Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / John 10:1-6

Transcript

John 10:1-6 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

• 0:00
  Well, amen and good morning. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in John chapter 10.
• 0:09
  It's good to be back with you this morning. Last week we were wrapping up a trip to Memphis to see my niece graduate.
• 0:17
  And I think about this time when I would have preferred to be opening God's Word with you.
• 0:22
  So, I was in a minivan on Highway 22 in northern Alabama, which is just a mind-numbing stretch of road.
• 0:32
  I would have really liked to have been doing this instead, so I'm glad that I'm here with you today.
• 0:39
  Our text for today is John chapter 10, verses 1 through 6.
• 0:45
  The Bible uses many titles to refer to Jesus Christ.
• 0:50
  I propose to you that none is more precious than the title, Good Shepherd.
• 0:59
  Lord willing, we're going to spend the next five weeks in John's Gospel in this chapter where Jesus refers to himself in this way.
• 1:09
  Now, we covered all of chapter 9 in a single week, a couple of weeks ago.
• 1:15
  So, you may go, why suddenly are we going to pump the brakes so much and slow down?
• 1:20
  And the reason is the chiastic structure.
• 1:24
  The literary structure of this chapter presses it in that direction.
• 1:30
  So, really quickly, if you're unfamiliar with chiasms, it's a literary structure that allows you to take a text and fold it upon itself.
• 1:40
  So, the first thing in the text corresponding with the last thing in the text and stepping toward a center of the text.
• 1:50
  So, just quickly and broadly, I want to walk you through chapter 10 so you'll get why we're doing this.
• 1:57
  And then we'll do a little bit of background and then read our text together.
• 2:02
  So, firstly, the first section, today's text, verses 1 through 6.
• 2:07
  The sheep hear the shepherd's voice.
• 2:11
  So, kind of thematically, we're picking that up.
• 2:14
  Then the corresponding part of it is the substantive part of the text, which is verses 19 through 42.
• 2:21
  So, Lord willing, a month from now, we'll look at those verses together.
• 2:27
  And there, we see Jesus saying again that his sheep hear his voice.
• 2:33
  Next, verses 7 through 10, Jesus talks about him being the door for the sheep.
• 2:39
  And correspondingly, verses 15 through 18, he talks about laying down his life for the sheep.
• 2:45
  And then the central piece of it is Jesus declaring himself the good shepherd in verse 11 and in verse 14.
• 2:56
  So, we'll take a look at each of those, and I won't talk about it at all today, past this, but verses 1 through 6, also chiastic.
• 3:03
  And each of those breaks down in that way.
• 3:06
  As we spend this time in John chapter 10, it has been my prayer that God would profit us greatly as we take it up.
• 3:16
  So, before we read, allow me just a moment to connect the end of chapter 9 to the discourse that is before us.
• 3:24
  In chapter 9, Jesus heals a man who was born blind.
• 3:28
  As you have come to expect, this causes confusion and commotion.
• 3:33
  So, the man is brought before the Pharisees and put through a series of examinations.
• 3:39
  First him, then his parents, and then back to him again.
• 3:44
  At the conclusion of this series of examinations, the man says, this is chapter 9 in verse 33,
• 3:52
  If this man, referring to Jesus, were not from God, he could do nothing.
• 3:58
  And they answered him.
• 4:00
  This is a group of Pharisees he's brought before.
• 4:03
  You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?
• 4:08
  And they cast him out.
• 4:11
  Verse 35, Jesus heard they had cast him out.
• 4:14
  And having found him, he said,
• 4:17
  Do you believe in the Son of Man?
• 4:20
  He answered, And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?
• 4:24
  Jesus said to him,
• 4:25
  You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.
• 4:29
  He said, Lord, I believe.
• 4:33
  And he worshipped him.
• 4:35
  So, Jesus welcomes the man that was born blind, that he had healed.
• 4:41
  Verse 39, Jesus said,
• 4:42
  For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.
• 4:50
  Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him,
• 4:54
  Are we also blind?
• 4:57
  Jesus said to them,
• 4:58
  If you were blind, you would have no guilt.
• 5:00
  But now that you say, we see, your guilt remains.
• 5:05
  So, we spent a minute of time talking about this text,
• 5:09
  And noted that Jesus, having healed a blind man of his physical disability,
• 5:14
  And then, much more importantly, of his spiritual disability,
• 5:19
  Uses this sight language to expose the prideful Pharisees.
• 5:24
  He's speaking here with a great deal of irony.
• 5:29
  Similarly, in Mark chapter 2, verse 16 and 17,
• 5:32
  We read,
• 5:33
  And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors,
• 5:38
  Said to his disciples,
• 5:39
  Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?
• 5:43
  And when Jesus heard it, he said to them,
• 5:46
  Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
• 5:51
  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
• 5:55
  So, it's these men that think they're righteous because of their careful observance of the law,
• 6:02
  Which was not a perfect observance of the law.
• 6:06
  See no need of a savior that Jesus is talking about here.
• 6:10
  And so, it's in this context that Jesus goes on to speak in chapter 10.
• 6:16
  He is speaking to these Pharisees.
• 6:20
  Blind men who have been thrown out of the synagogue a seeing man.
• 6:28
  So, John chapter 10, verses 1 through 6.
• 6:31
  And I'm actually going to read all the way through verse 18,
• 6:33
  Just to get our heads set into the discourse.
• 6:37
  But before I do, I'll pray.
• 6:39
  Father, would you help us as we take up your word together this morning?
• 6:44
  Would you bless my feeble preparation and I'm sure my feeble delivery?
• 6:52
  We want to rightly understand it.
• 6:54
  We want to behold Jesus by it.
• 6:56
  We want to be changed from one degree of glory to another for the sake of your name.
• 7:03
  And so, it's in that name that we pray.
• 7:06
  Amen.
• 7:07
  Alright, John 10, beginning in verse 1.
• 7:10
  Jesus says,
• 7:11
  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way,
• 7:17
  that man is a thief and a robber.
• 7:20
  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
• 7:24
  To him the gatekeeper opens.
