Jesus Saves
April 14, 2024
John 10:1-18
“Jesus Saves”
by Ben Caldwell
Please turn in your Bibles to John 10:1.
History: Author and scholar, John Piper, says, “Is He Insane . . . Or God? That's what it all comes down to…. He is either insane or he is God. And the reason I say that is…because of the way he describes his power in our passage for today. … There is no middle way…. Not then. Not now. We are going to read how Jesus says ‘the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.’ Now a mere mortal man might be able to say, ‘I have authority to lay down my life.’ I can choose to commit a capital crime. I can choose to jump off a cliff. I can choose to step between you and the bullet. But nobody can say, ‘I have authority to take it up again.’ If you are dead, you don't have any authority to be undead. You can't undead yourself. But Jesus said he could. So [is He crazy?...].” Or is he something more than a mortal man? …So let's follow him… and listen with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, because everything in your life depends on where you end up after listening to him.” Let’s read: John 10:1 and following:
(John Piper, http://www.desiringgod.org/
John 10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
Jesus is using the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep to communicate something important to his followers. He is using an image that would have been very common to the people of his day… although, it doesn’t seem very plain to us, because we don’t ever see sheep being herded, especially not by middle-eastern shepherds. So to make this make sense, let me explain to you how this kind of shepherding works…
In Jesus’ day, the people who lived in Judea were mostly pastoral, that is they were ranchers more than farmers. During the warm season, sheep and shepherds wandered the hill sides. The grass closest to home was saved for the coldest times of the year, so that the shepherds could be in their homes on the really cold nights. When they were home, shepherds often had a large common area, usually with walls to keep the sheep warm and with a door that had a lock on it. Several shepherds would go in together to build this thing, and they would let their herds mix in with each other in the evenings. Then one person (the watchman) would stand guard to be sure no one tried to steel any sheep.
If there were no incidents during the night, then in the morning, you show up and ask for your sheep. The gatekeeper lets you in, and now you’ve got the task of un-mixing the sheep. How would they do it? The shepherd would just call his sheep. And his sheep would follow him.
Most countries today use sheep for meat, which means they don’t stay around very long before you have them for dinner. But in Jesus’ day, they were mostly used for wool… which means a sheep could be with the same shepherd its whole life. A bond would be built between them. They knew the shepherd was there to care for them. So they got used to following this person; they knew his voice.
And as I understand it, this bit in verse 5 is right on the money: A sheep would actually run away from someone whose voice they didn’t recognize. So calling a sheep that wasn’t yours was useless.
Anyone in here ever had a dog? (show of hands) When you have an obedient dog, they will usually come to you when you call them. If you have been apart for a while, they are delighted to see you. And if a stranger comes up and calls them, do they go right to the stranger? Some might. But usually a dog will bark at a stranger. And if you are the dog’s owner, you can walk right in the front door with no fear. But a thief will try to climb through the window and by-pass the dog… right? So even we who don’t own sheep, can relate to what Jesus is saying here. Verse 7 goes on:
John 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
So here is the second metaphor that Jesus uses which also deals with sheep. This time, he is talking about shepherding during the warm months. Shepherds would go out into the fields and they would often construct a kind of pen for the sheep to sleep in. But this pen wouldn’t have a door on it… obviously. But the door would just be an opening. And one of the shepherds would sleep in that opening. That way, the sheep couldn’t get out, and other animals couldn’t get in without going over the shepherd. The shepherd literally became the gate. In these shepherding scenarios Jesus is telling us that he is the gate or the gatekeeper, keeping his own sheep or people safe. And that he is the sheep owner as opposed to others who are thieves; Jesus is here to ensure that we have freedom, that we get what we need and are protected. He ensures that we have the fullest life possible.
And so far, his followers don’t get what he is trying to teach them.
John 10:11 "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.
A good shepherd loves the sheep. Some people were shepherds because they needed the job, not because they liked doing what they were doing. If you don’t care anything about the sheep, then when a wolf comes along, you’re going to say, “Wow, the owner of these sheep has got a real problem. He really should hire someone to take care of them. I think I prefer to live to see another day.” But a good shepherd is going to put his life on the line to protect those sheep… out of love and care for them.
John 10:14 "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.
Verse 16 echoes the Biblical mandate that all nationswould come to Christ. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Again in Acts 1:8: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
In Isaiah 51:4 we are told: ISA 51:4 "Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations.
And over and over again God says, “The people of Israel are my chosen people, but there are other sheep who should join them. I want the whole world to know who I am!” I am from a non-Jewish family, but Jesus came so I could be one of his sheep, too. Then Jesus goes on:
John 10:17 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."
Jesus is referring to his death and resurrection. He knows he has come to die for us. The Father has given Jesus the authority to lay down his life (that is to die)and to take up his life again (to be resurrected). So what is it that God would say to us through these verses? How do they apply to us today?
Jesus Saves Us:
1. From Death (He GIVES LIFE)
Jesus protects us from death. He protects us from all that would seek to destroy us. You may say, “Wait a minute, Ben. People still die. I have lost loved ones. I know first hand.” Well, that is true. People do still die. But in John 11:25-26 we read:
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Folks, there is a physical life that we live and there is a physical death that we all die as a result of sin. But there is also a spiritual life that we live. And if you really belong to Jesus, then you don’t have to worry about dying a spiritual death. Because He came to give you life!
