OUR LIVING GUARDIANJohn 10:11-16

• I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

• 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. --Jn 10:11-16

Many of the Great men of God were shepherds.

• As early as Genesis 4:20 Jabal, was a “Teacher” of husbandry.

• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob were herdsmen

• Moses, The great redeemer was first a shepherd in the land of Midian.

• David, the great King, was anointed king while still a shepherd boy.

God Himself is called a shepherd

• Gen 48:15 - Israel (Jacob), in his blessing said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,...

• Ps 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd...

The imagery is also in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Zechariah.

Jesus places himself in the Picture

• assuring us that He Is The Good Shepherd.

• YHWH in ps. 23

LET JESUS BE YOUR SHEPHERD

The Good Shepherd.

• Agothos - describes the moral quality of a person (goodness).

• Kalos - speaks of a quality of winsomeness, compassion, caring.

The one in charge

• lovingly; and for our good.

– Stop worrying and fretting.

– Let Self-image problems melt away

One who takes his job seriously and is good at it.

• He knows his sheep’s needs and tendencies.

• He knows and finds the best of everything for His sheep’s well being.

• He cares for them out of love, not duty.

LET JESUS DO WHAT HE DOES WELL

He lays down his life for his sheep.

He lays down his life for his sheep.

• The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. – v 17

• No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. -- v 18

• Valuing His sheep more than life itself.

• Taking risks and protecting His sheep at any cost.

• Redeeming His sheep with his own life.

He knows his sheep.

• He created us.

• He spends time with us.

• He values us enough to know our names.

His sheep know him and trust Him

• Familiar with his voice.

• Secure under His care.

As You Know…

We have an independent and wayward nature.

• We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way... -- Isaiah 53:6

But why choose independence

• when we can have a Good shepherd?