-like bill collectors – and that I know another bill is coming and I have no resources to pay them? Doesn’t he care when I’ve been diagnosed with cancer?”
Jesus counters all those realities of our lives with the simple promise in v.10, “I come – I come that you may have life. I come -- and I do not leave like a hired hand. You’re not in this by yourself. You don’t have to fight this alone for I come and I will not leave you or forsake you.”
I have held on to this promise of Jesus again and again when I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus promises to come against any thief or wolf that comes against you – whatever it is that is trying to steal from you, whatever it is that feels like it is killing you. Jesus declares, “I will not let anything in this world separate you from my love or take away anything of eternal consequence. You may lose temporary things – but nothing eternal. I come to protect and to build what I started in you. I am the good shepherd.”
#2: We often experience the Good Shepherd’ presence and protection in community with our sheep-like family members. The wolf attacks the flock and scatters it (1:12).
Who are those sheep-like family members who stand together when there are thieves and wolves in the world? For me, they are you! That’s why I chose to share with you one of the battles that I’m facing. God has given us one another to help us walk through this world that still has thieves and wolves. But, the wolf knows there is strength in numbers. So, the strategy of the wolf is to scatter the sheep. If you have ever watched documentaries on the National Geographic Channel or the Discovery Channel of how wolves will isolate one member from the rest of the herd in order to destroy it. I tried to find a clip to show you – but the ones I found were all either too long or too gruesome for a sermon. But, I think you know what Jesus is talking about when he speaks of the wolf scattering the flock.
This point is why you and I have to make a commitment to stick with the local church family to which God has called us. The main way the world knows that we are Christians is by our love for one another. The main way the enemy tries to defeat you is by separating you from your sheep-like members. We who are in the flock of God through faith in Jesus are all imperfect so don’t be surprised when you see our imperfections. But, we have been called by our Good Shepherd to walk together. So, never give up on your church family. When you are battling wolves and thieves, you get to church. Go and pray with your small group. You have wolves to fight in this world. On your own, the wolf will devour you. The greater your battles, the more you should be with your family in the sheep pin. The greater the attack, the more you should be in church.
In Lk 15 and Mt 18, Jesus tells the parable of the 99 sheep who stay with the flock and the one who leaves. The shepherd leaves the 99 to go rescue the one who is isolated. Does that seem unwise to you? The reason the shepherd can leave the 99 is because the one is in danger when he is alone -- but the 99 can stand together. Sheep are not nearly as defenseless as people think – unless they are alone. So, don’t go out into the battle by yourself. Isolation from the church family is always the last step before destruction. I’ve seen it over and over again: Just before people take major steps to destroy their lives, they isolate themselves. We pull away from our marriage – from our family – from our church. We think, “Nobody there cares about me or understands me.” Those are the wolves’ tricks to put you into isolation.
So, when you are smelling the scent of a wolf in your life, don’t run away from your sheep-like family. Come more faithfully to worship. Share what’s happening in your life with your small group. We often experience Jesus’ presence and protection in community with our sheep-like family members. (If you do not have a small group, we will help you find one.)
#3: The Good Shepherd defeats the worst thief/wolf in this world. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (10:11).
I cannot say everything that should be said about this great passage but there is one more thing that I simply must say – because Jesus says five times (yes 5!!) that he “lays down his life for his sheep”. When he does, it becomes clear that the good shepherd is motivated by a deep and love-filled commitment for his sheep. Read vv. 11-18 and you’ll see that Jesus died for you because he loves you.
Look at v.18: “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” Do you see it? Jesus is not just saying that he came into the world willing to die if necessary ‑‑ like a soldier going into a battle. He's saying he came into this world knowing his death would be necessary. His death was his eternal mission ‑‑ but he was willing to do it because he loves us.
In vv.14b‑15, we see Jesus’ goal when he chooses to die for us, i.e., to bring his sheep into the fold. Now, these are remarkable words that I don't want you to miss for anything. Jesus claimed that as he looked out into the world, his eyes were able to penetrate through time and space. Though his death was at hand, he was able to see that beyond that point of his death, there was a group of people who, in some very intimate way, belonged to him. There were people he called “my sheep” who were not yet in the flock. Almost certainly he was speaking of that huge number outside Israel, so often called God's flock in the OT, who would belong to this new flock of God through faith in him.