Illustration… of Jesus giving us life…
This Is The Gospel | Hyper Pixels Media | WorshipHouse Media
This is the good news! It is the best news! God lovesyou! If you want life, then embrace Him… His will… and His plan.
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Jesus saves us from the Death we should die, and…
Jesus Saves Us:
2. From Loss (He Gives Abundant Life)
He protects us from those spiritual and human forcesthat would steal us away from God. Now, when I talk about us being robbed, I’m not talking about money; I’m talking about abundant life, those qualities of life that make it deep and rich and meaningful. Do you know that there are spiritual forces at work in this world that will rob you of joy, of peace, of patience, and all of the things that we consider “spiritual gifts”! Jesus is the good shepherd who has come to give you green pastures and still waters. He came to restore your soul.
There is this story in the Bible (Genesis 25). A story about two brothers: Jacob and Esau. Esau was the older brother. And after a trip out in the open country, he comes home, he says, “I am starving. Please brother give me something to eat.” The younger brother says, “I will give you some stew in exchange for your birth-right… for your inheritance.” And Esau agrees to it. As a kid, that story made no sense to me, no sense at all. Who would trade a bowl of soup for their inheritance? Nobody! But as an adult, I can think of one circumstance where you might do that. If you thought you were going to die, you might make that trade. What does a dead person need with an inheritance? Birth-right for a bowl of soup… hold that thought a minute…
Illustration… One author writes, “I have a friend who has lived his life just going through the motions. He went through the motions in high school…just to get by…so that he could get out! Now he is going through the motions of life…getting up to go to work…coming home tired…and getting up the next day to do just the same thing all over again.” [One time this author and his friend had this conversation. His friend said]… “If I had known that the best years of my life would be spent in high school…I would have made more out of those years.” The author says, “Well, I remember, he was miserable in high school and he’s miserable now…he’s going through the motions of life, and for what? Just to get by and get out? Have you ever met anyone like that? I have. And I do. The problem is, this isn’t living at all. It’s a kind of living-death…
Many people look to the world for some kind of life…. they make gods out of athletes, movie stars, musicians, the rich, [the cool,] and the famous… and they try their best to be just like them, [looking for a thrill, a high, a love, or just some kind of lift out of the day-to-day routine.] Of course, you don’t have to look to hard before you see that the lives of the rich and famous are not… happy. Their lives are marked by anger, resentment, distrust, divorce, and depression…. As they strive to drive the best cars and have the best homes, to live the most extravagant lifestyles, to be powerful, sexy, fun, happy, and to remain at the top of the heap… they bring themselves under the cloud of debt, anxiety, and powerlessness. They start looking to money, diets, fashion trends, plastic surgery, and pills, to help keep them where they want to be, but they find that life is just as empty as ever. If they really knew who Jesus was, would they trade that life-style for thebread of life?” You would think that they would exchange their fruitless search for the substance that Jesus brings? Some do. Some don’t.
But what I want to say to you today believers is: Be careful that you don’t lose sight of what is really good, and end up trading your birth-right for a bowl of soup. Don’t trade all that God would give you in exchange for something that makes you feel temporarily alive.
Only Jesus can offer us abundant life. And it cannot be found in anything else. HE is the good shepherd, the true gate. Trust Jesus to give you the abundance that you long for. Because everything else leads to death.
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Jesus Saves Us:
3. By Laying Down His Life (He Gives Self-Sacrificing Love)
In these parables, who are the thieves? Who is Jesus talking about? If we want to understand, we have to go back to chapter nine. Jesus has just miraculously healed a blind man. And watch what happens:
JN 9:38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.
You don’t worship just anyone… if you are Jewish, it is very significant that you only worship God!
John 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." JN 9:40Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?"
JN 9:41 Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. JN 10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
Jesus’ words are pointed squarely at the Pharisees, these religious leaders. They claim that they see clearly, but Jesus says they are spiritually blind. They are the ones who are the thieves. In chapter 9, they claim authority over this blind man, but they don’t show any care or compassion for him. And the Pharisees have stolen him from God to enlarge their flock. But Jesus is saying, “That blind man is my follower. He hears my voice and knows me. And my true followers won’t be controlled by you, they’ll end up running from you Pharisees.”
What is stealing you away from Jesus? Who is stealing you away from Him? Someone recently shared with me: they had heard that BUSY stands for Bowing Under Satan’s Yoke. If you are too busy for God, then you are too busy. But the good news is, you can change that.
Is there a relationship in your life that needs to change in order for you to follow the Lord? A boyfriend, a girlfriend, a friend-friend, or even a spouse who stops you from coming to Jesus? Change it; I’m not saying throw away your spouse. I’m saying adjust that relationship so that Jesus is the priority. Is there some spiritual force that tempts you to walk away from God? Is there something that is stealing your joy, your peace, or your patience?
The Pharisees didn’t care anything about the blind man. All they wanted was for Jesus to get in line with their teaching, to bow to their authority. We talked about the woman caught in adultery a few weeks ago. The Pharisees didn’t care about her. They just wanted to achieve their own purposes. 1 John 3:16 tells us:
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
FOLLOW Jesus today, because he loves you…
Invitation…
Verse 4 tells us that if we are his sheep we are going to follow him. And it implies that if you aren’t his sheep, you can count on being stolen. So what is it going to be for you?