• 7:27
  The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
• 7:33
  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
• 7:39
  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
• 7:46
  This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
• 7:52
  So Jesus again said to them,
• 7:55
  Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
• 7:58
  All who come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
• 8:03
  I am the door.
• 8:04
  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
• 8:10
  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
• 8:14
  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
• 8:17
  I am the good shepherd.
• 8:19
  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
• 8:23
  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep,
• 8:27
  sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
• 8:33
  He flees because he has a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
• 8:37
  I am the good shepherd.
• 8:39
  I know my own, and my own know me.
• 8:42
  Just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.
• 8:47
  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.
• 8:50
  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.
• 8:53
  So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
• 8:56
  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
• 9:01
  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.
• 9:05
  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.
• 9:09
  This charge I have received from my Father.
• 9:14
  So Jesus, in chapter 10, employs a rich metaphor.
• 9:20
  We have very little cultural context to enliven what is happening in this moment.
• 9:28
  First century Jews were agrarian people.
• 9:32
  The whole economy was based on livestock and fields and harvest.
• 9:38
  First, the average person among us can see a cow eating grass in a field
• 9:43
  and then order a burger in a drive-thru and make no mental connection between the two.
• 9:49
  How does one get from there to there?
• 9:51
  But not so with them.
• 9:55
  Livestock were part of their daily experience.
• 9:59
  Sheep being taken out to pasture and brought back into safety at night
• 10:02
  would have happened regularly, happened right in front of them.
• 10:07
  So this picture of sheep being called out and led would have been vivid in their minds.
• 10:14
  This is strategic language that Jesus is employing here.
• 10:19
  Further, and I would suggest more importantly,
• 10:21
  it's a rich metaphor because of its biblical foundation.
• 10:26
  I hope that we are a bit less lost at this point.
• 10:31
  Perhaps you know your Old Testament well.
• 10:33
  I hope so.
• 10:36
  The men that Jesus is addressing most certainly would have known their Old Testament well.
• 10:42
  Does anything leap into your mind when Jesus presents himself as a shepherd?
• 10:48
  I hope something, something jumps up in your mind.
• 10:51
  We read together Psalm 23 not that long ago.
• 10:55
  Perhaps at least that text for you.
• 10:58
  But if not, some time in the Old Testament is going to serve us well at this point.
• 11:05
  So leave John 10 behind for just a moment
• 11:07
  and join me in some quick sweeping Bible background
• 11:12
  by joining me in Ezekiel chapter 34.
• 11:15
  The blessed sound of turning pages.
• 11:29
  Ezekiel 34.
• 11:31
  I'm going to hop through this text a little bit just for the sake of time.
• 11:37
  Listen to the words that Ezekiel recorded.
• 11:41
  Verse 1.
• 11:41
  The word of the Lord came to me.
• 11:45
  Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel.
• 11:50
  Prophesy and say to them, even to the shepherds,
• 11:54
  thus says the Lord God.
• 11:57
  Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves.
• 12:01
  Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
• 12:04
  You eat the fat.
• 12:05
  You clothe yourselves with wool.
• 12:07
  You slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.
• 12:12
  The weak you have not strengthened.
• 12:14
  The sick you have not healed.
• 12:17
  The injured you have not bound up.
• 12:20
  The strayed you have not brought back.
• 12:22
  The lost you have not sought.
• 12:25
  And with force and harshness you have ruled them.
• 12:29
  So they were scattered.
• 12:31
  Because there was no shepherd,
• 12:32
  and they became food for all the wild beasts,
• 12:36
  my sheep were scattered.
• 12:39
  Skip to verse 11.
• 12:40
  For thus says the Lord God,
• 12:43
  Behold, I myself will search for my sheep,
• 12:46
  and will seek them out.
• 12:48
  As a shepherd seeks out his flock,
• 12:50
  when he is among his sheep that have been scattered,
• 12:52
  so will I seek out my sheep,
• 12:54
  and I will rescue them from all places
• 12:56
  where they have been scattered,
• 12:57
  on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
• 13:00
  And I will bring them out from the peoples,
• 13:03
  and gather them from the countries,
• 13:04
  and will bring them into their own land,
• 13:07
  and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel,
• 13:09
  by the ravines,
• 13:11
  and in all the inhabited places of the country.
• 13:14
  I will feed them with good pasture,
• 13:16
  and on the mountain heights of Israel
• 13:17
  shall be their grazing land.
• 13:19
  There they shall lie down in good grazing land,
• 13:22
  and on rich pasture they shall feed
• 13:24
  on the mountains of Israel.
• 13:25
  I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,
• 13:29
  and I myself will make them lie down,
• 13:32
  declares the Lord God.
• 13:35
  Skip to verse 22.
• 13:37
  I will rescue my flock.
• 13:39
  They shall no longer be a prey,
• 13:40
  and I will judge between sheep and sheep.
• 13:44
  And I will set up over them one shepherd,
• 13:46
  my servant David,
• 13:47
  and he shall feed them.
• 13:48
  He shall feed them and be their shepherd.
• 13:51
  And I, the Lord, will be their God,
• 13:53
  and my servant David shall be prince among them.
• 13:56
  I am the Lord.
• 13:58
  I have spoken.
• 14:00
  I will make with them a covenant of peace
• 14:01
  and banish wild beasts from the land
• 14:04
  so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness
• 14:06
  and sleep in the woods.
• 14:11
  Shepherds who are taking advantage of the sheep,
• 14:15
  we see in Ezekiel 34.
• 14:17
  Sheep who are scattered.
• 14:19
  A prince who protects and feeds.
• 14:24
  The men Jesus is speaking to,
• 14:26
  were they not blind,
• 14:27
  should be perceiving all of this
• 14:30
  as Jesus presents this metaphor.
• 14:33
  This text should be alive in their minds.
• 14:39
  However, this is not the only Old Testament text.
• 14:42
  These men declared themselves disciples of Moses
• 14:46
  in John chapter 9 and verse 28.
• 14:48
  One might think they would recall the prayer of Moses
• 14:50
  for a successor.
