1. The bruising Encounter with the Pharisees(John 9)
2. What the Pharisees showed themselves to be:
a) They were bullies
b) They abused their authority
c) They despised people
d) They were arrogant
e) They were spiritually blind
3. True and False Shepherds
a) Many had great respect for the religious leaders of ancient Israel
b) But their regard was misplaced!
THE IMAGERY OF THE PUBLIC SHEEPFOLD
1. Shepherds took their flocks from pasture to pasture
2. At times, they had to use public sheepfolds to rest for a day or two
3. The Public Sheepfold is in mind in John 10:1-6
IN THE EYES OF A NON-SHEPHERD
1. They would not be able to identify one sheep from another easily
2. If they were in a public sheepfold, how would the shepherd gather his flock?
3. Public sheepfolds have “walls”
a) They protect the sheep
i) From straying away
ii) From sheep-stealers
b) These walls were not very high
i) The sheep cannot jump over these walls
ii) But thieves can jump over the walls fairly easily
4. Public sheepfolds also have doors
a) For security purposes
b) For the Shepherd to report/ to register his flock
AN IMPORTANT OPENING STATEMENT
1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
John 10:1-6
1. Identification of the False Shepherd
a) He does not enter the sheepfold by the door (John 10:1a)
b) He climbs up some other way (John 10:1b)
c) He is a thief/a robber (John 10:1c)
2. Identification of a True Shepherd
a) He enters by the door (John 10:2)
b) He is known to the doorkeeper
The doorkeeper opens the door to him (John 10:3a)
c) He calls out his sheep by name (John 10:3c)
d) He leads them out (John 10:3d)
e) He brings out his own sheep (John 10:4a)
f) He goes before them (John 10:4b)
3. Things to note about the sheep
a) The sheep hear his voice (John 10:3b)
b) The sheep follow him (John 10:4b)
c) They know his voice (John 10:4c)
d) They will not follow a stranger (John 10:5a)
e) They will flee from the stranger (John 10:5b)
f) They do not know the voice of strangers (John 10:5c)
4. The lack of Comprehension of the Disciples
a) They were fishermen (mostly)
b) Matthew was a Tax-collector
c) They did not understand the work of shepherding
POST-EVANGELISM MINISTRY
1. The Lord Jesus
a) As Saviour
b) As Lord
c) As Teacher
d) As Shepherd
2. Those who come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
a) They are like sheep (rather than goats- Matthew 25:31-46)
b) They need to be:
i) Fed
ii) Cared for
iii) Protected
3. Needed Awareness of False teachers
a) They are not true shepherds
b) They are thieves/robbers
c) They can be very harmful
CONCLUSION
1. Greater Knowledge and Wisdom needed
2. There are many false teachers
a) They do not practise evangelism
b) They prey on weak and uninstructed believers
3. The Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd
a) Helping believers to grow in knowledge and wisdom
b) Teaching them how to relate to the Lord as Shepherd