Jesus was thinking of the 10s of thousands in Korean who have come to faith in Jesus in my lifetime. He was thinking of the 100s of thousands now coming to faith in Jesus in China. I believe he was thinking of the millions who are fleeing from their Middle Eastern homes as refugees and are now coming to faith life in Jesus. He was thinking of people like you and me. He knows us and he loves us so that he lays down his life for us.
But, why do we need him to die for us? Theologians and church people continue to debate about what Jesus meant by this. Some just hate the idea of Jesus having to die in our place. So, it's become quite common just to say that he died because he loved us and go no further. Or else it will be said that he died to set an example of unselfish love for the sheep.
Of course, someone volunteering to die for someone else is proof of unselfishness and love. But it makes no sense to say that the purpose of such a death was to set an example of love. I mean, single women, what would you do if some man said, "Frieda, I love you and to prove it I'm going to jump over this cliff." So, he jumps to his death. Would you say, "Wow! Now, that's the kind of love I need!" Of course, not! You'd say, "What a nut! What good did it do to jump over the cliff?"
The only way that volunteering to die would make sense to choose to die would be if there would be some benefit for the one loved, especially if the one loved was in danger and the only way that she could be kept safe was through the death of the one who loves. And the only way it would make any sense for a shepherd to die for his sheep is if there is a danger around ‑‑ like a wolf. If he dies to save them, then there is love involved.
And that's one reason why Jesus talks about the wolf in v.12. Of all the wolves in our world, there is one more dangerous than all the others. It is a wolf near each of us in this world. Jesus knew it. That wolf is that sinful people like you and me will die one day. And, after we die we will have to face God ‑‑ and we're not ready in and of ourselves to meet a holy God. All of us have sinned. And the wages of sin is death, i.e., separation from a holy God. And we know it ‑‑ though we usually try to ignore it. That wolf of death comes for each of us. When the wolf comes, he robs us of all we the temporary things most of us live for: our wealth, our homes, our friends.
Know this: The Good Shepherd died for you. Jesus died for you, in your place, so that you will come alive to God now and you will be ready to meet him face-to-face when this life is over. The one who is the “door” into the family of God (Jn 10:1-10) is the same one who lays down his life for you. Don’t leave church today until you are sure that you have placed your faith in him.
I began the message today telling you about a thief that I’m battling. I’m quite sure that many of you too – maybe all of you – are experiencing the thieves and wolves of our world that are seeking to rob you of the lives that Jesus came to give. One of his gifts to us is, as I have said, the “other sheep in the sheep pen”. We are to stand together in this world that still is filled with thieves and wolves. One of the practical ways we can do this is to pray. So, right now, I will ask some of our own church family’s pastors, Ministry Council members and prayer leaders to come. I don’t know what kind of thief or wolf you are facing: sickness, job loss, ongoing failure when temptation comes, anxiety, depression, broken relationships… Whatever it may be, we want to pray with and for you.
