The Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18)

 Sermon for Centenary UMC (Lebanon) on April 21, 2024

Warner Sallman's "Good Shepherd"

[Title Slide] The Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18)

 

[Slide] On screen is Warner Sallman’s Good Shepherd painting. First thing I see is Jesus holding a lamb. Jesus cradles the lamb tenderly. The lamb is looking right into Jesus’ eyes, trusting him to care for their needs. Notice the mother of the lamb looking up at her young in Jesus’ arm. She too is trusting the Good Shepherd with her child.

 

In the background, sheep are lying peacefully along a creek of cool running water. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. (Psa 23:2-3a)

 

Beyond we see a valley cast in shade. You’ll see a tree over Jesus’ left shoulder bent over and under stress. It’s the valley of the shadow of death.

 

Over Jesus’ right shoulder, we see the mouth of a cave, symbolically pointing to the empty tomb. Death could not hold him! Instead, Jesus triumphantly leads his flock out into life-giving, green pastures to nourish and strengthen the flock.

 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

    I fear no evil,

for you are with me;

    your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me. (Psa 23:4)

 

The shepherd’s crook lifts lost sheep out of danger and guides the flock to safety and nourishment. The word of God is that staff. The Bible lifts us when the world and its deathly shadow gets us down. God’s word leads us to rest and strength for our journey.

 

 

 

How is this flock doing? Where do you find yourself in this picture? I identify with that black sheep right behind Jesus. For once I was lost, but not I am found. I was blind, and now, by the transforming power of Christ, I see.

 

[Slide] Jesus tells us about the Good Shepherd that we are following.

•      Calls Sheep by Name

•      Sheep Trust His Voice and Follow Him

•      Leads Sheep to Nourishment

•      Lays Down His Life to Save the Sheep

•      Divine Authority

 

[Slide] The Good Shepherd protects the sheep from wolves, thieves, and the untrustworthy. The wolf attacks and destroys. The wolf kills and scatters. What wolves are attacking your neighbors?

 

[Slide] The world is our attacking wolf. We endure a constant onslaught of bad news, giving a distorted view of life. Social networks like Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram and the like are responsible for a major mental health crisis among young adults. Did you know that suicide is the second leading cause of death among young adults? The wolf attacks and kills. The wolf takes the form of alcoholism and drug addiction, gambling and pornography addiction. The wolf uses many disguises in our world of distractions and delusions. Some seem well-intentioned or harmless, but these lead us to stray from our mission to bring the gospel to our neighbors. The wolf scatters the flock, and we become ineffective as the church planted in a culture that is starving for the truth.

 

[Slide] Thieves take. They don’t give. The thief climbs over the fence. They don’t enter by the gate. And Jesus is the gate. Disciples, however, enter through faith in Jesus. They follow Jesus to serve and to give.

 

 

 

Sheep will not listen to a stranger’s voice. We must become trustworthy friends before anyone will care what we know about Jesus. When you invest in friendship first, eventually your new friend will care enough to listen. Like the old adage says, “They will care what you know, when they know that you care.”

 

Hired hands have no personal investment in the sheep. A hired hand does just the opposite of the Good Shepherd. They run when things get tough. They hide when threats come near. Rather than defend the sheep and look out for the well-being of the flock, the hired hand is more interested in their own personal gain. 

 

[Slide] Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [Slide] He offers us abundant life.

 

The Good Shepherd offers life overflowing in goodness and righteousness. Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as a well of living water within us bubbling up to overflowing with eternal life.

 

I’m reading a book by a former sheep farmer, Phillip Keller, called A Shepherd Looks at the 23^rd Psalm. In it he shared how he cared for his sheep. He provided his flock with green, lush grassland. He provided shelter from the elements with warm dry barns and plenty of hay. He monitored his sheep’s health and got them help when needed. His sheep prospered under his care. What a difference a compassionate and caring shepherd makes!

 

The neighboring farm run by a man who had zero concern for his flock’s well-being. Starved and gaunt sheep would crowd the fence line wanting to come over to his farm and enjoy the lush green pasture. It hurt him to see the longing in their eyes. They wanted a better existence, but under their shepherd they suffered. To that man, these animals were just meat, a means to profit and nothing else.

