March 17, 2013
Evening Service

St. Jn. 10

 

Review:

This morning we discussed how Jesus can save, and deliver from the cares of this world, and the wrath of God that is coming on this world.  And because of their disobedience, many are experiencing God’s wrath at the present time.  He will deliver any time you want to humble yourself, and ask Him for deliverance, He will do it.

 

This evening we want to look at how John teaches us concerning Jesus, and His sheep.

This chapter and teaching is a continuation of chapter 9.

The Pharisees professed to be the guides or shepherds of the people. Jesus, in the close of the last chapter, had charged them with being blind, and of course of being unqualified to lead the people. He proceeds here to state the character of a true shepherd, to show what was a hireling, and to declare that he was the true shepherd and guide of his people.

            This is called in Joh_10:6 a parable, and it is an eminently beautiful illustration of the office of the Messiah, drawn from an employment well known in Judea. The Messiah was predicted under the image of a shepherd. Eze_34:23; Eze_37:24; Zec_13:7. Hence, at the close of this discourse they asked him whether he were the Messiah, Joh_10:24.

Eze 34:23  And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Eze 37:24  And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

Zec 13:7  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

 

Joh 10:1-42  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  (2)  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  (3)  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  (4)  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  (5)  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.  (6)  This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 

·         Jesus here again speaks of something they are familiar with, the keeping of sheep.

·         We will see Jesus uses, THE DOOR, THE SHEEPFOLD, THIEF AND ROBBER, SHEEP, AND PORTER.   Now let’s see the explanation.

(7)  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 

·         That explains the door, Jesus.

·         The Apostle Paul put it this way;  Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

And again;  Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

·         The sheepfold is the church, or family of God.

·         The sheep are the Christians, who come to God through the Door, Jesus of Nazareth.

(8)  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 

·         This is why you must study your Bible.  You will know if someone is a thief or robber, and you will not hear, or follow them.

(9)  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 

·         Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.   Jesus is our food, rest, and peace.  Our pasture.

(10)  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

·         And of course the thief is someone that pretending to take care of the sheep, but he is only there for his own gain.  Not for the betterment of the sheep.

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

·         This doesn’t mean two cars in every garage, a boat, a big fine house, and all these things that the gentiles seek after.

·         Luk 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

·         A MAN’S LIFE.   Things are not what life is all about.  It’s having a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe, our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

(11)  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

·         Jesus is not only the Door, but He is also the good shepherd, and He has already proven that He would give His life for His sheep, because He did.

(12)  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  (13)  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 

·         The warnings are throughout the Word of God to be on the lookout for false shepherds.

·         Act 20:28-31  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  (29)  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  (30)  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  (31)  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

·         2Pe 2:1-3  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

 

(14)  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  (15)  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  (16)  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 

·         Other sheep, us gentiles, who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, have been baptized, and are living for Him.  We are the other sheep.

(17)  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  (18)  No man taketh 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 commandment have I received of my Father.  (19)  There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.  (20)  And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?  (21)  Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?  (22)  And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.  (23)  And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.  (24)  Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.  (25)  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.  (26)  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  (27)  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  (28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  (30)  I and my Father are one. 

·         How beautiful, and encouraging is that?

 

(31)  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 

·         By their fruits you shall know them.  Murder is a fruit of the devil.  This is one of the things that is manifested in our Wednesday night studies, the murder of all the innocent people, who only wanted to follow the Lord’s teachings from the Bible.

(32)  Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?  (33)  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.  (34)  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?  (35)  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;  (36)  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?  (37)  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.  (38)  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 

·         I used the Scripture from Romans this morning, and not only does it apply to Jesus, but also, His followers.

·         Rom 1:3-4  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;  (4)  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

·         The same should be said of us, DECLARED TO BE SONS, AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD WITH POWER, ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS, BY OUR RESURRECTION FROM THE WATERS OF BAPTISM, WHICH IS A DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION.

(39)  Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,  (40)  And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.  (41)  And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.  (42)  And many believed on him there.

 

John also said this; 

Joh 20:30-31  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  (31)  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

Because we have read the Book, we believe that this Jesus of Nazareth is truly the Messiah, the very Son of Almighty God.