We will not be able to take much time to listen to what you are facing and to provide counsel in this time of prayer. If you feel the need for that, then stay and come to our prayer room after the service. Right now, think about one thing – one thief or wolf -- that you would like to have prayer for. Come to one of our spiritual leaders and say, “The thief I am needing prayer for is my marriage – my finances -- my sin – my anxiety, depression, etc. Think about that right now and then, as the music is played, come. We will pray for you in the name of the Good Shepherd, that you will know in a new way that he comes to you so that you might have a new and abundant life. When you are ready, come…
The prayer will be something like this:
Lord Jesus, our good shepherd, I come to you now in prayer on behalf of my brother/sister. You have come to give abundant life but my brother/sister is facing a battle in this world. Knowing that you are greater than any enemy in this world, I pray that you will give her/him wisdom to know what to do in this situation – strength to go through the difficulty – and courage to be faithful to you until you give victory. Be a refuge to him/her in this time of trouble. For this we pray in your name, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Chinese Study Notes
耶穌真實的身份:我是好牧人
約翰福音10:10-18
這個夏天,我們根據耶穌的話語,深入思考了祂真實的身份。我們這樣做不單是為要更多地認識耶穌,更是要通過聖經的教導而認識到,我們的生命不是藉著自己而改變,而是藉著仰望耶穌而改變(希12:2)。今天,當我們定睛在耶穌身上的時候,我們看到祂在約翰福音10:10-18中所說的話:“我是好牧人。”
我一直在想從前聽到過的關於這段經文的一些講道。我發現,幾乎所有類似的講道所強調的都是羊 ----傻乎乎的羊群。一般來說,大多數人都會認為,羊是愚蠢的動物,手無寸鐵地在山坡上轉悠,沒有太大的作為。我們可能認為羊只會做兩件事情:被吃掉和生產羊毛。這些強調羊群無智慧的講道是要提醒我們,使我們知道,我們自己也如羊群一樣愚笨和沒有防禦能力,因此我們需要耶穌。信息的最後一個部分是切實可信的,我們的確需要耶穌。
但是,人類並非完全愚笨和軟弱,因為我們是按照神的形象被造的。近期的許多研究表明,羊也並不是那麽愚笨的。其實,羊有著驚人的智能,超強的記憶力與識別技巧。它們可以記得超過五十張人的面孔長達兩年之久!羊可以建立友誼,在戰鬥中彼此支持,當它們的朋友被遷往宰殺之地時,它們會悲傷。然而它們的確也會誤入歧途。它們很容易遭到捕食,因此它們需要牧羊人。它們需要一個好牧人,你和我也是如此。
