By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church
John 10:11 (NIV) "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. 17 The reason my Father
loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 18 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. This command I received from my Father."
Are you a shepherd or a sheep? Could you be both?
When you have something or someone you love then you are willing to go to great lengths to preserve it.
Contrast: The hired hand really doesn’t care for the sheep although he is being paid to do a job. It is still just a job that is not worth risking his life over. Without him the sheep will surely die, but he is still more concerned for his own skin than he cares for the sheep. His actions show his true feelings for the sheep.
Who are the sheep? Who are our sheep? Who are your sheep? Are the sheep ours?
What about the other sheep? Who are they? We will try to bring them in?
The sheep are scattered and some die because the wolf attacks and the hired hand was not there for them. Are we there for the lost sheep who have no shepherd?
The good shepherd watches over the sheep and weeps because they act like sheep who have no shepherd. He is willing to die for the sheep.
We have a good shepherd. We know his name and he knows ours.
I am the good shepherd lays down his life : this is the ultimate sacrifice. Willing to give of oneself for another. Even when the sheep don’t request of make it known that they want or need help, the good shepherd is the one with the power. He sees the need, knows the problem, and steps out first in the path of danger to rescue the perishing.
Contrasted by the hired hand or the hireling. He is not the shepherd and does not own or have any stock in the sheep. He does not step up when trouble comes. He sees the needs that the sheep have, but the hireling ignores the problems. He runs when he is threatened. He cares only for himself and seeks to insure his own prosperity even at the cost of others. He is only fulfilling a job and only trying to help himself. He is a hired hand.
The Good Shepherd cares for the sheep and knows them all. They all know Him. He builds a relationship with them. He is the one with the power to reach down to them who can’t reach up. So he does. He wants to be known and makes it happen. The sheep know the good shepherd. They have come to him and give themselves to him. They trust him and depend on him. They know that he won’t let them die, but that whatever may happen he is in control.
You have the power to lay down your life and take it up again? Will you give your life for the sheep and to the Lord?
Do you have the ministry of:
B. The Ministry of Caring: I care enough to know your name. I show you that I care for you.
C. The Ministry of Life. I will give my life for you. Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I will make sure that you have the opportunity for life. Then it is up to your to eat and drink and live.
D. The Ministry of Evangelism or Multiplication. Sheep bear Sheep. I will reach out to others. I will bring in the lost sheep. The shepherd goes out for the one lost sheep.