• 14:53
  Numbers 27, verse 15 and following,
• 14:56
  Moses spoke to the Lord saying,
• 14:58
  Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh,
• 15:01
  appoint a man over the congregation
• 15:03
  who shall go out before them
• 15:04
  and come in before them,
• 15:06
  who shall lead them out and bring them in.
• 15:09
  Language sound familiar?
• 15:11
  That the congregation of the Lord
• 15:13
  may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.
• 15:19
  The next verse in Numbers 27
• 15:21
  names Joshua as Moses' successor.
• 15:27
  So we've got David as a type for Christ
• 15:30
  and Ezekiel.
• 15:32
  We've got Joshua now.
• 15:34
  Jesus is the transliteration of the name Joshua
• 15:38
  from Hebrew to Greek to English.
• 15:42
  These connections ought to be being made.
• 15:47
  Other Old Testament passages indict the priests
• 15:49
  for not shepherding as they should.
• 15:51
  Isaiah 56, verse 9 through 12.
• 15:54
  Jeremiah 23, verse 1 through 4.
• 15:56
  Chapter 25, verse 32 to 38.
• 15:59
  Zechariah 11.
• 16:00
  I'm just showing you that it's replete.
• 16:02
  It's all throughout the text.
• 16:05
  And the Old Testament presents God
• 16:07
  as the ultimate shepherd of his people.
• 16:10
  Psalm 23, Psalm 80, verse 1,
• 16:13
  Isaiah 40, and verse 11.
• 16:17
  Do you see how rich this metaphor is?
• 16:23
  It's not random.
• 16:24
  It's not offhanded.
• 16:26
  Jesus is not shooting from the hip here at all.
• 16:29
  He's saying some very, very clear things
• 16:33
  to this group of men.
• 16:36
  This is a metaphor.
• 16:37
  It's laden with Old Testament teaching.
• 16:41
  In a few short words,
• 16:42
  he's bringing all of this up
• 16:44
  to say to them that they are false shepherds
• 16:47
  and that he is the true God
• 16:50
  who will call out his people.
• 16:52
  Now, in the back of your bulletin,
• 16:56
  adults, it's not really for you,
• 16:58
  but you might like to color too.
• 17:00
  There's a cartoon.
• 17:02
  And it's a quote from John Calvin.
• 17:04
  This is in his preface
• 17:06
  to Olivier Tannes' New Testament.
• 17:09
  I hope I pronounced that correctly.
• 17:12
  He said this quote,
• 17:13
  So,
• 17:38
  you rightly take up,
• 17:41
  rightly study the Old Testament,
• 17:44
  you will arrive at the conclusion
• 17:46
  that Jesus is the Christ.
• 17:50
  And that is the very point
• 17:52
  that Jesus is making here.
• 17:53
  He's not being cryptic in John 10.
• 17:57
  He's indicting false religion
• 18:00
  and false teachers.
• 18:02
  They know exactly what's going on.
• 18:06
  We'll see as we progress
• 18:07
  through chapter 10.
• 18:09
  But verse 6 records,
• 18:11
  back in John 10,
• 18:13
  this figure of speech
• 18:14
  Jesus used with them,
• 18:16
  but they did not understand
• 18:18
  what he was saying to them.
• 18:22
  And understanding all of that background,
• 18:24
  John means for this to be striking to us.
• 18:27
  How could these men not understand
• 18:30
  the thing that he is saying
• 18:32
  as he speaks of himself
• 18:34
  as the shepherd?
• 18:37
  This is how he begins the dialogue,
• 18:39
  verse 1.
• 18:41
  Truly, truly,
• 18:42
  it's to say,
• 18:42
  really, really,
• 18:44
  listen, pay attention,
• 18:45
  this is true,
• 18:46
  I say to you,
• 18:48
  he who does not enter
• 18:49
  the sheepfold by the door,
• 18:51
  but climbs in by another way,
• 18:53
  that man is a thief
• 18:55
  and a robber.
• 18:57
  He's expounding on
• 18:58
  what he has said at the end,
• 19:00
  of chapter 9.
• 19:02
  Now, the sheepfold
• 19:03
  was a place
• 19:05
  where a group of families
• 19:06
  would bring their flocks
• 19:07
  in at night
• 19:08
  for protection.
• 19:10
  Right?
• 19:12
  Smaller flocks,
• 19:13
  a group of people
• 19:14
  partnering together
• 19:16
  to put them into
• 19:18
  a common pen
• 19:19
  or perhaps a courtyard,
• 19:21
  and a man,
• 19:23
  often referred to
• 19:23
  as an under-shepherd,
• 19:26
  would be hired
• 19:27
  to watch over them
• 19:28
  throughout the night.
• 19:30
  Now, the sheep
• 19:31
  would be safe
• 19:32
  from predators
• 19:33
  in the sheepfold.
• 19:35
  It was a structure
• 19:36
  designed to keep wolves
• 19:37
  out,
• 19:39
  but not safe
• 19:41
  from a thief
• 19:42
  and a robber.
• 19:43
  So,
• 19:43
  somebody would be hired
• 19:44
  to look over
• 19:46
  the space
• 19:46
  and make sure
• 19:47
  somebody didn't come in
• 19:48
  and take out
• 19:50
  what was not theirs.
• 19:53
  Now,
• 19:53
  these words,
• 19:54
  thief and robber,
• 19:55
  are too similar
• 19:57
  in English
• 19:57
  to ascertain
• 19:59
  much of any
• 19:59
  variance in them.
• 20:00
  Isn't a thief
• 20:01
  and a robber
• 20:01
  just the very same thing?
• 20:04
  But they could be
• 20:05
  translated from the original
• 20:06
  a thief
• 20:07
  and an insurrectionist.
• 20:09
  I don't pretend
• 20:11
  to know exactly
• 20:12
  what Jesus means
• 20:13
  by these two words,
• 20:15
  but perhaps he is suggesting
• 20:16
  that the leader
• 20:17
  who is not the shepherd
• 20:19
  doesn't belong
• 20:20
  among the sheep
• 20:21
  as he gets in
• 20:23
  and he stirs up,
• 20:24
  but he means harm
• 20:25
  and he causes rebellion.
