WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.600 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:04.240 Are you doing well today? 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:05.280 Come on. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:10.800 I am excited about all the great things that God is doing in his church. 00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:14.000 We are excited about what God's doing in his church. 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:14.560 Amen. 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:14.960 Amen. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:16.239 God's doing so many great things. 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:19.359 So many great next steps to take. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:23.359 And uh I'm gonna jump right into the word uh this morning. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:26.399 We are in a series uh called I Am. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:28.559 Have you enjoyed this series so far? 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:29.359 It's been great. 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:34.000 Pastor Jeremy has just preached the house down over the last month or so. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:48.479 Uh, we are in week five of this series, and this morning we're gonna look at a special name and a special title for Jesus that just carries a lot of weight and a lot of significance. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:50.640 This morning, will you stand with me? 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:54.399 Stand with me as we get right into the word. 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:56.000 Turn with me to John. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:57.759 John chapter 10. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:00.320 We're gonna start in verse 11. 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:03.920 Start in verse 11 this morning. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:11.599 We're gonna read through verse 18, and here's what Jesus says. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:12.959 Verse 11. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:17.760 He says, I am the good shepherd. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:19.840 Everybody say the good shepherd. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:25.680 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:27.359 Verse 12. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:33.599 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:42.159 So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:48.319 Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:50.000 I want you to remember that. 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:51.599 We're gonna come back to that later on. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:52.560 Verse 13. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:57.359 The man runs away because he is a hired hand. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:03.040 Everybody say hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:08.879 Verse 14, I am the good shepherd. 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:15.280 I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:17.280 Come on, somebody. 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:24.879 Verse 15: just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:33.520 Verse 16, I have other sheep that are not of this pen, and I must bring them also. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:40.479 They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:41.520 Let's say that again. 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:44.800 There will be one flock and one shepherd. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:51.680 Verse 17, the reason my father loves me and that I lay my life down only to take it up again. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:03:00.639 Verse 18, no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:03.039 Come on, somebody. 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:13.360 This command I received from my father. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:15.680 You received the word this morning. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:21.039 This morning I want to I'm gonna teach from uh the topic a better shepherd. 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:23.120 A better shepherd. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:27.599 Well, you turn to your neighbor and just tell him real quick, say you need a shepherd. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:30.319 You need a shepherd this morning. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:32.159 Come on, let me pray. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:34.719 Father, we thank you this morning for who you are. 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:39.680 We thank you for your presence that's in the house today. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:50.000 Father, we thank you that you have already spoken to us, but I pray that this word would confirm what's already in this room. 00:03:50.240 --> 00:04:02.080 And I pray today, as we leave here, we would leave knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are our good shepherd. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:03.599 In Jesus' name. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:04.960 Amen and amen. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:05.919 You may be seated. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:07.439 Thank you, Caleb. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:28.480 I want to start this morning by giving us two overarching principles for John chapter 10, specifically verses 11 through 18, two overarching principles that I think are gonna guide us through John 10 and really lay some foundation for this. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:36.399 Let me also say this: two weeks ago, Pastor Jeremy preached on the first part of this passage, okay, where he talks about I am the door. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:41.279 Jesus being the good shepherd and Jesus being the door are very closely connected. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:48.079 So if you miss that or you've missed any of them, go to our YouTube channel and check those out because these are really, really closely connected, all right? 00:04:48.319 --> 00:05:03.759 But I want to give you two overarching principles of John chapter 10 and what Jesus is saying here, because they really help, these two principles really help to guide us this morning and give us a better understanding for what's being communicated through Jesus. 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:08.160 And here's the first one that we got to know, and I want you to take some notes this morning, write this down. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:10.319 Uh, number one, you got to know this. 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:14.399 Number one, we are the sheep. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:20.079 Okay, we are the sheep. 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:26.160 When he mentions sheep in John chapter 10, guess who he's talking about? 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:28.000 Us. