ADULT STS LESSON 152, JESUS: THE GOOD SHEPHERD
MEMORY VERSE: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14).
TEXT: John 10:1-42
The Scripture specialises in using physical elements things. In Israel of Christ’s day, animal husbandry was a common vocation and pastoralists were everywhere. These pastoralists, some times known as shepherds, understood the need to cater for their animals. They took their sheep out to feed on greener pastures and ensured they were preserved and protected from ravenous beasts. Where necessary, shepherds took risks and even jeopadised their own lives to ensure the sheep are secure (1 Samuel 17:34- 36). In the chapter under consideration, Christ is presented as the great and good Shepherd who knows the need of His sheep and works to meet them, though the religious Jews did not acknowledge Him as such. Christ therefore charged them as blind leaders who could not provide the needed teaching and guidance to their followers. He declared to them that He is the good Shepherd who is ready to sacrifice His safety for the protection of the sheep and His life for their salvation. He used the relationship between a shepherd and the sheep to explain deep and practical eternal truths about Himself and His followers.
1.THE SHEEPFOLD AND THE GOOD SHEPHERD (John 10:1-18; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:1-31; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:1-4)
The responsibilities of shepherds in the Middle East were very burdensome. In the morning, they led their flocks from the pen to the spot where they are to be pastured. They watched and cared for them all day, ensuring that none of the sheep strayed; and if any did, they sought it diligently until it is found and brought back. Knowing that in those lands the sheep needed to be supplied regularly with water, the shepherds had to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night, the sheep were often gathered into a pen to protect them from thieves, harsh weather or wild animals. Just as the shepherd cared for the sheep, Jesus, the good Shepherd cares for His flock. Ezekiel, prophesying about His coming as the Messiah, called Him a Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:23). In the Old Testament, God compared His covenant people to His sheepfold and referred to their spiritual leaders, prophets, teachers and priests as shepherds or pastors (Psalm 78:52; 100:3; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 23:1; Ezekiel 34:30,31; Zechariah 9:16). In the same vein, the redeemed people of God, purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ in the New Testament constitute the flock of God (Luke 12:32; Acts 20:28,29; 1 Peter 5:1,2). “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” (John 10:1). The story is not any different presently as there are still thieves and robbers within the sheepfold.
A thief is one who silently and secretly takes away other people’s property, while a robber is one who takes them away through violent means. All those in positions of leadership in churches who are influenced, not by the love of Christ, but motivated by the benefits of office, ambition, love of power, wealth or ease; those who come, not to promote the welfare of the flock of Christ, but their own economic interests, can justly be described as thieves and robbers. They can be classified as opportunists who have come to fleece the sheep for their selfish needs. They exploit the sheep for material gains instead of ministering to their needs. Such are false preachers who confuse people rather than comfort them; they exploit rather than edify them; they lord over rather than lead them aright; and they pollute rather than purify them. The activities of the hireling is such that he does everything to earn his monthly wage and cunningly avoids church activities that would not yield him some form of pecuniary benefits.
In the sheepfold, the shepherd functions as both the gate and the protector; he also doubles as the gatekeeper. In the same way, Jesus is the gate or way to salvation. He offers access to believers’ safety and security. He is their protector. “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out” (John 10:3). Moreover, He is the Shepherd who calls His own sheep by name and leads them to green pastures (verse 4); He gives His life for the sheep; knows His sheep and He is known by His sheep; He brings the sheep together under one fold and one Shepherd. Besides, David, in the Shepherd’s Psalm, prophesied of the coming Saviour. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ because all the traits of the shepherd described in the psalm reflect His essential characteristics. Amongst others, He provides for the sheep (Psalm 23:1); feeds them with green pastures (verse 2); leads them beside still waters (verse 2); restores their soul (verse 3); leads them in the path of righteousness (verse 3); protects and comforts them (verse 4); promotes them in the presence of their enemies (verse 5); anoints them with the Spirit of God (verse 5); prepares super-abundant blessings for them (verses 5,6); and preserves the sheep in the house of the Lord for ever (verse 6). The goodness, greatness and sacrifice of Christ should elicit a response of appreciation from His sheep. As a matter of fact, His care and protection lay a weight of responsibility on believers to:
One, ensure they do not stray away from the sheepfold. There may be some distracting elements around a believer, but bearing in mind what the good Shepherd has done and still willing to do, he or she should abide in Him.
Two, believers in Christ should constantly seek to hear the voice of their good Shepherd, learn to understand Him when He speaks and closely follow Him.
Three, believers must be watchful and avoid the strange voices of the world that lead astray.
Four, they, like the good Shepherd, be involved in the service of helping to bring other sheep outside the sheepfold back into the fold.
Five, leaders, as shepherds, should pray to be more Christlike in their care and concern for the sheep in their flock (Acts 20:28,29; 1 Peter 5:1-5).
