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.