THE GOOD SHEPHERD PART TWO

 

John 10:19-30

 

The beautiful shepherd who protects, leads and sacrifices Himself for the sheep is the One we worship ands desire to be like each day. But, the Great Shepherd, is also the One, many, the religious, and the world will reject on a daily basis. The result of this causes the fallen world to fall into controversy, as we see in (v19-v21). As always, the case, Jesus’ teaching created heated controversy among those who heard Him. This is something that is still happening among believers and unbelievers. This is evident in the end of this section, as the stubborn will still go on accusing Jesus’ ministry by attributing everything He does to demons. (v20)

 

Such blasphemous accusations

 are damning.

 

But for others like the once blind man, this was undeniable proof that Jesus, was truly sanctioned by, and sent by God. “So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?” John 7:30-31

This was the end of that conversation, because there is approximately a two-month gap between (v21-v22). Reason being is that previous conversation was the Feast of Tabernacle and now we read the Feast of Dedication was taking place in December. Something also we need to realize is that this passage marks the end of John’s presentation of Christ’s public ministry. For THREE YEARS Jesus has traveled the length and height of Israel preaching the gospel, calling people to repentance, confronting hypocritical false religion, instructing His disciples and performing countless signs and wonders. Which all point to, and confirm that Jesus is the “Son of God” and that He is “The Christ, The Messiah.” And with all the tragedy of their day, and ours, is that the nation led by false shepherds, religious leaders rejected the Messiah.

But the Old Testament prepared us for this.

 

David spoke of the rejected Christ, “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;… Psalm 22:6-8

 

Isaiah penned, “Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers...” Isaiah 49:7

 

Isaiah would later write about the rejected Christ, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3

 

Think about His three years of ministry.

 

That the end of Jesus’ earthly life, He had a handful of genuine followers. “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.” Acts 1:12-16

 

The Bible specifically say He had 12 in Jerusalem and 700 hundred more probably in Galilee according to 1 Cor 15:6. “Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”

 

Instead of embracing Him, the world at large rejected Him and had Him nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men. “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Acts 2:22-23

 

This seems to be the theme of John’s gospel…… the goat’s rejection of the Shepherd. Let us never be surprised if we see the same thing in our own day. Human nature never changes. So long as the heart of man is without grace, the dislike to the gospel is just like oil and water, acids and alkalies… cannot combine. The same is true of the unconverted man and woman cannot really like the people of God. Paul said, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. .” Rom 8:7-8

But as J C Ryle wrote in his commentary, “One thing, at any rate, should never be forgotten. We must not allow ourselves to think the worse of religion because of the strife’s and dissensions to which it gives rise. Whatever men may please to say, it is human nature, and not religion, which is to blame. We do not blame the glorious sun because its rays draw forth noxious vapours from the marsh. We must not find fault with the glorious gospel if it stirs up men’s corruptions, and causes the thoughts of many hearts to be revealed.”

 

Two months has passed and the rejection of Jesus is getting stronger

as He closes out His public ministry in the remaining verses before us.

 

It is the Feast of Dedication…..What is the Feast of Dedication? And where do we find this in the Old Testament? This feast is in dedication to the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucids in the second century BC who desecrated the Temple with pagan gods. It became known as the “Feast of Dedication” and later the “Feast of Lights”; which is celebrated to this day as “Hannukah” during the same period when we celebrate Christmas. Where do we find this in the Old Testament? You won’t, because this feast arose during the intertestamental period. The time between the last writings of the Old Testament and the appearance of Christ, and this is why you will not find it in the Old Testament. Because there was no prophetic word from God during the period from Malachi to John, some refer to it as the “400 silent years.” This is when the political, religious, and social atmosphere of Israel changed significantly during this period. The intertestamental period was broken by the greatest story ever told, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus enters again into Jerusalem for the feast and was walking in Solomons porch when again the Jews surround Him once more, and demand Him to answer their question. (v24)

 

Again, this is a question that has already been answered by all that Jesus has proclaimed and done throughout His public ministry. But they ask again “Are you the Christ?” This is familiar when Martin Luther when he stood at the Diet of Worms, before the princes of the church, Charles the fifth, and the Roman emperor of that time. They had a number of Luther’s writings; and the question they demanded that he would recant his writings, because to them, it was heresy and against catholic teachings. To which Luther responded by saying, “Which writings? I have written many things.” Surely, you’re not indicating that everything that I have written is heretical.” His interrogators would have none of this, and asked Luther to answer “without horns” that means simply, directly. The tone here is the same as they confronted Jesus, “No more skirtings, no more uncertainties. Speak to us without horns, tell us plainly are you the Messiah?”