• 20:28
  Well,
• 20:29
  whatever is meant here,
• 20:30
  they are presented
• 20:31
  as being harmful
• 20:32
  and being entirely
• 20:34
  unconcerned
• 20:35
  about entering
• 20:36
  the proper way.
• 20:40
  Now,
• 20:41
  I don't believe
• 20:42
  that anybody
• 20:43
  in my hearing,
• 20:44
  I could be wrong,
• 20:45
  but falls into this category
• 20:46
  of false religion,
• 20:48
  false teacher.
• 20:49
  My assumption this morning
• 20:51
  is that none of you
• 20:52
  are presently
• 20:53
  in the works
• 20:54
  of trying to form
• 20:55
  a cult of some kind.
• 20:57
  At least I certainly hope
• 20:58
  that that's not the case.
• 21:01
  The strong indictment
• 21:02
  of this text
• 21:03
  really doesn't demand
• 21:04
  a lot of our time,
• 21:06
  but what does require
• 21:07
  attention
• 21:08
  is the juxtaposition
• 21:09
  of the metaphor
• 21:10
  which then infers
• 21:13
  some warning
• 21:14
  for us.
• 21:16
  not this,
• 21:17
  but this,
• 21:18
  and here we have
• 21:19
  such opportunity
• 21:20
  to look
• 21:22
  to Christ.
• 21:24
  Verse 2 says,
• 21:25
  but he who enters
• 21:26
  by the door
• 21:28
  is the shepherd
• 21:29
  of the sheep.
• 21:32
  Jesus
• 21:33
  is the shepherd
• 21:34
  of the sheep.
• 21:35
  verse 1-6
• 21:37
  might leave that
• 21:37
  unclear,
• 21:38
  but we know
• 21:39
  this is the case
• 21:39
  because he tells us
• 21:40
  so in verse 11
• 21:41
  and verse 14.
• 21:42
  There he says,
• 21:43
  I am the good shepherd.
• 21:46
  The good shepherd
• 21:47
  lays down his life
• 21:48
  for the sheep.
• 21:50
  Verse 14,
• 21:50
  I am the good shepherd.
• 21:52
  I know my own
• 21:53
  and my own
• 21:54
  know me.
• 21:57
  It's the shepherd
• 21:58
  that is granted
• 21:59
  access
• 22:00
  to the sheep
• 22:01
  because he has
• 22:02
  the authority
• 22:03
  to come into the sheep.
• 22:04
  He is the shepherd
• 22:06
  and so it is to him
• 22:07
  the gatekeeper,
• 22:08
  this under-shepherd
• 22:10
  opens.
• 22:11
  He comes and knocks
• 22:11
  and the gate
• 22:12
  is opened
• 22:13
  for the shepherd.
• 22:15
  At once,
• 22:16
  the gate is opened.
• 22:17
  And what is it
• 22:18
  that the shepherd
• 22:18
  does
• 22:20
  when the gate
• 22:20
  is opened?
• 22:22
  He calls his sheep.
• 22:24
  What the shepherd
• 22:25
  does is he gathers
• 22:25
  to himself
• 22:26
  his sheep.
• 22:27
  The job of a shepherd
• 22:28
  is to lead
• 22:29
  sheep.
• 22:32
  But notice,
• 22:32
  not every sheep
• 22:35
  in the sheepfold.
• 22:38
  Therein lies
• 22:39
  the inferred
• 22:41
  warning.
• 22:44
  Jesus calls
• 22:46
  his
• 22:47
  sheep.
• 22:50
  Verse 3 goes on,
• 22:51
  the sheep
• 22:51
  hear his voice
• 22:53
  and he calls
• 22:54
  his own sheep
• 22:55
  by name
• 22:56
  and leads
• 22:57
  them
• 22:58
  out.
• 22:59
  sheep.
• 23:01
  Now,
• 23:02
  sheep are
• 23:02
  not the brightest
• 23:03
  of animals.
• 23:05
  They desperately
• 23:06
  need shepherding
• 23:07
  as they will not
• 23:08
  stay alive long
• 23:08
  without someone
• 23:09
  watching over them.
• 23:12
  I challenge you,
• 23:13
  and you may know
• 23:14
  of one,
• 23:15
  I've never heard
• 23:16
  of wild sheep.
• 23:17
  I don't think
• 23:18
  they exist.
• 23:19
  I think they will
• 23:21
  get eaten
• 23:21
  and wiped out.
• 23:25
  However,
• 23:25
  to the sheep's
• 23:26
  credit,
• 23:27
  sheep can
• 23:28
  and do
• 23:29
  learn the voice
• 23:30
  of their shepherd
• 23:31
  and will loyally
• 23:33
  follow
• 23:33
  his voice.
• 23:36
  This is still
• 23:36
  a Near East
• 23:37
  shepherding
• 23:38
  practice,
• 23:38
  to gather
• 23:39
  small flocks
• 23:40
  into larger
• 23:41
  flocks
• 23:41
  for protection
• 23:43
  at night.
• 23:43
  Shepherds will
• 23:44
  team up together
• 23:45
  to help
• 23:45
  protect one
• 23:46
  another's
• 23:47
  sheep.
• 23:48
  And in the morning,
• 23:49
  each shepherd
• 23:50
  calls to their
• 23:51
  sheep,
• 23:51
  and as they
• 23:51
  go their
• 23:52
  separate ways,
• 23:53
  the sheep
• 23:53
  will follow
• 23:54
  their shepherd.
• 23:57
  There is
• 23:57
  not confusion
• 23:58
  about which
• 23:59
  sheep belong
• 24:00
  to whom.
• 24:00
  They don't have
• 24:00
  to brand them
• 24:01
  and figure out
• 24:01
  how to sort
• 24:02
  them out.
• 24:03
  Again,
• 24:03
  the sheep
• 24:04
  know who
• 24:05
  they are
• 24:06
  to follow.
• 24:09
  The Bible,
• 24:10
  as we have
• 24:11
  already noted,
• 24:11
  uses this
• 24:12
  sheep metaphor
• 24:13
  for God's
• 24:15
  people.