過去一年來,我一直感覺到,人們對好牧人的需求在不斷的增長。一年以前,我被診斷患有前列腺癌,這是一種發展緩慢的癌癥,通常采用“積極監控”的療法,也就是監控癌細胞的進展狀況。然而近幾個月以來,有一些指標顯示,我體內癌細胞的分布比以前想象的更加廣泛,因此在過去的幾周裏,我做了一些化驗,結果顯明,我需要進一步的治療,來除去癌細胞。因我還有很多事工有待完成,也是因為這種癌細胞發展比較緩慢,所以直到九月份我才會開始治療。如果有人有興趣的話,我所要做的治療名叫HIFU,是高強度聚集超聲。這是非手術治療,也不會有副作用。
在這個過程中,我感受到好牧人親手的引領。我真的很平安,雖然我很珍惜大家的禱告。在這個過程中的每個部分,我都願意向任何人做見證並榮耀神的名。這一切都使得今天的講道非常個人性,這也是對我的祝福,我所仰賴的一個重要的事實就是,耶穌是好牧人。
祂是好的 ----“我是好牧人…..(10:11,14)”
耶穌在這兩節中說了三次祂是“好的”。祂所使用的“Kalos”這個字非常精辟。當然,在英文中,“好的”這個字可以有多重意思。如果一輛車可以跑,我們就說它好。如果一個人誠實有道德,我們就說那個人好。但是耶穌在第14節所用的字並不是這些意思。它指的不是像一輛好車那樣有效率,也不是道德上的正直。耶穌所使用的這個字具有獨特的吸引力。它指的是那種擁有一些特別品質的人,比如愛心,善良,同情和憐憫。耶穌就是這樣的人,就連羊這樣的低等動物都會毫無畏懼的靠近祂,因為它們感覺到祂是最好的。
耶穌正是這樣的人。也正因如此,幾乎所有的小孩子都愛耶穌。他們可能不太了解三位一體或者因信稱義的教義,但是他們知道,這個人又良善又可愛。我認為也正是這個原因,在歷史上,大多數人通常不是因為智慧的辯論或廣告系列而信靠耶穌的。他們是被耶穌極大的憐憫和祂個人的品格所吸引。我們讀到和聽說了祂的事跡之後立刻會說:“我想要認識祂,我想要像祂一樣。”這就是耶穌給我的感覺!我信靠祂,祂是良善的。
在約翰福音第十章,耶穌提到了自己的良善以及祂所行的事情。
第一:好牧人靠近我們,引導和保護我們。若是雇工,看見狼來,就撇下羊逃走。(10:12)
耶穌將自己與雇工相對照:1)當盜賊來行殺害和毀滅的時候(10:10),2)當狼趕散羊群的時候,雇工會撇下羊群逃走。當耶穌在說到盜賊和狼這兩個仇敵的時候,祂說到了幾件事情。當祂說起盜賊時,祂指的是任何使你遠離那唯一能賜給你生命之主的事物。一個盜賊可能有時候會答應幫助你,但是他同時也會搶劫你。耶穌所說的狼,指的是任何會摧毀你的事物。羊很容易受到這兩種仇敵的傷害。它們需要一個永不離棄它們的人與它們同在,哪怕保護羊群會使祂處於危險之中。
耶穌說:“我是好牧人,我來是為要讓羊得生命。我永不離棄你。”在我與耶穌同行的年日裏,遇到過很多盜賊和狼,我經歷了祂的信實。好牧人的同在引導我行過了風暴與掙紮。
因此今天,這個信息不僅對牧師來說是真實的,對你也是如此。我可以想象,你們中間很多人可能正在面對一場無法逃避的爭戰,但是你卻感覺自己軟弱無力;你覺得自己沒有足夠的能力和資源,來處理你目前的狀況。也許你今天因此而來到教會。也許你在想:“牧師,如果耶穌讓我面臨這樣的狀況,使我覺得到處都是盜賊和狼,祂怎麽能像你所說的那麽好呢?祂難道不知道我在經歷什麽嗎?祂難道不了解,當這樣的事情發生的時候,我會陷入憂郁癥之中嗎?當我進入到那種地方的時候,祂不知道我的肉體會軟弱嗎?祂難道不知道,當我嗅到那些如狼一般討債賬單的味道時,我就知道另一張賬單又要來了,而我卻毫無能力支付它們嗎?當我被診斷出癌癥的時候,祂在意嗎?
耶穌用第10節中的承諾來涵蓋了我們生活中一切諸如此類的現實:“我來,是為要讓你得生命;我不會像一個雇工。你並不孤獨。你不必獨自面對這一切。我不會離開你,也不會撇棄你。
當我行過死亡的幽谷時,我緊緊抓住耶穌的應許。祂應許我們,當盜賊或狼來對抗我們的時候,無論是誰,只要它們要偷竊或傷害我們,耶穌都會親自抵擋它們。耶穌宣告說,“我不會讓任何事使你與神的愛隔絕,或是奪走你永生的盼望。你可能會失去暫時的東西,但不會失去永恒。我來是為要保護和建造我所開始的事工。我是好牧人。”
