Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 30 January 2022

Text: John 10:11-21

Subject: Evangelism

Focus: “I am the Good Shepherd”  III

INTRODUCTION

1. The Lord Jesus as “The Door” (John 10:7, 9)

a) Entrance of a Cave

b) Exit of a Cave

2. Symbolic Significance

a) Entrance to eternal life

b) Endearing Involvement of the Shepherd

c) Enduring Involvement of the Lord Jesus

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

1. Declaration I

“I am the Good Shepherd” John 10:11a

2. Declaration II

“The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep” John 10:11b

a) Predictive

b) Planned

c) Proven

THE HIRELING

¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.” John 10:12-13

1. The hireling is not the shepherd (John 10:12a)

2. Features of the Hireling

a) He does not own the sheep (John 10:12b)

b) He does not care much about the sheep (John 10:13)

c) Shepherding is just a job to him

3. Problems in shepherding

a) Danger may arise

b) Wolves may attack the flock

4. The Hireling’s Response to Danger

a) He sees the wolf coming

b) He leaves the sheep he is supposed to tend

c) He flees 

5. Consequences

a) The wolf captures the sheep

b) It scatters the rest of the flock

c) They would also be in danger when they are scattered

i) They may fall into pits

ii) They may be captured by other animals

iii) They may be in other forms of danger

FURTHER FEATURES OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

1. Re-statement

“I am the Good Shepherd” John 10:14a

a) Stated in contrast to the hireling

b) Stated for emphasis

c) Stated for encouragement

2. Features

a) “I know My sheep” John 14:14b

i) Personal knowledge

ii) Personal interest

b) “And am known by My own” John 14:14c

i) Relationship established

ii) Rapport sustained

c) Sacrifice

“And I lay down My life for the sheep” John 14:15b

OTHER SHEEP

“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.” John 10:16

1. “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold” John 10:16a

a) Israel 

b) Gentile 

2. “Them also I must bring” John 10:16b

a) They hear My voice

b) Just like the original sheep

3. Projection

a) One flock (John 10:16c)

b) One Shepherd (John 10:16d)

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE

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.” John 10:17-18

1. With reference to God the Father

a) God loves the Lord Jesus

i) As Son

ii) As Shepherd

b) One Reason highlighted

i) “Because I lay down My life” John 10:17a

ii) “That I may take it again” John 10:17b

2. A Command (Word) from God the Father

a) “No one takes it from Me” John 10:18a

b) “But I lay it down of Myself” John 10:18b

c) “I have power to lay it down” John 10:18c

d) “And I have power to take it again” John 10:18d

e) “This command I have received from My Father” John 10:18e

MIXED RESPONSE

¹⁹ Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. ²⁰ And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”

²¹ Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” John 10:19-21

1. Division among the Jews because of what the Lord Jesus had said (John 10:19)

2. One group:

a) He is mad

b) “He has a demon”

c) “Why do you listen to Him?” John 10:20

3. Another group

a) “These are not the words of one who has a demon”

b) “Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” John 10:21

CONCLUSION

1. The Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd

a) To be appreciated

b) To be adored

2. The Challenge

a) To know the Shepherd better

b) To develop a stronger relationship with Him