• 24:16
  I think
• 24:17
  it's very
• 24:18
  healthy for
• 24:18
  us to push
• 24:19
  against a
• 24:20
  highly
• 24:20
  individualized
• 24:22
  version of
• 24:23
  Christianity.
• 24:24
  We get that
• 24:25
  me and
• 24:26
  Jesus type
• 24:27
  of culture.
• 24:29
  Most of you
• 24:29
  here are
• 24:30
  members of
• 24:31
  our church
• 24:31
  and we've
• 24:32
  pressed upon
• 24:32
  you the
• 24:33
  need for
• 24:34
  that.
• 24:34
  It's a
• 24:34
  biblical
• 24:35
  command that
• 24:35
  you be
• 24:36
  joined to
• 24:37
  a group
• 24:37
  of Christians.
• 24:38
  This is
• 24:38
  part of
• 24:39
  God's
• 24:39
  design for
• 24:40
  healthy
• 24:40
  Christian
• 24:41
  living.
• 24:42
  I want
• 24:42
  you,
• 24:43
  when you
• 24:43
  think of
• 24:43
  your salvation,
• 24:44
  to be
• 24:45
  caught up
• 24:45
  into thoughts
• 24:46
  that are
• 24:46
  much grander
• 24:47
  than just
• 24:48
  you.
• 24:48
  I want
• 24:48
  you to
• 24:49
  think of
• 24:49
  peoples saved
• 24:51
  for the
• 24:51
  glory of
• 24:52
  God.
• 24:52
  Peoples from
• 24:53
  all over the
• 24:54
  world called
• 24:54
  into local
• 24:55
  assemblies to
• 24:56
  love and
• 24:56
  serve one
• 24:57
  another.
• 24:59
  But,
• 25:01
  when the
• 25:02
  Bible
• 25:02
  individualizes
• 25:03
  our salvation,
• 25:04
  we should
• 25:05
  pause,
• 25:06
  just for a
• 25:07
  moment,
• 25:08
  to do the
• 25:10
  very same.
• 25:10
  people,
• 25:10
  I find
• 25:12
  these words
• 25:12
  just
• 25:13
  incredible.
• 25:14
  The sheep
• 25:14
  hear his
• 25:14
  voice,
• 25:16
  and he
• 25:16
  calls his
• 25:18
  own sheep
• 25:19
  by name
• 25:22
  and leads
• 25:23
  them out.
• 25:24
  This is a
• 25:25
  variance on
• 25:26
  the picture
• 25:27
  of a
• 25:27
  shepherd.
• 25:28
  In reality,
• 25:30
  he would say
• 25:31
  something.
• 25:32
  I don't know
• 25:32
  what shepherds
• 25:33
  say to sheep.
• 25:34
  He'd give
• 25:34
  some kind of
• 25:34
  a command
• 25:35
  or a
• 25:36
  noise or
• 25:36
  something,
• 25:37
  and they
• 25:37
  would hear
• 25:38
  him and
• 25:38
  they would
• 25:38
  know it's
• 25:38
  time to
• 25:40
  move.
• 25:40
  But here,
• 25:41
  Jesus presents
• 25:41
  himself as
• 25:42
  calling them
• 25:43
  individually by
• 25:45
  name.
• 25:47
  His sheep,
• 25:48
  drawing them
• 25:49
  together into
• 25:50
  a flock and
• 25:52
  leading them
• 25:53
  out.
• 25:56
  Now,
• 25:57
  if at this
• 25:57
  point the
• 25:58
  question enters
• 25:58
  your mind,
• 26:00
  am I one
• 26:02
  of his
• 26:02
  sheep?
• 26:03
  I want you
• 26:04
  to know that
• 26:05
  I do not
• 26:05
  think that
• 26:06
  question
• 26:06
  unfair,
• 26:09
  but I do
• 26:10
  think that
• 26:11
  it is the
• 26:11
  wrong
• 26:12
  question.
• 26:14
  I would
• 26:15
  say to
• 26:15
  you rather,
• 26:16
  if you're
• 26:16
  unsure,
• 26:17
  has Jesus
• 26:18
  called me
• 26:19
  by name,
• 26:21
  you should
• 26:21
  ask the
• 26:21
  question,
• 26:22
  do I
• 26:23
  hear him
• 26:23
  calling?
• 26:25
  If so,
• 26:27
  follow.
• 26:28
  Don't ask
• 26:29
  the other
• 26:29
  question.
• 26:30
  Do you
• 26:31
  hear him
• 26:31
  calling?
• 26:32
  Follow.
• 26:33
  You may
• 26:34
  find that
• 26:34
  you are
• 26:34
  sitting here
• 26:35
  this morning
• 26:35
  as a
• 26:35
  means of
• 26:36
  Jesus
• 26:37
  calling your
• 26:38
  name.
• 26:38
  I'm not
• 26:38
  asking you
• 26:39
  to audibly
• 26:40
  hear him
• 26:40
  call your
• 26:41
  name.
• 26:42
  You're in
• 26:43
  church this
• 26:43
  morning,
• 26:44
  hearing the
• 26:45
  gospel and
• 26:45
  our prayers
• 26:46
  and our
• 26:46
  singing,
• 26:47
  read,
• 26:48
  preached.
• 26:50
  You may
• 26:50
  have been
• 26:51
  born into a
• 26:51
  family with
• 26:52
  Christian parents
• 26:53
  as a means
• 26:53
  of Jesus
• 26:54
  calling your
• 26:56
  name.
• 26:58
  Jesus
• 26:58
  delights in
• 26:59
  using ordinary
• 27:00
  means for
• 27:01
  extraordinary
• 27:02
  ends.
• 27:04
  do you
• 27:06
  hear him
• 27:06
  calling your
• 27:08
  name?
• 27:08
  Do you
• 27:08
  find yourself
• 27:09
  hearing the
• 27:10
  gospel of
• 27:10
  Jesus Christ?
• 27:12
  Repent and
• 27:13
  believe.
• 27:13
  Follow.
• 27:15
  Follow.
• 27:17
  He goes
• 27:18
  on in
• 27:19
  verse 4,
• 27:20
  when he
• 27:20
  has brought
• 27:21
  out all
• 27:23
  his own,
• 27:24
  he goes
• 27:25
  before them
• 27:25
  and the
• 27:26
  sheep follow
• 27:26
  him for
• 27:28
  they know
• 27:28
  his voice.