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:31.920 We are the sheep. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:33.519 Now I have a friend this morning. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:37.600 Um, I love a good visual, so I have a friend that's gonna help me today. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:43.839 Um I ordered a sheep off of Amazon. 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.480 I did not know it was gonna be life size. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:51.040 Okay, I thought I was getting a lamb. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:52.639 And I got a sheep. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:53.120 Okay. 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:57.759 But I but I got them this morning because I really do. 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:01.199 I'm gonna leave them up here on stage because I I I want you to be reminded. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:03.199 Did someone just say bye over there? 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:06.959 All right, there we go. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:09.680 But I'm gonna leave them up here because I do. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:19.439 I love a good visual, and I want you to be reminded all throughout this message that we are the oh, good, all right, good. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:24.160 All right, so I'm gonna pick them up, and I may just randomly pick them up, just walk around with them, okay? 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:26.160 If I do, just act like it's no big deal. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:26.879 All right. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:32.560 So we are the sheep in this passage. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:42.879 Now, here's what you gotta understand is that all throughout the Bible, over 50 times the Bible references us as sheep. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:48.560 Over 50 times we are referenced as sheep. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:54.319 Let me just give you a few illustrations of this in Isaiah chapter 53. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:58.000 It says in verse 6, we all like what? 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:07.839 We all like sheep have gone astray, and each of us have turned our own way. 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:22.480 Psalms chapter 95, verse 7, um, he says this, for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, okay, and the of his hand. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:23.759 All right. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:24.720 One more reference. 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:26.160 I don't have it on the screen, but I'll give it to you. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:28.240 Matthew chapter 9, verse 36. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:29.279 Jesus says this. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:34.240 He says, when he saw the crowds, he had compassion, for they were harassed and helpless. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.399 They were like a what? 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:39.120 Without a shepherd. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:45.040 Fifty times we are called sheep. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:48.399 Now that's good news and that's bad news. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:48.879 Okay. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:55.120 Sheep are not naturally the smartest animals on the planet, but we are cute. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:56.319 You know what I'm saying? 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.120 All right, not the smartest, but we are cute. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:10.240 Now, if we could have picked any image for ourselves, it probably would not be a sheep, right? 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:18.879 We would have picked something that was strong, that was independent, that could take care of itself, that was impressive. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:29.360 If we could go back and rewind time of what God would call us, we would have Him call us a lion or an eagle or something big and bold, right? 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:33.039 Instead, we're sheep. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:34.159 Okay. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:36.960 But there's a reason for that. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:42.639 Sheep were never, ever designed to make it on their own. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:45.200 Ever designed to make it on their own. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:55.120 I want you to write this next statement down is that sheep were created to live under the care of a good shepherd. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:05.200 Sheep were designed to live under the care of a good shepherd. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:10.960 They have no defense mechanism, they cannot defend themselves at all. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:21.919 One of my favorite books that I try to read every year, and I want to encourage you, I think I have a picture of it on the screen, is it's called A Shepherd's Look at Psalms 23. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:22.799 Okay. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:25.360 Every year I try to try to read this. 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:28.399 It's just a good book that's just good for the soul. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:33.440 And what Philip Keller does, Philip Keller was not just a Bible teacher. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:35.519 He didn't just teach the Bible. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:38.799 Philip Keller was a shepherd himself. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.720 He was an actual shepherd. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:42.399 He owned sheep. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:55.600 So he writes about Psalms 23, not just from the perspective of a Bible teacher, but he writes from Psalms 23 from the perspective of a shepherd and someone who actually cared for sheep. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:07.600 So all throughout Psalms of our uh this book, as shepherds look at Psalms 23, he paints this beautiful picture of what we are like as sheep. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:08.639 Okay? 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.320 Of what we are like as sheep. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:17.600 And I want to show you this of what from this book of what sheep teach us about us. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:18.159 Okay. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:22.080 So all throughout the Bible, he all throughout the book, he he references these topics. 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:26.960 And I want to show you this this morning because we are sheep. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:29.519 So what sheep teach us about us. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:30.960 Here's the first one that he talks about. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.480 Number one, uh, is that sheep are helpless. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:42.320 Sheep are helpless, they do not defend themselves well. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:46.240 They have no defense mechanism. 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:52.559 If you're gonna attack this sheep, it basically can't do anything to defend itself. 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:54.159 Except be cute. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:55.919 That's the only thing it's got going for it. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:56.879 Right? 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:05.360 So let on their own, they're completely vulnerable, they're exposed, and really can't do anything to defend themselves. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:09.759 Here's the other thing um they are needy. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:13.039 Turn to your neighbor and just say you're a little needy. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:20.080 Come on, I didn't mean to get all the married people all irritated at each other. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:27.120 They require constant attention and care. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:31.519 They require constant attention and care. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:36.480 Here's the other one uh is they are creatures of habit. 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:48.720 They're creatures of habit left on their own, they will keep falling into the same unhealthy patterns. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:53.360 Over and over and over again. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:59.279 They are creatures of habit, they go down the wrong path every time. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.080 Okay? 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:03.440 Uh they're easily disturbed. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:07.600 Sheep are very, very easily disturbed. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:15.840 It doesn't take much to get them to fear, to get them to panic, or just to generally be unsettled. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:21.279 They are naturally easily disturbed animals. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:27.600 And then lastly, is that they are prone to wonder. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:31.039 They are prone to wonder. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:38.240 They drift, they stray, they they get themselves in trouble a lot. 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:43.120 Now, does this list sound like anybody? 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:52.559 It sounds like us because we are sheep. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:53.840 We are sheep. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:54.320 Okay. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:02.960 Now, why is it important for us to understand that we are sheep? 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.399 Why is it so important? 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:16.000 I'm gonna give you, I'm gonna give you two reasons, and I want you to put these down because I think these are fundamental to our faith and for us to really better understand who the Lord is in our life. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:18.480 Why do we need to understand we are sheep? 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:27.519 Number one, um, because if you never see yourself as sheep, you will never truly see your need for your shepherd. 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:32.960 Okay, I want you, I want this to get into your heart. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:42.559 If you never see yourself as a sheep, you will never truly see your need for the shepherd. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:50.639 You cannot fully appreciate who Jesus is until we first admit that we need him. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:56.559 We need a shepherd. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:03.679 Because a sheep is only as strong as the shepherd that they stay close to. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:05.679 That's it. 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:13.440 So you and I and everyone watching online, we need a shepherd. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:20.399 But it starts with us realizing we are a sheep that is in desperate need of a good shepherd. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:28.960 And here's the second one is that you will grow in Christ, but never outgrow your need for a shepherd. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:33.200 You will grow in Christ. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:38.799 That is the goal of Christianity, is that we go from glory to glory, faith to faith. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:41.440 We go to the next level in our faith. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:51.919 But it doesn't matter how mature you think you are in the faith, you never outgrow your need for a shepherd. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.000 You need a good shepherd. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:15:04.879 Spiritual maturity does not make us less dependent on Jesus, it makes us more aware of how much we need a shepherd. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:06.480 Okay. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:20.240 So the first overarching principle of John chapter 10, verses 11 through 18. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.720 Number one, we are the sheep. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:26.159 Number two, I want to spend just a few minutes on this. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:30.799 Number two is that Jesus is the good shepherd. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:35.200 Jesus is the good shepherd. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:45.600 In John chapter 10, two times, Jesus declares, I am the good shepherd. 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.960 This is in verse 11 and in verse 14. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:56.480 And I want to spend just a moment looking at this because there's so much depth to this. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.000 There's so much meaning. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:01.440 There's so much significance behind this. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:10.320 Because when Jesus stands up and he declares, I am the good shepherd, he's not just giving himself another name. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.399 He didn't just wake up that day and say, you know what? 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:17.120 I'm just gonna tell everybody I'm the good shepherd. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:23.759 He didn't just throw that name out there one day and decide to call himself that. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:27.519 Here's what happens, and it's not gonna be on the screen, but I want you to write this down. