The Perfect Description (St. John 10:11-16)

As you know, my wife was born in China and she was deported when she was three years old.  What you might not have known is that her father was also born in China, but his actual citizenship was in Australia.

As a young man he went to Australia to study and at the same time worked on a sheep ranch.

The time came when he had to make a decision as to continue being a shepherd or going back to China as a missionary.

We know his decision.  He went back to China as missionary to serve the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

In our Gospel lesson this morning from the Gospel of John … we read about our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ — who is the Good Shepherd. 

In this passage we see one of the most graphic … AND INDEED one of the most intimate AND loving terms used to describe our Savior. 

We see that Jesus is described — by himself — as the Good Shepherd … 

— and not only does he describe himself — he also tells us the difference between the Good Shepherd — that is, the real thing — and a hireling … or if you will … an imposter.

In the time of our Savior’s earthly life shepherds were very important to protect the sheep. 

Normally, they would graze during the day and then at night the shepherds would find a safe spot for them — a place with only one entrance — and there would be a watchman … watching over the sheep. 

This place was called a sheepfold and here, a number of flocks would be put for the night, with a watchman at the gate. 

This is what Jesus was describing in the first part of Chapter 10 in the analogy of sheep and, as we shall see — our salvation. 

Listen to what Jesus says: John 10:1-10 — (READ) (verse 6 is John’s commentary of the disciples understanding of what Jesus is saying.)

Here … in this analogy … taken along with our lesson we see a number of important Biblical truths. 

One of the most important things that we see is that Jesus is talking ABOUT US — that is, Christians. 

Those who know Jesus as Savior and Lord are called ““sheep.””

When Jesus talks about his 2^nd coming in Matthew 25 and the final judgement … this is what he says: Matthew 25:

““When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.””

So … when we see in the scriptures Jesus talking about sheep — we see that he is talking about those who BELONG to him through faith.

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The truth that we … as Christians … are known as lambs … was extremely important to my daughter.

She always wanted a lamb tattoo … that didn’t happen … but there was a little lamb etched on her casket.  And her gravestone has “Beloved lamb of Christ” with a lamb carved on it.

She knew … without a shadow of doubt … even in some of her darkest times … that she … in the words of the  Book of Revelation … that her name are written in ““the LAMBS book of life”” — again, the reference is to Christians as Sheep.

Now, as we see from our passage … the sheep are known by God and the Lord Jesus Christ — and the sheep KNOW the Shepherd. 

This is what we read in verse 14: 

““I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.””  

Listen again to that great statement — ““I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”” 

In my mind this is something ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE — we are known PERSONALLY by God.   

He knows everything about us — and that can be good AND it can be bad!

Let’s be honest … there are probably some things about us that we wish God DIDN’T know! … BUT HE DOES … and thankfully … He loves us anyway!

Listen to some of the words from Psalm 139 … a Psalm of David:

““O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways …  Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.””

Think about that — of all the billions upon billions of people in the world — those who have gone before us… those who will follow us — we, as Christians — ARE KNOWN PERSONALLY by God. 

… AND … WE KNOW HIM.

This is what we see in that first part of John 10 — where we read: 

““To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”” 

As I said … in the sheepfold there was a watchman by the gate — the only entrance. 

When the shepherd would come — he would call the sheep belonging to him and the sheep would respond … because they knew his voice. 

The other sheep in the fold would only respond to the voice of their shepherd. 

The shepherds job was to provide for all of their needs.

Sheep need protection… they need someone to show them where the food was … someone to lead them to water so that they could drink. 

And if it sounds familiar it should — because that is exactly what we read in the familiar 23^rd Psalm — 

““The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.””

We see from this beautiful Psalm all that the shepherd does for his sheep and we note that he only wants the best for them — and the promise here is that he provides all of their needs.  

This is exactly what Jesus said in John 10:10 when talking about his sheep:

““I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.””

In addition he protects them — ““Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me.”” 

As Christ’s sheep — we have needs — and those needs are met by our Good Shepherd — the Lord Jesus Christ.

If we know Jesus Christ as Savior — then we know that he died for our sin — and this is exactly what we read here in verse 11 … 

— ““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”” 

The Bible tells us that we have the GREATEST OF NEEDS — WE ARE sinners and we needed someone to provide for the forgiveness of our sin. 

We needed someone to PAY the penalty for our sin — and that is what Jesus did. 

““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.””

Just as the shepherd would provide for the needs of his earthly flock — so Jesus provides for us.

When John the Baptizer saw Jesus … what did he say:

““Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”” 

As I said, he provides forgiveness of sin for those who believe in him — but there is also a multitude of other blessings for those who know him as Savior and Lord.

