Sermon Devotional June 8
Sermon Title: I am the Good Shepherd
Scripture: John 10:1-18 (NIV)
Contributed by Nancy Buschart
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me–just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.”—John 10:11, 14-15
The language of “I AM” finds home throughout the first to the last pages of the Bible. At the burning bush, Moses was the first to hear God’s name, “I AM who I AM!” Then back in Egypt, throughout Moses’ encounters with Pharaoh and the enslaved Israelites, God repeats that “I am the LORD” and “I am the LORD your God!” (Ex 3:14; 12:12; 6:2, 6, 7).
In the Gospels, Jesus tells his hearers who He is by using the same language. “I Am.” Understood correctly, Jesus is revealing that He is equal with God, indeed that He himself is God. This claim is blasphemous… unless it is true!
Jesus’ “I Am” statements are important to His disciples then and now. They may be easily overlooked and assumed to simply be pretty, memorable metaphors. But there is soul treasure to unearth in these beautiful images. We begin this series reflecting on Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Jesus is intentional in his declaration. “I Am the Good Shepherd” (Jo 10:11, 14). In its history, Israel has had some bad shepherds—shepherds who have scattered, neglected and failed to protect God’s flock. God the Father speaks through the prophet Jeremiah saying, “‘Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!’ declares the Lord” (Jer 23:1). The prophet Ezekiel agrees. “Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money!” (Eze 22:27-28 NLT).
In his teaching in John 10, Jesus brings into clear focus the differences between shepherds, thieves and a “hired hand.” “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!” (Jo 10:7-8). “A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep” (Jo 10:11-13 NLT).
The Good Shepherd is different in every way. Jesus tells his disciples that “I am the gate for the sheep.” No thief or robber or wolf can enter the sheepfold to do harm when Jesus-the-gate is in place. “Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved” (Jo 10:7, 9). The hired hand “will abandon the sheep” because he doesn’t know or care about them. But Jesus-the-Good-Shepherd says, “I know my own sheep, and they know me” (Jo 10:14). “The sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name,” … “he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice” (Jo 10:3-4).
The Good Shepherd knows the sheep. He knows what they need and what dangers they face. Jesus also knows the Enemy and understands the schemes that may sound appealing to the sheep but that will have a deadly end. “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (Jo 10:10). The Good Shepherd is the “light that shines in the darkness” (Jo 1:5) where the Enemy lurks. The Good Shepherd brings life; he is “the way of true life” (Jo 14:6), “the resurrection and the life” (Jo 11:25), “the bread of life” (Jo 6:35)
The Good Shepherd remains always and forever with his precious flock. “For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deut 31:6; 1Chron 28:20; Josh 1:5; Heb 13:5). Again, Jesus tells his disciples, “Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).
What’s more, Jesus says “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep” (Jo 10:11, 17). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows that the greatest need of his beloved flock is the rescue and redemption that comes only through Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jo 1:29).
Consider—
╬ When have you felt like you were being cared for by a shepherd who didn’t see you or understand your need? How did you suffer as a result?
╬ Jesus-the-Good-Shepherd brings comfort and healing to our wounded souls. What do you bring before the Good Shepherd today for His healing?
╬ Jesus, the Good Shepherd, you are with me even when the Enemy, the bad shepherd, schemes to do harm to me. Help me to surrender myself to the Good Shepherd who has loved me every step of the way. Whisper to me that I am safe in your care. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture: John 10:1-18 (NIV)
Contributed by Nancy Buschart
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me–just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.”—John 10:11, 14-15
The language of “I AM” finds home throughout the first to the last pages of the Bible. At the burning bush, Moses was the first to hear God’s name, “I AM who I AM!” Then back in Egypt, throughout Moses’ encounters with Pharaoh and the enslaved Israelites, God repeats that “I am the LORD” and “I am the LORD your God!” (Ex 3:14; 12:12; 6:2, 6, 7).
In the Gospels, Jesus tells his hearers who He is by using the same language. “I Am.” Understood correctly, Jesus is revealing that He is equal with God, indeed that He himself is God. This claim is blasphemous… unless it is true!
Jesus’ “I Am” statements are important to His disciples then and now. They may be easily overlooked and assumed to simply be pretty, memorable metaphors. But there is soul treasure to unearth in these beautiful images. We begin this series reflecting on Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Jesus is intentional in his declaration. “I Am the Good Shepherd” (Jo 10:11, 14). In its history, Israel has had some bad shepherds—shepherds who have scattered, neglected and failed to protect God’s flock. God the Father speaks through the prophet Jeremiah saying, “‘Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!’ declares the Lord” (Jer 23:1). The prophet Ezekiel agrees. “Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money!” (Eze 22:27-28 NLT).
In his teaching in John 10, Jesus brings into clear focus the differences between shepherds, thieves and a “hired hand.” “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!” (Jo 10:7-8). “A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep” (Jo 10:11-13 NLT).
The Good Shepherd is different in every way. Jesus tells his disciples that “I am the gate for the sheep.” No thief or robber or wolf can enter the sheepfold to do harm when Jesus-the-gate is in place. “Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved” (Jo 10:7, 9). The hired hand “will abandon the sheep” because he doesn’t know or care about them. But Jesus-the-Good-Shepherd says, “I know my own sheep, and they know me” (Jo 10:14). “The sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name,” … “he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice” (Jo 10:3-4).
The Good Shepherd knows the sheep. He knows what they need and what dangers they face. Jesus also knows the Enemy and understands the schemes that may sound appealing to the sheep but that will have a deadly end. “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (Jo 10:10). The Good Shepherd is the “light that shines in the darkness” (Jo 1:5) where the Enemy lurks. The Good Shepherd brings life; he is “the way of true life” (Jo 14:6), “the resurrection and the life” (Jo 11:25), “the bread of life” (Jo 6:35)
The Good Shepherd remains always and forever with his precious flock. “For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deut 31:6; 1Chron 28:20; Josh 1:5; Heb 13:5). Again, Jesus tells his disciples, “Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).
What’s more, Jesus says “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep” (Jo 10:11, 17). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows that the greatest need of his beloved flock is the rescue and redemption that comes only through Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jo 1:29).
Consider—
╬ When have you felt like you were being cared for by a shepherd who didn’t see you or understand your need? How did you suffer as a result?
╬ Jesus-the-Good-Shepherd brings comfort and healing to our wounded souls. What do you bring before the Good Shepherd today for His healing?
╬ Jesus, the Good Shepherd, you are with me even when the Enemy, the bad shepherd, schemes to do harm to me. Help me to surrender myself to the Good Shepherd who has loved me every step of the way. Whisper to me that I am safe in your care. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Posted in Devotionals, Sermon Devotional
Posted in Who is Jesus, Good Shepherd, Nancy Buschart, John 10
Posted in Who is Jesus, Good Shepherd, Nancy Buschart, John 10