2.SURE CONDITION OF SECURITY IN CHRIST (John 10:19-29; 6:59-71; Romans 8:35-39)
“There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?” (John 10:19,20). Christ’s revelation about the religious leaders being thieves, robbers and hirelings as contrasted with His being the good Shepherd raised a lot of dust among His Jewish audience. Some of His hearers flagrantly disbelieved His teachings and blasphemed by saying that He had a devil. But that could not dissuade Him from the work He had been called to do. This should serve as encouragement for dispirited but faithful soul- winners and preachers of the gospel. Though God desires the salvation of all men, not everyone will believe the gospel in order to be saved. While some people will believe and respond positively, some others may blaspheme and turn it down. Yet, that should not hold back the preaching of the gospel. The mandate of the Lord to all His workers and ministers in spite of the challenge is to preach the word “in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). In the midst of controversies among the audience of Christ, some asked Him, “How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly” (John 10:24). This question is obviously not a sincere one. Christ had told them over and again that He is the One sent from the Father but they did not believe. Having deliberately refused to believe, no amount of persuasion would influence them. Like the religious Jews, many people ask for proof for the wrong reasons. Many of those who asked such questions were not ready to follow Jesus. They had their own agenda: they wanted a political messiah who would deliver them from the shackles of the Roman government. But Christ had a spiritual mission to fulfil.
They did not believe because they were not part of His sheep. It was evident that these religious leaders were not part of His sheep since they were not willing to hear the word of God, receive it and follow the Lord. People who argue with sound doctrine and are against the standard of holiness and righteousness preached by true ministers of Christ, only confirm that they are not among the sheep of Jesus Christ. In contrast, there are those whom Christ referred to as His sheep. This category of people hear His voice; He knows them; they follow Him; and He gives them eternal life. Christ gives eternal life to those who hear Him and such people “shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of [His] hand” (John 10:28). What a great consolation and encouragement to the steadfast disciples of Christ! However, it need be stressed that.. this verse has been grossly misunderstood by many people to mean a promise of eternal security. To them, regardless of what a person does in respect to their relationship with God, such a person is eternally secure. But this notion is wrong. What this verse actually means is that there is nothing that can destroy a person while he or she abides in Christ. A Bible commentator puts it this way: “If man falls at any stage in his spiritual life, it is not from want of divine grace, nor from the overwhelming power of adversaries, but from his neglect to use that which he may or may not use”. Believers are only secure if they abide in Christ until the end. Just like a shepherd protects his sheep, Jesus protects His people from harm. Satan cannot harm their souls or take away their eternal life so long as they abide in Him. For all who choose to follow Christ in spite of the challenges of life, there is safety. As believers “give diligence to make [their] calling and election sure, …an entrance shall be ministered unto [them] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10,11).
3.SURPRISING RESPONSE OF THE PHARISEES TO CHRIST’S CLAIM (John 10:30-42; 5:17-34; Hebrews 4:2; 3:18; 13:20; Matthew 13:3-7)
“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?” (John 10:36). Jesus made the clearest statement on His divinity. His claim to be God was unmistakable. The religious leaders, rather than accept the truth that could have saved them, picked up stones to kill the good Shepherd. They could not be persuaded that He is the Christ. While this revelation strengthens the assurance of believers, the religious people, as usual, misunderstood the deep truth inherent in it, seeing it as blasphemy.
Except we prepare our hearts to hear, we may not benefit from Christ’s teaching. Some people, even now, like the unbelieving Jews of old, teach and argue that Jesus is not God. They teach that He is just a prophet, which is contrary to the established biblical truth that Christ is pre-existent, eternal, omnipotent and omnipresent, just like God the Father (Isaiah 9:6,7; John 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-9; Titus 2:13). Therefore, “all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him” (John 5:23). There should be no more controversy about the status of Christ as the good Shepherd. He is the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls (1 Peter 2:25; 5:4). He, in oneness with His Father, gathers the sheep together in God’s sheepfold, which is the Church (John 17:1-4; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:20). Jesus is the good Shepherd who will eventually gather His sheep together through the rapture to be with God forever in His eternal kingdom (John 14:1-3; Ephesians 5:25-27).
Questions for review:
- Mention the characteristics and activities of thieves and robbers within God’s sheepfold.
- Mention the characteristics of Jesus the good Shepherd that should make Christians entrust their lives into His hand.
- What should be the responsibilities of believers as the flock of Christ?
- What are some of the characteristics of people who are not part of Christ’s sheepfold?
- In spite of the negative responses of people to the gospel, what should be the attitude of believers to Christ’s mandate to preach the gospel?
- What are the conditions for believers’ security in Christ?
- How should we respond to the message of Christ?
