THE GOOD SHEPHERD | 03.06.22
Yerrr!!! What’s going on Joy Way Church! Welcome back to our SERMON recap that summarizes the things that go down on Sundays at 58 Studios. In this sermon from our series titled "John: The Story of The Promised Messiah" Pastor David walked us through John 10 and showed us what the role of a shepherd is and who is the best one.
For us to see the significance of John 10 Pastor David took us to the Old Testament first. In Ezekiel 34 we see God pronouncing judgment on the ones who were not behaving like true shepherds. With that in mind, we were able to see clearly what Jesus was saying.
1. The Ideal Shepherd Gathers and Unifies the Sheep
“I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men.” (Micah 2:12)
“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.” (John 10:16)
2. The Ideal Shepherd Protects and Heals the Sheep
“I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 36:24-28)
“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.” (John 10:12)
“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” (John 10:29)
3. The Ideal Shepherd Provides Pasture for the Sheep
The Lord is the Shepherd. (Psalm 23)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)
Jesus is the Good Shepherd!
1. His sheep are gathered.
Jesus came to gather the sheep that have been chosen by the Father.
2. His sheep are given protection.
The Shepherd takes the curse of the fallen sheep.
3. His sheep are given pasture.
In laying down His life and taking it up again, we are brought into the pastures of eternal life.
Jesus offered us everything through His crucifixion. More specifically, He as the lamb of God took on the curse of death so that we may have life and life more abundantly. Praise be to the Good Shepherd who gathers, unifies, protects, heals, and provides the pastures of eternal life for his beloved, stubborn, and sin-ridden sheep.