We have the privilege of worship … we have access to God the Father through prayer … we possess eternal life — it is something that is ours now … 

— We have access to the promises of God where he says things such as: 

““that he will never leave us, nor forsake us … that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ … that all things are working together for our good. ..”” 

… and we could go on and on — because Jesus IS our “Good Shepherd” — and he knows each and every one of us.

BUT … one of the other needs and blessings that we have as Christians is that we not only KNOW the Good Shepherd — the Lord Jesus Christ — but that we have under shepherds, if you will. 

These are those who have been called by God to be Pastors. 

The Pastor — is by definition an under-shepherd!

And here we see the importance of being part of a local body of Christ … in our case it is St. Peter’s. 

There is no such thing as an independent … lone ranger … Christian! 

WHILE we must CLEARLY admit that we earthly shepherds pale miserably in comparison to the Good Shepherd … the Lord Jesus — there are some parallels.

In our church — we have Bishops and Pastors … who are Presbyters … also known as Priests.

At an Episcopal visit, you generally see the Bishop with a staff curved at the top — a Bishop’s Crook — similar to the staff that a shepherd would carry in order to protect his sheep …

So too … the staff that the Bishop carries is symbolic of the sheep that are under his care — and those sheep that are under his care are the Pastors … and then the people in the individual churches. 

Just as you have a Pastor — the Bishop is really my Pastor.

Recently … Bishop Riches entered glory.  He was my teacher in Seminary … He married my wife and I … and for years … he was my Pastor … and often called upon him for help … as he was my shepherd.

Then we know that all who are Pastor’s … have been charged with being a shepherd over the flock.

In our service for the Ordering of Presbyters … the Bishop calls the people under our charge: ““the sheep of Christ, which he bought with his death, and for whom he shed his blood.””  

Quite a  description of you who are gathered here— ““the sheep of Christ, which he bought with his death, and for whom he shed his blood.””

Pastors have the responsibility — to teach the sheep that are under them … to warn you … to feed you from the scriptures — in short, to provide for your spiritual needs. 

It is something that we all try to do our best at — but, as I said — we all fall short in some way or another.

And sadly, we see those in so-called Christian churches around the country and the world where  Pastors are leading their sheep astray.  

They are telling their people that what God has said clearly in His Word is not applicable today.  

The Scriptures tell us that God’s judgement will come on those who lead the sheep astray.

In Jeremiah 23:1,2 we read:

““Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord.””

The prophet Ezekiel says in chapter 34:1-3:

““And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.”” 

One well known preacher said: There are two kinds of Pastors … those who preach the Bible and those that need to resign!

Too often — people look upon their pastors as just another man — with his own opinions who likes to tell people what to do. 

But, if we consider the Biblical relationship of a shepherd over his flock, we see that it is MUCH, MUCH MORE than that. 

And just as the Good Shepherd provides for our needs, we … as Pastors … try to provide for your needs. 

We try to be as faithful to God’s Word as possible — it is the standard that God has given us. 

We live in His world — created and sustained by Him — and the Bible is His instruction manual on how to live in His world … which you have heard me say on numerous occasions.

When we teach and preach — from the pulpit … the classroom … or individually … we try to be as faithful to God’s word as possible — and to let you know what God says.. 

But you have a responsibility also. We read in Hebrews 13:

““Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.””

We see TWO important things here.

First … we see the responsibility of the shepherd … ““for they watch out for your souls.””

I have to tell you … that when someone under my charge leaves the faith … it grieves me.

And second … we see that … Pastor’s are held accountable for what we teach and preach!

I have also told you on other occasions that when I was interviewed to go to our seminary, I was asked a question that took a moment to sink in … I was asked will I test everything that they teach by the Word of God?

In other words … they were asking if I would not just take their word for it … but what does God say in His Word? … this from men who had a combined teaching of over 100 years of Biblical faithfulness between them.

And so … as I have before … I will ask you the same question  … will you test everything I preach and teach by the Word of God?  

That is the standard.

So remember, if your Pastor, or anyone preaching or teaching, tells you something that you might not agree with … or that is hard … 

— remember that we are simply trying to fulfill the calling that God has given us — trying to set an example in word and deed of the Good Shepherd — our Savior — the Lord Jesus Christ who gave his life for his sheep.

This … my friends, is what God has provided for us as ““the sheep of Christ, which he bought with his death, and for whom he shed his blood””  

— he has given us the Good Shepherd to provide for all of our needs and has called some to meet some of those needs here on earth.