第二:在教會中,我們常會與如同羊群一般的弟兄姐妹一起經歷到好牧人的同在和保護。狼抓住了羊,趕散了羊群(1:12)
當世上有盜賊和狼來襲時,那些與你一同抗爭的群羊是誰?對我來說,就是你們!正是因為這個原因,我想和大家分享我正在面對的一個爭戰。神將彼此賜給我們,使我們雖然面對著盜賊和狼,卻還是能彼此幫助,安然走過。但是,狼知道人多力量大,因此它的辦法就是打散羊群。如果你看過國家地理頻道或者是探索頻道,你就會知道狼怎樣使一個成員從群體中孤立出來,然後再將其毀滅。我想找一個視頻給大家,但是我找到的不是太長就是不適合在講道中播放。但是我想,大家應該能夠理解,耶穌所說的狼打散羊群是什麽意思。
因此,我們需要委身於一個神所呼召我們堅持參加的教會家庭。世人能認出我們是基督徒,正是因著我們彼此相愛。仇敵打敗你的一個主要方法,就是把你從羊群中分離出來。我們這些藉著信靠耶穌在屬神的羊群之中的人們,都是不完美的。所以當我們看到自己的缺點時,不要驚訝。我們是蒙我們的好牧人所呼召而聚集在一起的。因此,永遠不要離開你的教會。當你在與狼和盜賊爭戰的時候,你要去教會,和你的小組一起禱告。在這個世上,總會有狼需要你去爭戰,如果靠你自己,狼會吞噬你。你的爭戰越大,你就應當越多地與你所屬的群羊在一起。攻擊越大,你就應當越多地去教會。
在路加福音15章和馬太福音18章,耶穌用了一個比喻,說有99只羊,有一只走迷了。牧羊人就離開那99只羊,去尋找那一只迷失的羊。對你來說,這樣做會不會不太明智?牧人離開那99只羊,是因為那一只獨自走迷,處於危險之中,但是那99只還可以站在一起。羊不像人們想象的那樣軟弱無力,除非它們單打獨鬥。因此,不要自己出去獨自爭戰。從教會分離出去,是遭受毀滅的前奏。我曾多次看到這件事:在人們自我摧毀之前,他們總會先孤立自己 ----從婚姻之中、家庭中、和教會中退出來。他們會覺得,沒人關心、理解我。”這就是狼的計謀,它要讓你孤獨無依。
因此,當你在生活中嗅到一絲狼的氣息時,不要遠離你如羊群般的家庭。要更加信實地參加敬拜。與你的小組一同分享你的經歷。我們常常經與羊群一般的家庭成員們一同經歷耶穌的同在和保護。如果你沒有小組,我們可以幫你找到小組。
第三,好牧人擊敗世上最壞的盜賊和狼。好牧人為羊舍命()10:11)
我無法在此對這段重要的經文說盡一切我想說的,但有一件事我必須要說,因為耶穌說了五次(是的,五次!!),祂“為祂的羊舍命”。 很顯然,這是因為祂對祂的羊群充滿了愛心與委身。讀了11-18節,你就會看到,耶穌為你而死,是因為祂愛你。
請看第18節:“沒人能奪我的命去,是我自己舍的。 我有權柄舍了、也有權柄取回來。”你看到了嗎?耶穌說過,祂願意進入世界,如果需要,祂也願意像一個戰士舍命在戰場上;不僅如此,祂還說過祂來到這個世界,知道自己是必定要舍去生命的,受死是祂永恒的使命,祂甘願如此,因為祂愛我們。
在第14-15節裏,我們看到了耶穌為我們受死的目的,那就是,祂要將祂的羊救回到羊圈之中。我不想讓大家錯過這句經文中的每一個字。 耶穌說,當祂向世界望去,祂的眼睛能夠穿越時空。 雖然祂的死亡在即,但祂能夠看到在祂受死之後的情形,有那樣一群人,他們曾經以非常親密的方式屬於祂。 還有一些人,被祂稱為“我的羊”,卻還沒有進入羊群。 幾乎可以肯定,祂指的是以色列人以外的龐大的族群,通常在舊約中被稱之為屬神的羊群的那些人,他們將通過信靠祂而屬於神的新的羊群。
耶穌曾思慮到數十萬信仰耶穌的韓國人。 祂也思慮到上百萬信靠耶穌的中國人。 我相信,祂也思慮到數百萬作為難民逃離家園、現正因信靠耶穌而活著的中東人。祂也思慮著像你和我這樣的人。 祂認識我們,愛我們,因此為我們舍去自己的生命。
但是,為什麽我們需要祂為我們而死? 神學家和教會人士持續不斷地爭論耶穌如此行的意義。有些人不喜歡耶穌代替我們去受死的這種說法,因此,我們通常都會說,祂舍命是因為祂愛我們,僅此而已,或者說,祂的受死就是樹立了一個對羊群無私之愛的典範。
當然,自願為別人而死,是無私與愛心的明證。 但是並不能因此而說,如此受死的目的,就是要樹立愛的榜樣。 單身的女士們,如果有一位男士對你說:我愛你,為了證明這點,我要從這個懸崖上跳下去。”然後他就跳下去摔死了。你會不會說:“哇!我所要的就是這種愛!” 當然不會! 你會說,“這個傻瓜!跳下懸崖有什麽好處?”