• 27:30
  sheep.
• 27:31
  Now I
• 27:32
  learned
• 27:32
  something this
• 27:33
  week about
• 27:33
  shepherding that
• 27:34
  I was unaware
• 27:34
  of.
• 27:35
  I thought I
• 27:36
  had my head
• 27:37
  wrapped around
• 27:37
  it.
• 27:38
  This is what I
• 27:39
  learned.
• 27:39
  Sheep that
• 27:40
  are led
• 27:41
  back and
• 27:42
  forth from
• 27:42
  familiar pasture
• 27:44
  to familiar
• 27:45
  pins or
• 27:46
  enclosures
• 27:47
  back to the
• 27:48
  barn are
• 27:49
  typically led
• 27:50
  from behind.
• 27:52
  Kind of the
• 27:53
  normal picture,
• 27:54
  at least in my
• 27:54
  head, that we
• 27:55
  have of shepherds
• 27:56
  walking along
• 27:56
  behind with the
• 27:58
  staff, right,
• 27:59
  giving little
• 28:00
  corrections as
• 28:01
  they go, but
• 28:01
  from behind.
• 28:02
  That's the
• 28:03
  picture that
• 28:03
  comes into
• 28:04
  your mind
• 28:04
  or not.
• 28:06
  The shepherd's
• 28:06
  concern is for
• 28:07
  that occasional
• 28:08
  straggler,
• 28:09
  right, that
• 28:10
  wanders off,
• 28:11
  is distracted
• 28:12
  by something.
• 28:14
  But the
• 28:14
  sheep generally
• 28:15
  know the way
• 28:16
  they are to
• 28:17
  go.
• 28:18
  Some of them
• 28:18
  get out in
• 28:19
  front and
• 28:19
  lead, they
• 28:20
  know the
• 28:20
  place they're
• 28:21
  going to,
• 28:21
  and so off
• 28:22
  places are
• 28:24
  led from
• 28:25
  the front.
• 28:27
  Sheep don't
• 28:27
  naturally
• 28:28
  trust a
• 28:29
  pathway.
• 28:30
  You can't
• 28:30
  put them
• 28:31
  on a
• 28:31
  road and
• 28:31
  just expect
• 28:32
  them to
• 28:32
  walk down
• 28:33
  the road,
• 28:33
  or can
• 28:34
  they comprehend
• 28:35
  a destination?
• 28:37
  You can't
• 28:38
  tell them,
• 28:38
  hey, we're
• 28:39
  going over
• 28:39
  there.
• 28:40
  They don't
• 28:40
  understand what
• 28:41
  you might be
• 28:43
  saying.
• 28:43
  So the
• 28:43
  shepherd sets
• 28:45
  the example
• 28:46
  and goes
• 28:48
  before them,
• 28:50
  leads out
• 28:51
  ahead of
• 28:53
  them.
• 28:53
  this is
• 28:55
  so
• 28:55
  astoundingly
• 28:56
  tender
• 28:58
  and
• 28:59
  merciful.
• 29:00
  Jesus
• 29:01
  says this
• 29:03
  with
• 29:03
  purpose.
• 29:05
  He leads
• 29:05
  them to a
• 29:06
  place that
• 29:07
  they have
• 29:07
  not been,
• 29:09
  and he
• 29:09
  goes there
• 29:10
  first.
• 29:13
  My mind
• 29:13
  leapt to
• 29:14
  Hebrews
• 29:14
  chapter 6,
• 29:16
  verse 19
• 29:16
  and following.
• 29:18
  There the
• 29:18
  author says,
• 29:19
  we have
• 29:19
  this as a
• 29:21
  sure and
• 29:21
  steadfast
• 29:22
  anchor of
• 29:23
  the soul,
• 29:24
  a hope
• 29:25
  that enters
• 29:25
  into the
• 29:26
  inner place
• 29:27
  behind the
• 29:28
  curtain,
• 29:29
  where Jesus
• 29:30
  has gone
• 29:31
  as a
• 29:31
  forerunner
• 29:32
  on our
• 29:33
  behalf.
• 29:35
  Jesus goes
• 29:36
  before us
• 29:37
  into the
• 29:38
  presence of
• 29:38
  God that
• 29:39
  we might
• 29:40
  also go
• 29:41
  there.
• 29:43
  Jesus does
• 29:43
  not lead
• 29:44
  his people
• 29:44
  anywhere
• 29:45
  that he
• 29:46
  has not
• 29:47
  first
• 29:48
  gone.
• 29:49
  suffered,
• 29:52
  died,
• 29:53
  was raised.
• 29:55
  What a
• 29:55
  savior.
• 29:57
  What a
• 29:58
  shepherd.
• 30:00
  This
• 30:00
  reflection,
• 30:01
  this little
• 30:01
  piece so
• 30:02
  far has
• 30:02
  been worth
• 30:03
  all the
• 30:03
  time I
• 30:03
  have spent
• 30:04
  on these
• 30:04
  brief
• 30:05
  verses.
• 30:06
  This was
• 30:07
  the moment
• 30:07
  that I
• 30:08
  went,
• 30:08
  oh,
• 30:09
  this is
• 30:09
  a good
• 30:10
  text.
• 30:12
  What a
• 30:13
  blessing it
• 30:13
  is that I
• 30:14
  get to
• 30:14
  open this
• 30:14
  text and
• 30:15
  talk about
• 30:15
  it.
• 30:16
  This
• 30:16
  morning,
• 30:17
  Jesus goes
• 30:19
  before his
• 30:21
  sheep.
• 30:21
  He doesn't
• 30:22
  prod us
• 30:22
  from behind,
• 30:23
  he leads
• 30:24
  from the
• 30:25
  front.
• 30:27
  And what
• 30:27
  do the
• 30:28
  sheep do?
• 30:29
  Notice,
• 30:30
  the sheep
• 30:31
  follow him
• 30:32
  for they
• 30:34
  know his
• 30:34
  voice.