 

Jesus answers their question very carefully because to them the “Messiah” meant coming as a might warrior, to drive the hated Romans out of the land. Jesus wasn’t being shifty, or afraid to answer that question; but throughout His public ministry He was always careful about using the term “Messiah” We know He revealed Himself this way in private to His disciples or the woman at the well. But when it came to great crowds, knowing they wanted to take Him by force, He resisted. For this reason, it wasn’t His time and for another He didn’t come to deliver them from Rome, but give sinners eternal life through the gospel. Jesus came to be the “suffering servant” the Great Shepherd who said He would, “Lay His own life down for the sheep.” (V17)

 

How does Jesus respond?

JESUS, THE BEAUTIFUL SHEPHERD IS CONFIRMED BY THE FATHER. (v25-v30)

 

First Jesus declares that He had told the Jews who He was, but we know they didn’t believe Him. Jesus told them through His works, His miracles, which pointed that He was God in the flesh. But again, the unconverted Jews didn’t believe and they didn’t understand the significance of His miracles. We know the reason for this from the opening of this chapter; they were not His sheep, and they didn’t know His voice. We also know back in chapter 6 Jesus said this, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” John 6:65

 

“Granted” is God’s efficacious grace, and is not the product of man's power and freewill.

 

God is absolutely sovereign in salvation to which the true believer responds in active worship to the call of God upon his or her life. “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:37-40

 

Jesus also declares that there is unity between Him and the Father. (v25, v30)

 

This text specially before us has

been distorted by many.

 

In the fourth century, Aruis used this verse to argue that the Father agreed on the same mission and they embraced the same ethics, yet Aruis denying that Jesus was God. He claimed and taught that Jesus was subordinate to the Father.

 

Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses interpret this text the same way, they say Jesus was in agreement and not claiming deity.

 

The proper answer is to understand John’s letter both in the immediate and the broader text of his gospel letter. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1-3. Jesus is God and is equal with the Father, not just on mission or ethics, but in every possible way from character to attributes, because God over all creation. He is God in flesh and no creature has the power or the authority to give eternal life but the Godhead, to which they are perfect in union among the Godhead. (v29)

 

JESUS, THE BEAUTIFUL SHEPHERD GIVES HIS SHEEP ETERNAL LIFE AND HIS SHEEP WILL NEVER PERISH. (v28b, v29)

 

The Good Shepherd pardons our sin and cloths us with His righteousness and gives us a right or the title to reside in heaven with Him for all eternity. A God who came to this earth to dwell among men came to die, so the He could leave the Spirit to dwell in men; for the purpose of preserving his property so that we can finally dwell where He is

 

Where? In Heaven with all His glory! Just as Jesus said to the woman at the well, we need physical water to sustain life, we need His living water which is the promise of everlasting life. Eternal life is more than just forgiveness, though that is enough for us to worship. Eternal life is more than a free pass from Judgement, because we deserve His judgement. Eternal life is all about Christ, the beautiful Shepherd who loved me and died for my sins personally. Kent Hughes wrote “He is altogether lovely, this beautiful Jesus, our shepherd. Why is he so beautiful? Because of the way He relates to us, calls us by name, and knows us, and because we know Him and He sees to our every need. Why is He so beautiful? Because He is door, and when we go in, we find protection and salvation. And when we go out, we find pasture and abundant life. Why is he so beautiful? Because of his heart. Because he laid down his life for His sheep. And offers us all a place with Him.”

 

Our beautiful Saviour not only knows us individually, but he also keeps us according to His mercy and grace, through the promise He gives to His sheep; a permanent home where He is in Heaven. Everlasting refers to duration in time, eternal refers to the quality of that time. God’s true sheep are not only assured of deathless existence; they are lifted to lofty realms to share the life of God. We become partakers of the divine nature, were not merely children by adoption, nor by creation, but we are linked with the Eternal Father by nature. This is what the gospel produces, God’s life is transmitted to the repentant sinner and they are born again into the family of the Highest level through grace.

