John 10:1-6 Do You Know the Shepherd?

Thesis: Christians know the voice of Christ.

In John chapter 9 we saw two groups emerge in response to Jesus. One group, represented by the religious leaders of the day refused to worship Jesus as the glorious Son of God. The other group, represented by the man born blind, willingly believed in and worshipped Jesus as the glorious Son of God.

When the religious leaders saw the healed man’s commitment to Jesus they cast him out of their group. But Jesus sought him out, called him out, and made him part of Jesus’ group.

If we lived in 1^st century Jerusalem and if we wanted to compare people to animals we would compare them to sheep.  Ask any biblically informed Jew in the 1^st century, “If you were an animal what would you be?” And they would all say, “a lamb.” And when you gather lambs together in groups what do you get? You get flocks. And what do flocks need? They each need a shepherd.

Take a moment and try to think like a first century Jew. The whole world is covered with lambs and these lambs can be divided into two flocks. One flock rejects Jesus and the other flock worships Jesus.  Which flock do you belong to?

In John chapter 10 Jesus gives us some guidance to help us determine which flock we belong to.  Jesus wants each one of us this morning to know who we are following and in His grace He wants to show you that He is the only true Shepherd who will protect you and meet your every need.

Read John 10:1-11

I) You know the Shepherd by his entrance

a)      The shepherd enters by the gate (2-3a)

In ancient times it was common for multiple flocks under the care of multiple shepherds to put all the sheep together into one sheep pen at night. This pen was often attached to the side of a home, was surrounded by a short wall, and that wall was topped with either briars or some other prickly bush.  The purpose of the wall was two fold: keep the sheep in and keep bad men and wolves out.  A gatekeeper would be hired to ensure that only the shepherd of the sheep had access to the sheep. Only the shepherd of the sheep could come in and only the shepherd of the sheep could lead the sheep out.

Jesus said in verse 2, “he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens.”

The shepherd and only the shepherd has the right of access to the sheep and only the shepherd has authority over the sheep.  And what distinguishes the shepherd from all others? He enters by the door and to him the gatekeeper opens.

Now, is this just a history lesson or does this have something to say to us today? It is more than a history lesson because Jesus said in verse 11, “I am the good shepherd.” Jesus is telling us something about himself in verse 2. He’s teaching us how to recognize him and follow only him.

So what does it mean that Jesus enters by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep, and the gatekeeper opens to him? It means that Jesus and only Jesus is the lawful, capable, and authoritative shepherd of the sheep. Jesus came openly, selflessly, and lovingly in order to purchase his sheep, care for his sheep, and lead his sheep into meaningful God-glorifying life.

Jesus came to this earth according to God’s plan and he fulfilled God’s plan in order to make you his own. You know the Shepherd by his entrance; he must come according to God’s plan.

b)      Thieves and robbers climb in another way (1)

Do you see Jesus’ emphasis in verse 1? “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in another way, that man is a thief and a robber.”

There are those who will try to gain access to the sheep. These men will not use the gate or go through the gatekeeper. No, these men will climb into the sheepfold by scaling the wall. They will try to gain authority over the sheep by rejecting God’s plan for the shepherd. And they will try to get access to the sheep for selfish gain.  A thief is someone who tries to remain hidden in order to steal someone else’s property. A thief is selfish caring nothing for what he takes and caring nothing about those whom he steals from.  Think of a pick pocket who steals your purse or your wallet when you’re not looking. A robber is someone who uses violent tactics in order to gain what is not lawfully his.  He also, cares nothing about what he steals or who he steals from. He cares only for himself and will do anything to gain what he wants. Think of a criminal who would kick down your front door in order to steal your property.