• 30:36
  This is a
• 30:36
  picture of
• 30:38
  deep
• 30:39
  trust.
• 30:41
  The sheep
• 30:41
  say,
• 30:42
  this shepherd
• 30:43
  has always
• 30:43
  led us,
• 30:44
  will we
• 30:45
  will gladly
• 30:45
  go wherever
• 30:47
  he leads.
• 30:50
  Spurgeon
• 30:50
  once said,
• 30:51
  this is also
• 30:52
  in your
• 30:52
  bulletin if
• 30:53
  you care,
• 30:53
  Jesus is
• 30:54
  the good
• 30:54
  shepherd going
• 30:55
  before his
• 30:56
  sheep,
• 30:56
  bidding them
• 30:57
  follow him,
• 30:58
  and ever
• 30:59
  leading them
• 31:00
  onwards with
• 31:01
  the sweet
• 31:01
  word,
• 31:03
  come.
• 31:05
  The
• 31:05
  obedience of
• 31:06
  Jesus'
• 31:07
  sheep
• 31:08
  trusts
• 31:09
  that wherever
• 31:11
  he leads,
• 31:12
  it will be
• 31:12
  for their
• 31:12
  ultimate
• 31:14
  good.
• 31:16
  We read
• 31:17
  earlier,
• 31:18
  Psalm 23,
• 31:19
  as I've
• 31:20
  already
• 31:21
  mentioned.
• 31:22
  Jesus is
• 31:23
  the Lord
• 31:23
  of Psalm
• 31:24
  23.
• 31:26
  Listen again
• 31:27
  to these
• 31:27
  words of
• 31:28
  David.
• 31:29
  The Lord
• 31:30
  is my
• 31:31
  shepherd,
• 31:32
  I shall
• 31:33
  not want.
• 31:34
  He makes
• 31:35
  me lie
• 31:35
  down in
• 31:35
  green
• 31:36
  pastures.
• 31:37
  He leads
• 31:37
  me beside
• 31:38
  still waters.
• 31:40
  He restores
• 31:41
  my soul.
• 31:42
  He leads
• 31:42
  me in
• 31:43
  paths of
• 31:43
  righteousness
• 31:44
  for his
• 31:44
  name's
• 31:45
  sake.
• 31:46
  Even
• 31:47
  though I
• 31:47
  walk
• 31:47
  through the
• 31:48
  valley of
• 31:49
  the shadow
• 31:49
  of death,
• 31:50
  I will
• 31:51
  fear no
• 31:51
  evil,
• 31:51
  for you
• 31:52
  are with
• 31:52
  me,
• 31:53
  your rod
• 31:53
  and your
• 31:54
  staff.
• 31:55
  They
• 31:55
  comfort me.
• 31:57
  You prepare
• 31:57
  a table
• 31:57
  before me
• 31:58
  in the
• 31:58
  presence of
• 31:59
  my enemies.
• 31:59
  You anoint
• 32:00
  my head
• 32:00
  with oil.
• 32:01
  My cup
• 32:02
  overflows.
• 32:04
  Surely
• 32:04
  goodness
• 32:05
  and mercy
• 32:06
  shall follow
• 32:07
  me all the
• 32:08
  days of my
• 32:08
  life,
• 32:09
  and I
• 32:09
  shall dwell
• 32:10
  in the
• 32:10
  house of
• 32:11
  the Lord
• 32:11
  forever.
• 32:15
  Satisfaction,
• 32:16
  good provision
• 32:17
  and safe
• 32:18
  waters,
• 32:21
  proper paths,
• 32:22
  but notice
• 32:23
  that the
• 32:23
  way is
• 32:24
  not always
• 32:25
  easy.
• 32:27
  However,
• 32:27
  comfort,
• 32:29
  goodness,
• 32:30
  mercy,
• 32:31
  and God's
• 32:32
  presence belong
• 32:33
  to those
• 32:34
  who belong
• 32:35
  to him.
• 32:37
  This is
• 32:38
  why the
• 32:39
  sheep
• 32:39
  follow him
• 32:41
  for they
• 32:42
  know
• 32:42
  his voice.
• 32:46
  It bears
• 32:46
  saying that
• 32:47
  this is a
• 32:47
  text about
• 32:48
  belonging.
• 32:50
  Remember my
• 32:51
  reference earlier
• 32:52
  to the man
• 32:53
  who was cast
• 32:54
  out of the
• 32:55
  synagogue,
• 32:55
  and Jesus
• 32:56
  comes and
• 32:57
  finds him
• 32:57
  and welcomes
• 32:59
  him.
• 33:01
  It's a text
• 33:01
  about belonging,
• 33:03
  not a text
• 33:04
  about discerning
• 33:05
  God's will.
• 33:07
  not at all
• 33:09
  what Jesus
• 33:09
  is trying
• 33:09
  to communicate
• 33:10
  here.
• 33:11
  He's saying
• 33:11
  you either
• 33:12
  are my
• 33:13
  sheep
• 33:13
  or you
• 33:13
  are not
• 33:14
  my
• 33:15
  sheep.
• 33:17
  I think
• 33:17
  we should
• 33:17
  be careful
• 33:17
  at this
• 33:18
  point
• 33:18
  to not
• 33:18
  spin the
• 33:19
  metaphor
• 33:19
  off in
• 33:20
  a direction
• 33:20
  that is
• 33:21
  not
• 33:21
  meant.
• 33:23
  Some,
• 33:24
  in an
• 33:25
  effort to
• 33:25
  discern
• 33:26
  the voice
• 33:26
  of Jesus,
• 33:27
  have become
• 33:28
  a thief
• 33:29
  and a
• 33:30
  robber,
• 33:31
  thinking they
• 33:32
  hear a
• 33:33
  voice,
• 33:33
  something
• 33:34
  that,
• 33:35
  some truth
• 33:36
  that exists
• 33:37
  outside the
• 33:37
  text of
• 33:38
  the Bible
• 33:38
  and the
• 33:39
  list is
• 33:41
  endless,
• 33:41
  it would
• 33:42
  seem,
• 33:42
  these days.
