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The Good Shepherd Lesson III, John 10:12-18
King David, in his 23rd Psalm spoke of the true Shepherd who tended to him at all times even as he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, and even when he was face to face with his enemies.
David spoke of a Shepherd who would never leave him nor forsake him for he spoke of the true shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ who in this John 10 passage declares himself to be the one of whom David spoke.
And in so doing Jesus compares the true shepherd, to one who is only in the sheep business, not for the benefit of the sheep but for the benefit of one who is hired to tend to the sheep.
We read of this in John 10:12,13, But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
So we meet the hired hand of the sheepfold.
There is nothing wrong in itself with a hand for hire, but the hireling is not the shepherd of the sheep.
And we know that, for he does not have the heart of the shepherd.
He does not have the concern, he does not have the commitment.
There is a great difference between the shepherd of the sheep and the one hired to watch over the sheep.
The difference is revealed during hard times, during tough times when sacrifice is required.
The hireling may have thought of himself as a shepherd but when the test comes, the test reveals to him that he is a hireling.
The test arrives when the wolf comes, when it gets personal, when total giving and dedication is called for, when perhaps it is a matter of life or death.
The hireling is more concerned about his own safety than the safety of the sheep.
He will not risk his life to defend the sheep against the wolves whom he sees doing great damage to the flock.
You see then how wolves are good in revealing the character of the hireling.
They are sent from God to ferret out the hireling.
He simply works for wages but his wages are not the strong tie to the sheep that the good shepherd has.
The good shepherd loves the sheep but the hireling only loves his life.
He does not even love the shepherd, for if he loved the shepherd he would stay with the sheep as an under shepherd and not as a hireling.
Remember the discourse in John 21:15-17, which took place after Peter had denied Christ three times.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
So the definition of a hireling is one who is there only for money, for personal gain.
The one who stays to defend the sheep stays because he loves the shepherd.
He is only capable of loving the sheep because he loves the shepherd.
This is the definition of an under shepherd.
(The Latin word transliterated "pastor" means shepherd.)
An under shepherd loves the shepherd, therefore he is capable of loving the sheep.
That is why Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him followed by the command to feed the sheep.
Peter, are you a hireling or are you an under shepherd?
The answer is connected to where your love is directed. God or mammon!
And when the under shepherd loves the shepherd he will feed the sheep in the pastures of the Word of God.
The diet will be varied but it will always be in the pastures of the Word of God. And the under shepherd’s desire should be to present to the shepherd, the sheep who are under his care as healthy, fat sheep full from feeding from the pastures of Micah, John, Jude, Genesis, Revelation, the Psalms and all the other books of the Bible.
The sheep need all the pastures, all the different pastures in order for them to receive all the spiritual vitamins of the food that God provides.
Jesus said in John 10:14-15, I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
The true shepherd knows his sheep and his sheep know the shepherd.
The true shepherd knows that the sheep are clean animals, they are harmless animals, and helpless animals.
He knows that they are gentle, and dependent animals that need care and that they are prone to wander.
But he also knows that they are useful animals that supply a crop of wool each year.
The true shepherd knows the names of the sheep, the habits of the sheep, he knows their personalities, their peculiarities, he knows their weaknesses, he knows their strengths.
The world cares not for sheep but to simply to use sheep for its wealth.
And being of the world the false shepherd also cares not to know the sheep for it brings him no worldly value.
Knowing the sheep takes sacrifice and it takes commitment and concern.
The false shepherd only desires to use the sheep for his benefit and knowing the sheep does not contribute to that benefit.
Christ knows all of his sheep and all of Christ's sheep personally know him.
As Job in chapter 42 verse 5, said: I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
We who believe know our shepherd as the Saviour of our soul.
He is our personal Saviour. As David said: The Lord is my shepherd!
Jesus describes this relationship as so intimate that he compares it to the relationship that he has with the Father.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
The mutual knowledge of Christ and his sheep is like that which exists between the Father and the Son.
As the Father knows the Son and as the Son knows the Father, so Christ knows his sheep and his sheep know him.
And this knowledge, this intimate relationship extends to his laying down his life for the sheep.
And then in this discourse Jesus brings to his disciples an indication that there is work to be done relative to an increase in the flock of the shepherd.
For his says in John 10:16, And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold (should be translated flock), and one shepherd.
He now mentions other sheep which are not of this fold.
Who are these sheep? They are not of Israel which is the fold pictured here.
But the other sheep will also hear the voice of the shepherd.
They do not hear the voice of the fold of Israel.
They are not of Israel. But they belong to the flock of the shepherd.
The shepherd says that the flock is not complete without them.
He is talking about the church, the body of Christ, he is talking about us.
So we see here that the church does not come into the Jewish fold; into Israel. The church never was Israel, and never will be Israel.
The church never was spiritual Israel and never will be spiritual Israel.
It was never intended to be accommodated in Israel.
But the church is part of one flock, the flock of God, the family of God.
We are part of those whom God calls His people.
And the shepherd has orders from the Father that these sheep must be brought in or else the flock is not complete.
The shepherd will be successful in this effort.
The sheep who are not of the fold of Israel, will be brought into the flock!
As we read in Acts 13:48, And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
So Jesus Christ, the good shepherd is saying that he must lead the Jewish sheep out of the fold before they could be united with the other sheep to form his flock.
And in John 10:17 continues, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Laying down his life that he might take it up again was in obedience to the Father's will.
Only deity can lay down life and take it again.
The Greek word used here for lay is also the same word that is translated put.
Jesus Christ puts down his life and picks it up again.
All I can do is end my life but I have not the power to pick it up again.
Only one who is the resurrection can do such a thing.
Only deity has that power.
And only deity can say I will never leave you nor forsake you even when that promise includes death for only deity can take life again.
But if he was to impart resurrection life to others, he must receive resurrection life himself, and to receive resurrection life he must first pass though death.
Jesus Christ was ordained to die from the foundations of the world.
Otherwise he would not be the resurrection!
As John 12:24 says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Only by the resurrection could the shepherd bring his other sheep together with the sheep from the original fold into his one flock.
John 10:18, No man taketh 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 commandment have I received of my Father.
We know that Jesus Christ was spiked to a cross by men.
Mark tells us in Mark 8:31, that he must be killed.
Conspiracies against our Lord aimed at his death, abound in scripture.
But Jesus Christ tells us in this verse that he is in complete authority in this matter.
He is totally in control and allows things to happen completely in accord with his word.
His life was his and no man could take it from him.
He was in charge because he is God.
He is the resurrection and he determines when he lays down his life and when he takes it up again.
Not one minute before or one minute after his determination would events take place.
Because he obeyed the Father's will completely.
He allowed them to arrest him after demonstrating their powerlessness to do so.
He remained silent before his accusers, although twelve legions of angels were ready to come to his rescue.
He allowed himself to be crucified as he shook the foundations of the earth.
He did not give up his spirit until every prophesy was fulfilled.
When he said all was finished he laid down his life of his own volition.
His death was entirely voluntary and his resurrection was entirely determined by him.
He had the power; Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.
He tells us that he received this commandment from the Father and when a commandment is from the Father all authority goes with that commandment necessary for it to be fulfilled.
Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ, because of the resurrection, can be the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for His sheep! |