"JESUS OUR SHEPHERD"
INTRODUCTION
- Foretold in Old Testament prophecy is the promise of a Shepherd...
- It would be glad tidings for the cities of Judah - Isa 40:9-11
- He would gather Israel as a shepherd does his flock - Jer 31:10
- He would feed them, a type of David (who would be his ancestor)
- Ezek 34:23
- Revealed in the New Testament is that Jesus is that Shepherd...
- He is the Good Shepherd, who will bring other sheep into His fold!
- Jn 10:1-16
- He is the Chief Shepherd, who has other shepherds watching His
flock! - 1Pe 5:4
- He is the Great Shepherd, who through His blood makes us complete!
- He 13:20
- The motif of a shepherd is revealing...
- It pictures the blessings enjoyed by those who follow Jesus
- It should remind us of the duties we have as His sheep
[What can we glean from the Scriptures concerning "Jesus Our Shepherd"?
Certainly there are...]
- THE BLESSINGS OF JESUS OUR SHEPHERD
- HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US...
- He laid down His life for His sheep
- As foretold in the Old Testament - Zech 13:7; cf. Mt 26:31
- As Jesus told His disciples He would do - Jn 10:11,15
- Thus He is able to offer eternal life to His sheep - Jn 10:28;
cf. 1Jn 5:11-13
- Offering security to those who continue to believe
- Such that none can snatch them from the hand of God
- Though one can fall from God's hand through neglect - He 3:12-15; cf. Re 2:10
- HE NOW CARES FOR US...
- Having called us (through the gospel) - Jn 10:3; cf. 2Th 2:13-14
- Having gathered us into His one fold (even Gentiles!) - Jn 10:16; cf. Ep 2:11-22
- As our Good Shepherd:
- He knows us - Jn 10:14,27; cf. 2Ti 2:19
- He feeds us - Jn 10:9; cf. Ps 23:1,2
- He guides us - Jn 10:3,4; cf. Ps 23:3
- He cherishes us tenderly - Isa 40:11; cf. Ep 5:25-29
- He protects and preserves - Jer 31:10; Jn 10:28-29; cf. Jude
28-29
[Wonderful are the blessings of Jesus our Shepherd! Such blessings are
prefigured in that most beautiful of psalms (Psalms 23).
But what does the Shepherd expect of His sheep...?]
- OUR DUTIES TO JESUS OUR SHEPHERD
- HEED HIS VOICE...
- His sheep hear His voice - Jn 10:2-3
- His sheep follow Him, for they know His voice - Jn 10:4
- Thus Jesus expects His sheep to heed His voice
- As proclaimed during His earthly ministry - Lk 6:46
- As stated in the Great Commission - Mt 28:18-20
- Which we do today by heeding the words of His apostles
- To receive them is to receive Him - Jn 13:20
- Thus the early church continued steadfastly in their
doctrine - Ac 2:42
- For they taught the commandments of the Lord - 1Co 14:37
-- Are we following the Shepherd by heeding His voice?
- HOLD TO HIS FLOCK...
- There is one flock (or one body) - Jn 10:16; cf. Ep 4:4
- We should strive to maintain the unity of that flock
- For which Jesus prayed - Jn 17:20-23
- For which Jesus died - Ep 2:13-16
- Which we do today by:
- Not heeding the voice of "strangers" (false teachers)
- Jn 10:5,8b; cf. 2Jn 9,10
- Maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
- Ep 4:1-3
-- Are we doing our part to preserve the oneness of His flock?
- HELP HIS SHEPHERDS...
- The Chief Shepherd has shepherds to guide His flock
- They are the elders in a local congregation - 1Pe 5:1-4
- Their duty is to oversee and pastor the flock - Ac 20:17,28;
1Pe 5:1-3
- Jesus expects His sheep to respect His shepherds
- To submit to their oversight, make their duty a joyful one
- He 13:17
- To esteem them highly in love, being at peace - 1Th 5:12-13
-- Are we helping or hindering the work of the Lord's shepherds?
CONCLUSION
- Wonderful are the promises for those who follow "Jesus Our Shepherd"
- cf. Re 7:13-17
- Yet Jesus warned of some who...
- Are not His sheep, for they did not heed His voice - Jn 10:26-27
- Though in His flock (kingdom), will one day be cast out - Mt 13:41-43; cf. also Jn 15:1-2,6
Yes, He described a Day in which the sheep and goats will be parted (Mt
25:31-34,41). What side will we be on? It depends on whether we
fulfill our duties as His sheep...