• 33:44
  False
• 33:44
  teachers,
• 33:45
  false
• 33:45
  religion.
• 33:46
  That's not
• 33:46
  what Jesus
• 33:47
  is communicating.
• 33:47
  He's talking
• 33:48
  about belonging.
• 33:51
  Knowing the
• 33:52
  voice of the
• 33:52
  shepherd in
• 33:53
  this context
• 33:54
  is about
• 33:54
  hearing and
• 33:56
  responding to
• 33:57
  the call
• 33:58
  of the
• 33:59
  gospel.
• 34:00
  Recognizing
• 34:01
  our great
• 34:02
  need of
• 34:03
  a Savior
• 34:04
  and him
• 34:05
  presenting
• 34:05
  himself to
• 34:07
  us and
• 34:08
  us following
• 34:09
  him because
• 34:11
  we know
• 34:11
  his voice.
• 34:14
  Be careful
• 34:14
  not to make
• 34:14
  it more
• 34:15
  than that
• 34:16
  or to
• 34:17
  make it
• 34:18
  any less
• 34:18
  than that.
• 34:23
  Verse
• 34:23
  five,
• 34:25
  a stranger,
• 34:27
  Jesus says,
• 34:27
  they will
• 34:28
  not follow
• 34:29
  but they
• 34:30
  will flee
• 34:30
  from him
• 34:31
  for they
• 34:31
  do not
• 34:32
  know the
• 34:33
  voice
• 34:33
  of strangers.
• 34:36
  Verse
• 34:37
  five brings
• 34:37
  me as a
• 34:38
  minister of
• 34:39
  the gospel
• 34:39
  great comfort.
• 34:41
  I hope it
• 34:41
  does the
• 34:42
  same for
• 34:42
  you as
• 34:42
  you seek
• 34:43
  to share
• 34:44
  the good
• 34:44
  news with
• 34:45
  others.
• 34:47
  God's
• 34:47
  people will
• 34:48
  heed the
• 34:49
  call of
• 34:50
  the gospel.
• 34:52
  God's
• 34:52
  people will
• 34:53
  not follow
• 34:53
  the voice
• 34:54
  of strangers
• 34:55
  but as
• 34:55
  the gospel
• 34:56
  call is
• 34:57
  made,
• 34:58
  God's
• 34:59
  people will
• 35:00
  respond
• 35:01
  in obedience.
• 35:04
  And so
• 35:04
  what are we
• 35:05
  to do?
• 35:07
  Be the
• 35:08
  voice of
• 35:08
  Jesus.
• 35:09
  Open up
• 35:10
  the text,
• 35:11
  explain the
• 35:11
  word,
• 35:12
  share the
• 35:12
  good news
• 35:13
  with people
• 35:14
  and trust
• 35:15
  God's
• 35:16
  saving
• 35:16
  purpose.
• 35:20
  This is why
• 35:20
  I'm grateful
• 35:21
  things like
• 35:22
  this bolster
• 35:23
  our confidence
• 35:24
  that when we
• 35:24
  gather together
• 35:25
  as a
• 35:25
  church,
• 35:25
  we should
• 35:26
  just open
• 35:27
  and preach
• 35:27
  the word.
• 35:29
  Sing the
• 35:29
  word,
• 35:30
  pray the
• 35:30
  word,
• 35:31
  see the
• 35:31
  word in
• 35:32
  the ordinances
• 35:33
  and just do
• 35:34
  that week
• 35:34
  in and
• 35:35
  week out.
• 35:38
  The
• 35:39
  blessed
• 35:39
  thing that
• 35:40
  God is
• 35:40
  about the
• 35:40
  work of
• 35:41
  saving
• 35:42
  his people.
• 35:43
  He has
• 35:43
  sent to
• 35:43
  us the
• 35:44
  good
• 35:45
  shepherd
• 35:46
  and God's
• 35:47
  people will
• 35:48
  hear his
• 35:49
  voice and
• 35:50
  they will
• 35:50
  respond
• 35:51
  in obedience.
• 35:53
  No need
• 35:54
  to fly me
• 35:55
  into this
• 35:55
  room on
• 35:56
  cables to
• 35:57
  impress you
• 35:57
  all,
• 35:58
  land me
• 35:58
  on the
• 35:59
  stage,
• 36:00
  jump dirt
• 36:01
  bikes across
• 36:01
  the stage,
• 36:02
  or give
• 36:03
  away a
• 36:03
  car on
• 36:04
  Easter Sunday.
• 36:05
  He's going
• 36:06
  to gather
• 36:06
  and preach
• 36:06
  the word
• 36:07
  and send
• 36:08
  you out
• 36:08
  to do
• 36:09
  the very
• 36:10
  same
• 36:10
  thing.
• 36:13
  He's
• 36:13
  calling people
• 36:14
  by name
• 36:15
  and those
• 36:16
  sheep
• 36:17
  will know
• 36:17
  his voice
• 36:18
  and they
• 36:19
  will follow.
• 36:22
  So whether
• 36:22
  you have
• 36:23
  confidence
• 36:23
  this morning
• 36:24
  that you
• 36:24
  have been
• 36:25
  called by
• 36:26
  name and
• 36:27
  are following
• 36:28
  the good
• 36:28
  shepherd or
• 36:30
  you don't
• 36:30
  have confidence
• 36:31
  that this
• 36:31
  is true
• 36:32
  of you,
• 36:34
  I want
• 36:34
  you to
• 36:34
  hear my
• 36:35
  plea in
• 36:37
  closing.
• 36:39
  He is
• 36:40
  a good
• 36:41
  shepherd.
• 36:43
  He has
• 36:44
  gone before
• 36:44
  us.
• 36:46
  In him
• 36:46
  there is
• 36:47
  satisfaction
• 36:48
  and good
• 36:49
  provision
• 36:50
  and safe
• 36:51
  waters,
• 36:53
  proper paths
• 36:53
  that are not
• 36:54
  always easy
• 36:54
  but comfort
• 36:55
  and goodness
• 36:56
  and mercy
• 36:56
  and his
• 36:58
  presence.
• 36:59
  So listen
• 37:00
  and follow.
• 37:02
  Let's pray.