Church, we must not only know how to recognize Jesus the good shepherd but we must also know how to recognize thieves and robbers when they come pretending to help us but only wanting to hurt us. Jesus said in verse 10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” There are people around you, they are your friends and your family, who pretend to care about you. They put on a front like they are interested in what is best for you. They pretend to listen hoping to gain your trust. But in the end they want only what is best for them. They desire to steal from you and take from you so that they can gain something better for themselves.  They dress like shepherds and move about among the sheep but two things distinguish them: first, they do not live according to God’s word. They did not enter through the gate but climbed in another way. And second, though they put on a good show they care only about they want and are willing to destroy you and your family to get it.

You know the Shepherd by his entrance and

II) You know the Shepherd by his voice (3b-5)

a)      Sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd

Verse 3, “To [the shepherd] the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice. Four times the word voice, or sound, is used in verses 3, 4, and 5. When you repeat a word 4 times in three verses it must be important. So, what do we need to learn about our shepherd and the sound he makes?  First, from verse 3, it is true that sheep hear the voice of their shepherd.

As the shepherd approaches the sheep, possibly even as he approaches the sheepfold and the gatekeeper, he would call to his sheep. Maybe he has an affectionate word or a distinct cry that would alert the sheep to his presence. Maybe it’s the way he said “sheep!” Whatever he does it is clear that the sheep who have been surrounded by various sounds all night long recognize the sound of their shepherd.

What does this imply for us?  Now this is not expressly said but I believe it is fair to assume this about what Jesus is saying.  Sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd because they have spent time listening to the voice of their shepherd. Day in and day out they have heard him making his sounds.  Think about the first time you called your dog by name. Did he recognize you or your voice? But as you spent time with your dog and called his name again and again he learned to recognize you. I’m like that dog. The more time I spend with Jesus and the more time I spend listening to Jesus the more able I am to recognize or hear his voice.  If I spend little time listening to him it will be much harder for me to distinguish his sounds from the sounds of thieves and robbers.

What must we do? Read our bibles so that we can recognize Jesus’ voice and distinguish it from the voice of others. If you are little in the word you will likely follow a thief or robber to your hurt. If you are much in the word, pay attention to Jesus, you will likely follow the good shepherd.

Sheep recognize the voice of the Shepherd. Do you know the voice of Jesus? Do you spend time with him through the word listening to him speak? Sheep do this; they hear his voice.

b)      The shepherd knows each of his sheep

The rest of verse 3 is simply a gracious gift of God, “he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” The shepherd is attached to and invested in the sheep. The personal relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is shown to us by the fact that the shepherd calls his own sheep by name.  They are his sheep, his own sheep, and he knows them all individually, he calls them by name.

So now we picture a shepherd walking up to the sheepfold and he makes his sound. The sheep who have appeared deaf up to this point perk up their ears.  The shepherd enters the pen and begins to call out to his sheep. But he does not make some general sound that all his sheep respond to. No, he calls his sheep by name.  Think about this: if you are a Christian, a child of God, it is because Jesus personally called you out. This was not a general call to all the sheep. This was a particular call to you.

What is Jesus talking about? He’s talking about that invitation he offered to the blind man, “Do you believe in the Son of God” (Jn 9:35)?  Jesus wasn’t calling all who could hear his voice. Jesus was calling that man in particular. He was calling him out by name. And why does he call us by name? verse 3, “he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” He calls you by name so that you will follow him. And following him is following the leadership of the Shepherd who has come to protect us from what will harm us and lead us to what will benefit us.

Has Jesus opened your eyes to your sins? As we’ve listened to Jesus through his word have you heard him tell you that you are in darkness, enslaved to sin? If so, know this: the reason Jesus has been pointing out your sin is so that you will see your need for him. Today he is calling you by name. Repent of your sins. Be sorrowful because you have sinned against God and put your faith in Jesus. He is the good shepherd who has laid down his life. He died in your place.  Today as he calls you by name. Repent of your sins and put your faith in the only Shepherd.  This shepherd knows you and loves you. He will take care of your wants leading you to green pastures. Trust the one who knows you. He can truly meet your needs.

The sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice. The shepherd knows his sheep, and

c)      The sheep follow their shepherd

Verse 4, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

Sheep follow their shepherd. That is what sheep do. They know him and he knows them.  They recognize his voice and know they can trust him to take care of them. The picture Jesus paints in verse 4 is that of a shepherd who personally gathers all his own sheep separating them from the sheep who belong to another. Once he has assembled his flock he gets in front of them and leads them out to green pastures.

Notice what is missing from verse 4. There is no mention of a sheepdog biting at the heels of the sheep.  Shepherds in Jesus’ day didn’t use sheepdogs. Notice that the is no mention of a lease or a rope tied around the sheep’s neck dragging him along.  The shepherd is not driving the sheep with a whip. The sheep are following their shepherd.

And why do the sheep follow the shepherd? Verse 4, “because they know his voice.” For years the sheep have been listening to the voice of their shepherd as he leads them and gives them what they need.  For years they have seen the Shepherd provide for them and protect them.  Time and time again they have been corrected by the Shepherd when they began to wander off into danger.  They recognize the trustworthy voice of the Shepherd and so they follow him.

All of us this morning are following a voice. The question is whether or not that voice is the voice of Jesus or the voice of a thief, robber, or stranger? Are you following the one who loves you and gave his life for you? Or, are you following someone who wants to exploit you and is even willing to destroy you to get what he/she selfishly wants? Can you recognize the difference between the voices? God has graciously given you his word so that you will know the voice of his Son and follow him wherever he leads. The sheep follow the shepherd.

d)     The sheep do not follow strangers

Verse 5, “A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” The word stranger is often translated alien. It means belonging to another and is the opposite of one’s own. It can mean foreign, not of one’s own family, even an enemy. Literally, strangers are the others (Vine’s, vol. 2, pg 21). Sheep won’t follow a stranger because they don’t know his voice. They don’t recognize him. They don’t trust him. They are not convinced of his motives and he has not proven himself as their protector.

Sheep follow the shepherd and they flee from strangers. The reason they run away from strangers is because they know there is only one Shepherd and all others are only thieves and robbers. So, when a stranger arrives and begins to speak alien words and foreign messages that the shepherd has never used the sheep run away.

Jesus is giving us a matter-of-fact picture of the Christian life.  Christians follow Jesus because they know his voice and Christians run away from all others because they do not know the voice of strangers, thieves, and robbers.  This morning who are you following? You are following someone. Who are you listening to? You are listening to someone.

And God is graciously telling you that if you are listening to Jesus and following him it is for your good and his glory. But if you are listening to and following the voice of another then it can only end in your destruction.  Today is the day to stop listening to what is false and start listening to what is true.

III) In this room there are sheep who are following the lies of thieves and robbers.

You thought this thing, this person, or this job would give you green pastures and still waters. You took that path and followed that voice wanting to be at peace; wanting to find joy and contentment but you have found only emptiness and pain. And your life has become dry and empty; baked earth and cracked riverbottom.

But this morning through the word of God you have heard a different sound. It woke your from your pain-filled slumber. It is the voice of the Shepherd. He is calling you out of that flock and into his own. He is calling you in particular.

This good shepherd in his mercy has pressed upon you the danger of remaining in the company of the stranger. He has shown you your sin and he is calling you out.  The good shepherd has laid down his life for you. He has paid the price of your sin-debt. He took your sin on himself on the cross. Every step you took following after thieves, robbers, and strangers has been paid for through the death of Jesus. You repent of your sins and place your faith in him alone as your Savior and Shepherd.

And what do you do now? Stay near him through his word. Learn to recognize his voice through his word. Follow him as he leads you through the truth of his word. And finally, run. For some of you this morning the greatest act of faith would be for you to flee.  You are following a stranger and today you realize that if you keep going with him you and your family will be destroyed.

Know this, if you are a Christian you are a part of this church family and we protect our own. We admonish the idle to follow Jesus. We encourage the faint-hearted to keep following Jesus. We help the weak bearing with them as we all follow Jesus. And we are patient with them all (1 Thess 5:14). Flee from the stranger and follow the Shepherd. That’s what Christians do together as the church.