This highest level gives us access to cry out what Paul wrote, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Gal 4:4-7

 

Abba signifies the close, intimate relationship of a father and his child, as well as the childlike trust that a young child puts in his “daddy.” What this reveal to the child of God, are that sheep can never become goats; as horses can never become cows. The child of God can never become the children of Satan; Christians may backslide, but they can never perish. One theologian put it this way. “Christians may lose their joy, their usefulness, their fellowship, their eternal rewards, but they cannot lose their eternal life for it is eternal. Prodigals, they might wander to a far country, and finally live with the swine. They might soil their garments, ruin their reputation, and destroy every vestige of decency, but nothing can change the life which flows in their veins. God does not accept a man one week, only to banish him the next. A man’s happiness depends on his holding of Christ; his safety depends upon Christ’s holding him.”

 

When a man or a woman is saved by God’s grace he or she is saved forever. “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. To insist that a true Christian can lose his or her salvation is to deny the truth of Scripture, specifically what is before us this morning. To think this way is to say, “The Great Shepherd” is incompetent and unable to hold on to those entrusted to Him by the Father.”

 

Remember the Scriptures tells us that ….

 

Christ’s sheep hear only His voice and follow only Him. Christ’s sheep have eternal life. Christ’s gives eternal life to His sheep, since they did nothing to earn it, this indicated they could nothing to lose it. Christ promised that His sheep will never perish, were even one to do so, it would make Him a Lair. Christ said that not even false shepherds, thieves, robbers or false prophets, not even the Devil has the power to snatch Christ’s sheep out of His hand. Christ’s sheep are held in His hand and also in the Father’s hand. According to Jesus this is comforting, “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.” (v29)

 

That includes you as well

 

A sheep without a shepherd can easily be snatched from the fold. “To snatch” refers to attacking, scattering, and stealing sheep like a wolf. He has promised you that He will never leave you or forsake you; because you are His property. Though we are weak, prone to flee, or give in, or give up, by throwing in the towel. Though we are easily persuaded to go back to what or were we feel comfortable. The Shepherd will see to that doesn’t happen as He shepherds us home. As John MacArthur said, “If you could lose your salvation, you would.” But Jesus said, “my sheep shall never perish” You should underline the word “never” because as New Covenant believers, this is where I find the greatest comfort in my day-to-day struggles of life.

 

Think about it for a moment! The God and Creator of the universe who spoke life into existence is the one who says the “true believer” will never perish.

 

The same God who parted the Red Sea and held back the Egyptian army so that the Jews could cross over to freedom.

The same God who made the Israelites, walk on dry land, not once, but twice.

The same God who prepared a flood and dried it up after His promise to Noah.

The same God who took a barren woman of old age and gave her a child.

The same God who gave a young boy named David the ability to defeat Goliath.

The same God who stood in the midst of the fiery furnace with 3 young men.

The same God who shut the mouths of the lions from devouring Daniel.

The same God who created a fish big enough to swallow a disgruntle prophet

The same God who took dry bones and brought life back to them.

The same God who came in the likeness of man born of a virgin.

The same God who willing went to the cross and faced the wrath that I deserve.

The same God who has the power to resurrect the dead, heal the blind, make the lame man walk, save sinners for eternal judgement.

 

Is the same God who proclaims these words to the world and the religious blind men who are before him. “I know my sheep” and “they shall never perish”

 

My question to you is this! Do you believe that the sovereign God of the universe is able to keep you? Not even thieves, robbers or wolves, can harm or separate you from His sovereign power. You [personally] have been placed into the sovereign arms of the Good Shepherd, who loves, and will care for you because you’re completely dependent upon the Shepherd for life. Just as a sheep are completely dependent upon the shepherd for all things to survive. When Jesus performed His miracles, they were always done perfectly, the same is true in your salvation. When Jesus came to die for the sin of the world, He did it perfectly once and for all. When Jesus called you out of darkness, He did this perfectly and He will completely keep you unto the end. As Paul said “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Phil 1:6

 

Do not treat this truth as means or a licence to sin because if that’s how you look at the Shepherd and this passage, then you are not truly His. Remember what Jesus said to the goats “you are not of my sheep” (v26) But for us, I’m so thankful He knew me, and that He has the power to keep this wretched sinner saved by grace. As one writer said “God, our great owner, the sheep of whose pasture we are by creation, has constituted His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Shepherd. He has all that care of His people that a good shepherd has of his flock” Trust in those promises, for Jesus our beautiful Shepherd, is incapable of lying. Let us take care that we belong to His flock; persevered in His grace of righteousness. Let us take care that we continue to hear His voice and follow Him by faith, through the Holy Scriptures, as we are guided by the Holy Spirit. Let us find rest in the eternal arms of His grace; because this isn’t our home… Heaven is.