YOUTH STS LESSON 152 THE GOOD SHEPHERD

TEXT: John 10:1-42     

MEMORY VERSE: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

Today’s study focuses on Jesus Christ as the True, Faithful and Good Shepherd from God. As the Good Shepherd, He had healed a blind man in the previous chapter. However, instead of the Pharisees and the religious leaders to give glory to God for an outstanding miracle and rejoice with the recipient, they sent him away from their temple (John 9:28-34). The Pharisees were supposed to be spiritual shepherds but they did not act like shepherds. Instead of taking care of the sheep, they cast them away. At this point, Jesus used the parable of the good shepherd to differentiate His ministry from that of the false shepherds. He stressed the fact that only one door leads to the sheepfold and He is that Door. “I am the door: by me if any man enter In, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).

Question 1: What is a parable?

A parable is the use of symbolic pictures as a means of presenting deep spiritual lessons. In the parable of the good shepherd, we see a picture which is complete in itself, easily understandable and highly instructive. Only Jesus the Son of God can occupy the office of the Good Shepherd.

1.THE TRUE AND FALSE SHEPHERDS (John 10:1-8; Isaiah 40:11; Hebrews 13:20; Psalm 78:70-72; Malachi 4:4; Jeremiah 35:15; 23:30-40)

“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. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep” (John 10:1,2). Jesus wants His hearers to know the difference between Him (the true shepherd) and false shepherds (hirelings).

Question 2: Differentiate between a true and false shepherd.

In practical terms, a false shepherd is someone who only thinks about what he can get rather than what he can give. Such a person will be quick to quit his duty post and forsake his responsibility when faced with crises. A true shepherd will joyfully work tirelessly in order to provide pasture for the sheep and will be familiar with the nature and character of all the sheep in the fold. He is ready to bear their burdens or even lose his life in order to protect the weak and defenseless sheep. He will also ensure that each sheep under his care finds satisfaction in the fold. When a sheep finds salvation, security, sustenance and satisfaction and it is under the care of a faithful, caring and sacrificial shepherd, such a sheep will never leave the fold. Today, God is looking for faithful shepherds to lead His flock. “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them” (John 10:7,8). These verses do not refer to the faithful servants of God like Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and a host of others. Rather it refers to the false teachers and prophets who deceived the people (Jeremiah 14:13-15). Run away from false teachers and prophets.

2.THE TRUSTED AND FAITHFUL SHEPHERD (John 10:9- 18, 27-30; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 9:35-38; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus promised to give us abundant blessings. He is calling us to “taste and see that the Lord is good”. He is calling us to experience the fullness of God. God’s plan and purpose are not only to save us from sin but to make us “conformed to the image of His Son”.

Question 3: How can we experience and enjoy abundant life in Christ?

The Lord has opened before us a world of limitless possibilities. The closer we are in our walk with Him, seek His face in prayer and feed on His word in our daily devotion, the more we shall experience and enjoy the abundant life.

Question 4: What are the characteristics of a good shepherd?

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus is referred to as the Door to the heavenly Father (verse 7), the Good Shepherd that gives His life for the sheep (verse 11), the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-5), the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20,21) and the Bishop of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).

Question 5: What are the benefits of accepting Jesus as the Good Shepherd?

The benefits of accepting Jesus as the Good Shepherd include: pardon from sins (verse 9); prosperity and success (verse 10); personal relationship with the Saviour (verse 14); profitable walk with the Sustainer (verse 27); protection and security (verse 28); preservation and strength (verse 29). “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” (John 10:16). The hearts of the Father and the Son yearn after the unsaved. The Christian youths should have burden for the unsaved too. We should see every sinner we come across daily as potential believers. Though they are living in sin today, they are the “other sheep” which the Lord wants to bring into the fold. They are souls for whom Christ died. We should pray and share the gospel with them with all fervency.

3.THE TRIAL OF A FAITHFUL SHEPHER” (John 10: 19-26, 31-42; Hebrews 3:1,2,5,6; 2 Timothy 3:10-13; Jeremiah 36:16-26)

“Jesus answered them, I told and you, believed not: ye the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you” (John 10:25,26). Jesus is the Faithful Shepherd from the Father. In spite of this, the religious leaders of His days still opposed Him. They called Him by various bad names. “And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?” (John 10:20,21). “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?” (John 10:31,32). Persecution is part of the Christian life. “Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:11-13). Jeremiah was a true prophet of God, yet, he faced persecution from the children of Israel. “Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire” (Jeremiah 38:6).

Question 6: Answer True or False:

1.Christian youths suffer persecution because of their past sins.

2.Christian youths suffer persecution because of believing in Christ and living a righteous life.

3.Christian youths should stop preaching the gospel because of persecution.

4.Christian youths will receive a crown of life/for suffering persecution because of Christ. 5.Christian youths should stop praying and reading the Bible because of persecution.

“If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). The power of the Scriptures in the life of a Christian youth is great and rewarding. Through it, we get saved, sanctified, strengthened, separated from evil and Spirit-filled. Therefore, study the Scriptures systematically, meditatively, patiently, prayerfully and consistently for your spiritual growth and development.