John 10:1-21

Dennis Tuuri

Outline: John 10:1-21 “The Unique, The Shepherd, The Excellent, Pt. 2” Sermon Notes from Pastor Dennis Tuuri for June 23, 2002 I. Review and Context: Linked to Chapter 9, 8; The Throne Room: Laver, Table of Showbread, Lampstand The New Creation: Light, Water-Firmament, Firstfruits, Delegated Light/Rule The context prepares us for “lesser lights,” administering an overseeing function with the light of the Savior. The Agricultural Context It is not a compliment being referred to as sheep! Again, the analogy prepares us for the importance of undershepherds. The Rest of the Bible (the “Old Testament”) David as “lamp,” David as “shepherd-king,” Ezekiel 34 and civil government. II. The Text A. The “Proverb” v. 1-5 1. The Pharisees, in rejecting Jesus, are thieves and robbers, not shepherds Jesus begins in the negative, as He addresses the false shepherds of John 9. 2. True under-shepherds enter by Jesus the door, are recognized by the sheep. 1. The Pharisees voice is not recognized by the sheep. B. The Further Explanation vv. 7b-18 Jesus is the Door vv. 7b-10 1. Jesus is the Door 2. The Pharisees are the latest in a line of false shepherds 1. Jesus is the Door, true shepherds feed, guard, and lead His sheep into victory. (Num. 27:15-23; Josh. 14:11; 1 Sam. 18:13,14; 1 Kings 3:5-12; 2 Chr. 1:10; Ps. 121:8; Dt. 28:6,7,18; 2 Sam. 5:2; 2 Sam. 3:25; 1 Sam. 29:6; Acts 9:28) 2. False shepherds neither guard nor nourish the sheep, but steal and kill. 1. Jesus (and undershepherds) come to bring the sheep abundant life. Jesus is the Good Shepherd vv. 11-15 1. The Unique, The Shepherd, The Excellent, sacrificial relationship to the sheep. V. 11 2. The false shepherd, motivated by self-interest, flees when the sheep-killer come. a. Hireling’s relationship to the owner b. Wolf c. Hireling abandons the sheep b. Wolf a. Hireling’s relationship to the sheep 1. The Unique, The Shepherd, The Good is so because of His relationship to the Father. Taken together, the Door and the Shepherd discourses contrast false and true undershepherds, and give us important information on the function of these “lesser lights.” The context is the antithesis, and its resultant necessary warfare. The shepherd must be under the jurisdiction of Christ and His Word. He must be self-sacrificial, laying aside self-interest, taking up the life of service, guarding, feeding and leading the sheep assigned to his care into victory. There are appropriate applications of this to family, church, state, business and school. Jesus and His Under-shepherds Call the World v. 16 16 “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. The vision of proper shepherding and the resultant victory is expanded to a world-wide one, and raises the question of how the sheep “hear” Christ’s voice. The Divinity of the Good Shepherd v. 17,18 17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” These discourses conclude with a Christological emphasis, which again exalts the Father. THE Shepherd, THE Excellent is loved by the Father, and so are we in Him! We are partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) and find our life and our voice In Christ.