John 10
Jesus said:
10"...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (ESV)
· Characteristics of Sheep
Unlike goats, casual observation reveals that sheep seem to need each other. The flock, their "community," is their identity.
Not only do sheep need each other, they also need a shepherd they can depend on. Goats don't need a shepherd to watch out for them; they are independent to the point of being "head-strong". The shepherd is the main-stay in the sheep's lives. Without his attention and care they would quickly find themselves in trouble.
Sheep are notoriously stupid. Hold up a stick in front of the lead sheep in a procession of the flock and the lead sheep will nimbly leap up and over the slight barrier. The remaining sheep will also obediently leap up to clear the stick - even if the obstacle is removed after that first sheep jumped it. All the other sheep leap to avoid something that isn't there. The strength of their flock mentality forces them into the air.
· Characteristics of a Shepherd
In the culture that Jesus lived in, sheepherding was an important task.
A good shepherd always knew the habits and characteristics of his sheep and could predict their behavior and understand their peculiarities. The shepherd knew the characteristics of his sheep so well that he was never surprised or caught off guard by their actions.
A good shepherd was always at ease with his sheep, comfortable with their company, and enjoyed the responsibility of taking care of them. But, the life of the shepherd was extremely hard; never off duty and never any time off from his shepherd responsibilities.
A good shepherd would sometimes have to discipline his sheep. Because fields of grass were sometimes hard to find, the sheep were prone to wander looking for grazing opportunities. Therefore, the shepherd had to keep constant watch over his flock. One rebellious sheep could lead the other sheep astray. So the shepherd would break the legs of the wayward sheep to prevent it from straying away from the flock and leading other sheep astray.
After this disciplining process, the shepherd would then carry the sheep on his own back to teach the sheep that, even though the sheep needed discipline from the shepherd, the shepherd still loved the sheep deeply. Being carried on the back of the shepherd, the sheep developed a more intimate relationship with the shepherd.
The shepherd’s task was not only constant but also dangerous because he had to guard his flock against wild animals and against thieves and robbers. Constant vigilance, fearless, courage, and patient love were necessary characteristics of the shepherd.
Lastly, the shepherd was responsible for taking care of the physical diseases that his sheep might contract.
A good shepherd’s responsibility, then, was to provide for all the needs of his sheep. Food, water, direction, protection, and healing were all his responsibility.
And what was the responsibility of the shepherd’s sheep? To have a relationship with the shepherd, and to follow him and to obey him. As long as the sheep maintained its relationship with the shepherd, followed him, and obeyed him, then all of the sheep’s needs were met.
Should a sheep rebel and go off on its own to get its needs met (food, water, etc.), the sheep could expect the discipline of the shepherd (the breaking of its legs) but could also expect the love of the shepherd and a more intimate relationship with the shepherd by being carried on the shepherd’s back.
What’s the point in all of this?
Jesus uses the illustration of the good shepherd and the sheep to explain spiritual truth.
Jesus is the Shepherd and we are His sheep.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is not just a shepherd. He is not one among many shepherds. There is only ONE Shepherd and His name is Jesus.
I am a sheep and you are a sheep. I am not the only sheep in the flock. You are not the only sheep in the flock. There is only one Shepherd but there are countless numbers of sheep.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves His sheep: He lays down His life for the sheep.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, intimately knows His sheep and He knows us as intimately as the Father knows His Son (John 10:15).
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, provides for His sheep. His responsibility for His sheep is to provide food, water, direction, protection, and healing.
What is our responsibility as His sheep? To have a deep and intimate relationship with the Shepherd, and to follow Him and to obey Him. As sheep, our relationship with the Shepherd must be maintained and must continue to grow. As long as we do this, Jesus will provide everything we need.
But, some of His sheep rebel and stray away. Therefore, He has to discipline them because He loves them and because they might lead other sheep astray. Sometimes, the Shepherd has to “break the legs” of His rebellious sheep. Because they belong to Him and because of His holiness, He has to discipline those who are rebellious because His primary concern is for their spiritual health.
And then, as the Good Shepherd, He carries the disciplined sheep on His back to demonstrate His love and compassion for them. His discipline is evidence that the rebellious ones belong to Him and but it also teaches them that He will not tolerate their rebellion. Carrying His sheep on His back teaches disciplined sheep that He still loves them. (Hebrews 12:7-11)
Making It Personal
Where do you find yourself in your relationship with Jesus? Are you maintaining a deep and intimate relationship with Him and trusting Him to supply all of your needs? Or do you find yourself rebelling against Him and trying to get your needs met outside of your relationship to Him?
YBH: Yes, but how?
Do everything you know to do to maintain and develop a more intimate relationship with Jesus. At all costs, pursue Him no matter what your circumstances are. Seek to follow Him and obey Him with everything you’ve got. And I suggest you pray the following:
“Dear Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd and I am one of your sheep. Jesus, please teach me more about my relationship with You. Reveal to me the areas of rebellion in my life that hinder my relationship with You. Then, Lord, teach me more about Your responsibility as my Shepherd. Teach me more about how you will supply every need I have. And, Lord, teach me how to take care of my responsibility as one of your sheep to have an intimate love relationship with You.”
Psalm 100:3-Know ye not 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.
Psalm 95:7-For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Responsibilities of the Shepherd:
Lead the sheep
Provide for the sheep
Discipline the sheep
Responsibilities of the sheep:
Maintain a relationship with the Shepherd
Follow the Shepherd
Obey the Shepherd
One final point: On The Abundant Life "... I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”. (verse 10).
The potential of abundant life for each of us is only fully experienced in our relationship with Jesus. When we rebel, we miss out on the kind of life that only Jesus can give. The abundant life can only be realized in a personal, intimate, love relationship with Him.