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:32.240 When Jesus declares, I am the good shepherd, two things happened. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:35.279 Number one, he fulfilled prophecy. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.720 And I'm gonna show you this. 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.320 He fulfilled prophecy. 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:43.279 Number two, he was exposing the bad shepherds of his day. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:51.360 He was fulfilling prophecy, and he was exposing the bad shepherds of his day. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:17:00.000 In biblical times, um, a shepherd was more than a job. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:08.640 A shepherd was more than someone who was just out in the field and was just hanging out and keeping sheep. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:19.599 A shepherd in biblical times, especially in the Old Testament, and then it drifted into the new, a shepherd was someone who provided leadership and care. 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:26.160 Someone who provided protection and guidance for groups of people. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:32.880 So, what happens is in the all throughout the Bible, leaders in the Bible were considered shepherds. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:46.480 You can see this all throughout the Old Testament is that leaders, kings and priests, prophets, they were considered the shepherds of their day. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:51.519 A shepherd was so much more than someone who was just in the field. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:56.799 A shepherd was someone who was providing leadership for people. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:05.039 So when leaders failed, it was more than just a leadership failure, it was a bad shepherding failure. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:05.920 Okay. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:09.759 And I want you to see this. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:22.000 So when Jesus stands up and he says, I am the good shepherd, he was fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, but he was also speaking to the leaders of his day. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:31.920 Because the Pharisees and the Sadducees were considered shepherds to their people, but they weren't leading them well. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:37.759 So this was transformational. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:42.960 This was a moment when Jesus stands up and he declares this. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:49.359 All of the religious people's jaw would have dropped to the ground when he says, I am the good shepherd. 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:52.640 Because it had so much significance. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:56.400 And I want to take a minute and I want to show you this. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:07.519 So all throughout the Old and the New Testament, it was full of people that were shepherds that had failed the people that they were called to lead. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.079 Okay. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:14.880 And here's what happens in the Old Testament, God uses two prophets to bring correction. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:21.680 In the Old Testament, we see that again, shepherds were kings and prophets and priests that failed the people. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.960 So God says, I've got a better plan. 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:28.960 And he uses two people, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:31.119 And I want to take a moment and show you this. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:36.079 I want you to go to Jeremiah chapter 23, and then we're going to go to Ezekiel chapter 34. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:41.359 Because there's so much significance here. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:57.039 God uses these prophets, and it's in these two prophetic pictures from Jeremiah and Ezekiel 34 that John 10 comes alive. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.319 Okay. 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:04.880 John 10 and these two prophecies are intimately connected, especially Ezekiel 34. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:08.480 Here's what Jeremiah chapter 23, verse 1 and 2. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:11.920 It says, Woe to the what? 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:18.480 Shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.440 Declares the Lord. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.240 Verse 2. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:24.799 Therefore, this is what the Lord says. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:28.720 The God of Israel says to the shepherds who tend my people. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:31.680 Again, it's not people out in the fields. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:35.759 It's active leaders that were ruling over his people. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:45.599 Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away, and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:21:03.519 Verse 5 The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up from David's line a righteous branch, a king who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:04.480 Okay? 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:11.200 So this prophecy begins with Jeremiah and then it goes to Ezekiel. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:14.799 And Ezekiel's prophecy goes even more in depth. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.240 And I'll give you some homework. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:29.039 Go and read Jeremiah chapter 23, Ezekiel 34, and Zechariah 10, because they all bring together this prophecy about who Jesus is that's fulfilled in John chapter 10. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:29.599 Okay. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:32.160 Ezekiel 34, I want you to see this this morning. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.480 Okay. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:36.880 Ezekiel 34 and John 10 mirror one another. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.920 Verse 2. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.480 Okay. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.240 I want you to write this down. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.039 Verse 2. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:45.279 Son of man, prophesy against the what? 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:48.480 The shepherds of Israel. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:52.480 Prophesy and say to them, This is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:58.880 Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:03.200 Should not shepherds take care of their flock? 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:05.359 Verse 11 and 12. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:09.039 For this is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:14.319 I myself will search for my sheep. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:17.039 God says, I'm gonna get involved now. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:19.279 And I will look after them. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:27.680 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so I will look after my sheep. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.160 Are you seeing this this morning? 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:40.079 And I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness, verse 14 through 16. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:47.279 And I will tend them in good pastures and mountain heights of Israel's will be their grazing land, and they will lie down on grazing land. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.880 Verse 15. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:53.359 And I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:23:00.960 Verse 16, and I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:06.400 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:10.880 And I will bind up the injured and I will strengthen the weak. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:15.039 And then verse 23, I want you to see this because this is where it becomes alive. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:32.720 In John chapter 10, when Jesus says, I am the good shepherd, this is where the religious people, the Pharisees and Sadducees, in that moment, the light bulb would have gone off in their mind, and they would have realized we are not the shepherd anymore. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:36.960 Here's what verse 23 and then verse 24 says. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:43.119 Verse 23, and I will place over them one shepherd. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:54.960 I'll place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them, and he will tend them and be their shepherd. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:58.880 When he speaks of David, he's not talking about David. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:07.119 David's been dead for 400 years in Ezekiel 34. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:07.839 Okay? 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:14.079 He's talking about somebody that's going to come from this line. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:26.960 And then he says in verse 30, and they will know that I am the Lord their God, and that I am with them, and they are my people, declares the sovereign Lord. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.079 Verse 31. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:30.480 You are my sheep. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.519 He's still declaring this over us today. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:35.279 You are my sheep. 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:44.000 The sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:55.599 God was using Jeremiah and Ezekiel to declare one big thing, and that is there is a better shepherd that is coming. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:58.880 There's a better shepherd. 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:04.079 Jesus was and is still the better shepherd. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:08.000 When leaders have failed, he's the better shepherd. 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:13.359 When they didn't know which way to go, he was the better shepherd. 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:16.240 Can I tell you how good he is in the New Testament? 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:24.720 That not only in the New Testament is Jesus called the Good Shepherd, he actually has three names for being the shepherd in the New Testament. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:27.119 In John 10, he's called the Good Shepherd. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:29.839 In Hebrews 13, he's called the Great Shepherd. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:33.039 In 1 Peter 5, he's called the Chief Shepherd. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:38.079 He's so good, being the shepherd, he gets three names. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:41.279 He's good, he's great, and he's chief. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:45.359 He's that good of a shepherd. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:56.319 So when all of these people had been let down, it was the good shepherd in Jesus that would fulfill. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:15.119 When other shepherds failed and they didn't know which way to go, and the people were confused, Jesus was saying, I am the promise. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:20.720 I am the shepherd your leaders failed to be. 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:29.440 These prophecies mattered to them in biblical days because it showed that God had not forgotten his people. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:36.000 And they matter to us today because it shows us that God is a promise keeper. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:42.720 That in Ezekiel and Jeremiah and Zechariah, that if God promised it, he would fulfill it. 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:46.559 And if he speaks a promise over your life today, guess what? 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.279 He will fulfill it. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.839 He's the good shepherd this morning. 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:05.039 So we know that we are the sheep. 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:09.279 And we know that he is the good shepherd, right? 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:12.240 So what kind of shepherd is he? 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:14.160 I want to go back to John chapter 10. 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:16.799 I want to give you just real brief this morning. 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:21.119 I want to give you three three things about the good shepherd. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:24.400 Three things from John chapter 10 about the good shepherd. 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:31.519 Number one, number one, uh, the good shepherd knows his sheep. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:35.119 Everybody say he knows me. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:43.839 I want to just, anytime you're reading scripture, um, number one, slow down when you're reading scripture. 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:49.039 All too often we just read scripture just to read and read and read and read. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:52.079 But you have to slow down and read scripture. 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:56.480 And when you're reading scripture, look for things that are repeated. 00:27:57.359 --> 00:28:05.599 Look for things that often come up multiple times because it's in those moments that the author is trying to communicate something to us. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:10.000 But if we read the Bible really fast, you can miss on those things. 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:24.079 And here in John chapter 10, there is a word, especially 11 through 18, that is repeated over and over and over again, and it's the word no. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:25.599 Everybody say no. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.920 It's repeated over and over again. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:34.240 I want you to see these, these references in verse 4, 14, and then 27. 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:44.079 Verse 4, when he is brought out all of his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they what? 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:47.759 They know his voice. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:56.559 Verse 14, I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. 00:28:56.799 --> 00:29:00.400 Verse 27, my sheep listen to my voice. 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:07.039 I know them, and they follow me. 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:10.400 You need to understand and get a grasp of this word. 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:16.160 This word know in John chapter 10 is the Greek word gonosko. 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:19.200 It's the Greek word gnosko. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.720 Now, here's what that means. 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:25.440 This word it means to know personally. 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:32.640 It means to know by relationship and experience. 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:38.960 To know personally, to know by relationship and experience. 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:55.440 Here in John chapter 10, Jesus is communicating that he is a personal God who wants to be known personally, that we really can know the Father, that we can be in relationship. 00:29:55.680 --> 00:30:02.079 It's not a distant relationship, it's meant to be a close relationship. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:09.519 Because how many know that there's a difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone? 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:16.960 You can know about someone and not really know someone. 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:22.240 When you know about someone, you know the facts about their life. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:25.759 You know some information. 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:29.039 You may even know some stories. 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:37.839 But when you really know someone, you know what makes them mad and what makes them sad. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:39.839 You know what makes them hurt. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.519 You know what makes them happy. 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:46.480 You you know the inner workings of their life. 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:51.839 It's me and my wife, she knows me and I know her. 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:55.440 I know her voice in a crowded room and she knows mine. 00:30:56.720 --> 00:31:02.079 I I know what she's gonna do before she does it, and she does the same for me. 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:06.960 I know what I do that gets on her last nerve. 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:10.559 Where's all the husbands at? 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.519 Why? 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:17.519 Because we know one another. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:33.200 Because you can know someone and not really know them, and that's what Jesus is communicating here in John chapter 10 is I want you to write this down is that there is a difference. 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:40.880 Oh, there's such a difference between having information about Jesus and having a relationship with Jesus. 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:47.680 You can have all the information in the world and never have a relationship with Jesus. 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:58.720 And that's what he's boiling John chapter 10 down to in this word is that he wants to know his sheep. 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:04.480 He wants to know the people that he's leading. 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.000 Verse 14. 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.519 I I want you to see this again. 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:11.599 I want you to, I want you to get this verse in your heart. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:15.599 Just write this down somewhere in your phone or whatever, wherever it may be. 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:22.799 This is the verse for me that stuck out this week as I was just reading it over and over and over again. 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:25.920 I am the good shepherd. 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:31.440 I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. 00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:38.240 That is such a simple but profound verse. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:45.200 I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:48.799 I want this verse to be the cry of my heart. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:53.759 It's not just that he knows me, but I know him. 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:58.160 In biblical times, as a shepherd would let out the sheep. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.279 They were in the pen. 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:01.839 They would have to go through busy areas. 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:11.519 They would have to go through crowded streets and crowded corridors, and they would have to go through areas where it was dangerous and there was a lot of people around. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:17.279 And the only thing that would guide the sheep was his voice. 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:24.319 It was a shepherd in biblical times when he would have a call, he would have a whistle. 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:28.079 Sometimes he would have a chant. 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:41.279 And the only way that they would find safety, and the only way that they stayed on the path that they were supposed to be on was by knowing the shepherd's voice. 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:45.440 And it hasn't changed for us today, church. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:51.039 Is God wants us to know his voice. 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:57.920 So when life feels confusing, it can lead us and guide us to the place that he's calling us to go. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:58.720 Amen. 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:04.160 The good shepherd, number one, he knows his sheep. 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.119 Number two. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:09.679