[Slide] Keller compares those who do not follow Jesus to the hungry and unhealthy sheep of a bad shepherd. The lost souls among our neighbors are under the power of an uncaring world. They are cut off from the abundant life experienced under the shepherding of Jesus.

 

Americans have never been more lonely, depressed, frightened, frustrated and confused than this moment in history. Did you know that suicide is the 2^nd leading cause of death in middle schoolers aged 10-14 and for young adults (25-35 yrs)?

 

Our neighbors are suffering under an uncaring shepherd. Might they see a better way through your witness? Do your friends, family and neighbors know your shepherd is Jesus? Can they see how you walk through dark valleys by faith in the Good Shepherd? Might you invite them to clean, soul-quenching, living water? How does your life invite the starving souls around you to be rescued from their bad shepherd?

 

[Slide] How will you follow the Good Shepherd?

 

Have you heard Jesus call your name? In your heart of hearts, does His voice fill you with trust and obedience? Do you long to be near Him and follow Jesus wherever He may lead? Sometimes we will go into dark valleys, but Jesus, our Good Shepherd will defend us, leading us to refreshment and the restoration of our souls.

 

There are sheep that do not belong to this flock, but they know the Good Shepherd’s voice. There are more out there who belong to Him, who have heard his voice call their name, but do not walk with the flock. According to a 2006 book The Unchurched Next Door, 8 out of ten people are likely to accept an invitation to church from a trusted friend. The problem is we sheep aren’t inviting.

 

How will you follow the Good Shepherd?

 

 

[Slide] Through prayer we listen for the Good Shepherd’s voice.

 

The Bible is the Shepherd’s Book, a love letter from God. By studying the Bible, we learn to move with the rod and staff of our Good Shepherd.

 

Through acts of discipleship, we do as Jesus does. We go where the Shepherd leads us. We offer hope and encouragement by sharing our faith. We visit the sick with compassionate care and healing prayer.

 

I was hit by a jeep last summer while bicycling. I had to stay off my left leg for 8 weeks. During the first few weeks, I was flat on my back except for trips to the bathroom. It meant so much when friends reached out to me. My spirit was refreshed by their visits, calls, cards, food and flowers. One of my church friends mowed my lawn three times. Disciples do as Jesus does. We commit our way to the way of the Good Shepherd.

 

We offer hope, we are a healing presence, and we liberate lives! Disciples offer childcare and education to aid struggling families. We offer care groups like grief support, divorce recovery, singles ministry, addiction recovery and the like. We liberate lives through the power and authority of the name of Jesus.

 

How will you follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd? Pray to hear his voice and follow His lead. Study the Shepherd’s Book and be guided by the Shepherd’s staff. Serve in ministry to help the hungry, thirsty and needy sheep across the fence, that is your friends, relatives, associates and neighbors who do not have a church home, a flock with whom they too can follow Jesus. And show others how to follow the Good Shepherd. Disciples make disciples.

 

 

 

One pastor said that Christianity is one blind beggar showing another blind beggar where to find bread. Jesus is the bread of life! Our mission is to follow Jesus and lead other sheep to the Good Shepherd.

 

[Slide] Jesus said that He has the divine authority to lay down his life for the Sheep, which is a reference to His sacrifice upon the cross. And he has the power and authority to take up His life again, a reference to His resurrection. Do you realize, when you put your faith in Christ and follow His lead into ministry, that His power and authority goes with you? When you offer hope in the gospel, the divine authority of Jesus is with you! Jesus said,

 

[Slide] Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

 

When you follow Jesus into ministry to reach the lost and lonely, hungry and thirsty sheep around you with the gospel, The Good Shepherd will be with you. He will give what is needed, for this mission, when we pray in the authority of His name.

 

Jesus gave us the Great Commission. [Slide]

 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

[Slide] The voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is calling you to go, with Him, to seek and save the lost sheep all around you. The powerful name of Jesus Christ is with you.