“自願受死”唯一能解釋得通的理由是:選擇去受死會使祂所愛的人得到益處,尤其當那被愛的人處於危險之中、並且唯有通過愛他的人為他而死才能使他得救的時候。同樣,若是牧羊人為祂的羊群而死,唯一的理由就是,當羊群被危險所圍繞之時,比如被狼包圍之時,如果他以死去拯救他們,就是因為愛的緣故。
這就是耶穌在第12節談論狼的一個原因。在世上的狼中,有一只狼比其他所有的狼都更加危險。這只狼是世上最靠近我們每個人的。 耶穌知道它。 它就是像你和我這樣有罪的、最終將會死亡的人。 死後,我們必須要面對神,但是我們還沒有準備好與那位聖潔的神相見。 我們明知道這一點,然而我們都故意忽略它。那死亡之狼為我們每個人而來。 當狼來之時,它奪走一切我們為之生存的東西:我們的財富,我們的家園,我們的朋友。
請記住這一點:好牧人為你而死。 耶穌代替了你而受死,使你得以活著到神面前,並且當今生的生命結束之時,使你能夠準備好去面對面與神相見。那進入神家的“門”(約翰福音10:1-10)就是那為你舍命的人。今天在你離開教會之前,希望你能將信心放在祂的身上。
從今天開始,我要告訴大家關於我與一個盜賊的爭戰。 我確信你們中許多人,也許是所有的人,都正在經歷著與這個世上的盜賊和狼的爭戰,它們正在想方設法掠走耶穌所帶來給我們的生命。 正如我曾說過的,祂給我們的禮物之一,就是“羊圈中其它的羊”。我們要與他們一同站立在這個仍舊滿了盜賊和狼的世界裏。 能使我們做到如此的方法之一就是禱告。 那麽現在,請教會中的牧師、事工部成員和禱告的領袖到前面來。 我不知道你們正在面對什麽樣的盜賊或是狼:疾病,失業,經受不住試探,焦慮,抑郁,人際關系破裂…...無論是什麽,我們都想和你們一起禱告,為你們禱告。
在這段禱告的時間中,我們可能無法花很多時間來傾聽你所面臨的狀況並且給你切實的咨詢輔助。 如果你覺得有需要,請在主日崇拜後留在我們的禱告室。 現在,請大家思考你要為之禱告的某一個盜賊或是狼。當你到為你禱告的屬靈領袖這裏來的時候,要告訴他說:“我需要禱告的盜賊是我的婚姻,我的財政,我的罪,我的焦慮,抑郁等等。我們會奉好牧人的名為你禱告,祂會以一種新的方式與你同在,使你有一個嶄新與豐盛的生命。 你準備好了嗎?
這是我們的禱告:
主耶穌,我們的好牧人,我現在為著我的弟兄姊妹們向你獻上禱告。 你為我們所有正在面臨爭戰的弟兄姐妹們帶來豐盛的生命。 我們知道,你比這個世界上的任何一個仇敵都要強大,求你賜給他們智慧,使他們如何面對各種狀況,賜給他們力量去克服困難,賜給他們勇氣信靠你,直到你賜下得勝的冠冕。在他們遭受苦難的時候,求你成為他們困苦之中的避難所。 我們奉主耶穌的聖名禱告。阿門。
榮耀歸給神,
Greg Waybright 博士
主任牧師
Small Group Questions
Read John 10:11-18
- Read through the entire passage. Jesus repeats himself several times about what he does for his sheep. What does he do, and why does he do it?
- Jesus contrasts the good shepherd with the hired hand. What is the distinguishing characteristic of the hired hand? Why does he behave in this way?
- In verse 16, Jesus said “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.” Who is Jesus talking about?
- Jesus says of these sheep who are not of this sheep pen, “I must bring them also.” What part do you play in in helping to see this happen? What are you doing now to help in this endeavor?
- How does this passage help you lead your life as a follower of the good shepherd?