JESUS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD

John 10:1-21; Psalm 23:1-6

One of the most lovey psalms is Psalm 23, written by King David concerning The Lord Jesus Christ. There He pictures the Lord as The loving Shepherd. That psalm brought comfort to millions. Jesus proclaimed in John 10 that He is the Good Shepherd, while those who believe in Him are His sheep. The metaphors of Shepherd and sheep can surely give believers comfort and assurance in a world full of wickedness and heartlessness. When believers understand who Jesus is to us and what He has done and what He still does for us, we will live our lives with great confidence and trust. He saves us. He leads us, He guides us, He provides for us. He protects us. We are His sheep. We are His chosen ones. We are His body We are His holy people. He is preparing heaven for us. What a wonderful state we are in. There will be trials, temptations, tribulations, persecution… but He will make us more than conquerors, We are therefore challenged to live as Christians, as sheep dependent on the Shepherd, bearing fruit, meeting Christ’s expectations. In that way the world will be won to Christ.

Christ’s Role As The Good Shepherd

He Has Compassion For The helpless (Mt.9:36; Mark 6:34)

He Seeks Lost Sheep (Mat.18:12-14)

He Lays Down His Life For The sheep (John 10:11, 14-18)

He Knows His Sheep (John 10:14-15, 27-28)

He Provides For His Sheep (John 10:9, 28; Psalm 23:1-6)

He Judges The Sheep (Mat.25:32-46)

When we read the life of Christ on earth, it leaves us in no doubt as why He chose the title of Shepherd. As The Great Shepherd, the promised Shepherd, He came to seek His sheep – first the lost sheep of Israel, then lost nations and people who have lost the image of God in which they were created (Mat.18:12-14; Luke 19:9-10). His compassion was reflected many times as he watched hapless humanity grouping about and scattered like sheep without a shepherd (Mat.9:36; Mark 6:34). He gave His life to save His sheep (John 10:11, 14-18). He knows His sheep by name (John 10:1-5)! This is wonderful comfort and assurance for all believers. Jesus Christ knows you by name. With this we come to the fact that He provides for all our needs (Psalm 23:1-6). Since the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want (lack). I shall not lack Rest. I shall not lack Refreshment. I shall not lack Restoration. I shall not lack Companionship in the hour of trial. I shall not lack Comfort. I shall not lack Provision. I shall not lack unction. I shall not lack satisfaction. I shall not lack goodness and mercy. I shall not lack a home in heaven at last!.

Christ the Good shepherd will judge the sheep. The judgement seat of Christ for His sheep is a place of reward and honour for all His faithful disciples.

 

Christians As Christ’s Flock

The Sheep Of Christ (John 10:16; Jer.31:10)

The Chosen People (1Pet.2:9)

A Holy People (Eph.5:3)

Temple Of The Living God (1Cor.3:16-17; 2Cor.6:19)

The Elect Of God (Tit.1:1; 1Pet.1:1)

The Body Of Christ ( Acts 2:28; 1Cor.12:12-16; Eph.1:18-23)

Christians have the high privilege of being called the sheep of Christ. All the privileges, all the blessings, all the protection that Christ brings are enjoyed by Christians who truly know Him as their shepherd. As His sheep Christians have become part of God’s chosen people (1Pet.2:9). The people of Israel at the start were God’s chosen people through whom the message of Christ would be preached to the world. After the Church was formed, believers began to be added to the Church as the called out or chosen people of God.

Although it may sometimes sound like it, the Church has not replaced Israel (Rom.11:1-5, 17-21). God will still save a remnant. All the 144000 that will follow Christ when He returns are all Israelites. They are the ones who will proclaim the everlasting gospel to the world during the tribulation. They will convert multitudes to Christ (Rev.7:1-4; 14:1-5). Jesus will give them apostolic power to preach and they will declare the everlasting gospel and convert many. Jewish people are part of God’s end-time plans.

Believers also have the privilege of being called the temple of the living God ( 1Cor.3:16-17; 2Cor.6:19). God dwells in us. He wants to walk among us and be our God and we His people (John 14:21-23). What a great privilege. The Church as a whole is described as the body of Christ, with Christ Himself being the Head. Because Christ is our head, there is leadership, direction and sanity available for those who will follow His leading.

Christ’s Expectation of Christians

Study The Bible Regularly (Acts 17:11; Psa. 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16,17)

Pray Always (Phil. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:7; Matt. 6:9-13; 1 Thess. 5:17; Mat.26:41)

Preach The Gospel To Others (Acts 8:4; Prov. 11:30; John 4:28-30,39; 1:40-46)

Commit To A Local Living Church (Acts 9:26-28; 11:26; Heb. 13:17; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 4:16)

Live Uprightly (Luke 10:25-37; Eph.5:22-33; 6:1-4; Rom.13:1-5)

The scripture is full of instructions on how to live as Christians. What we have here is just a selection of just a few of those things we must be doing to maintain the life in the Spirit imparted unto us at conversion.

As we study the Bible we learn the will of God and are able to discern between truth and error, thus we can remain on the right part. Prayer is of paramount importance in the life of the Christian. There can be no substitute for prayer. It is the only way we communicate to and get things from God. We are saved and commanded to reach out to others. When we obey the Lord in this way His blessing will follow. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. You must fully commit yourself to the assemblies of a living Church in order to pray, worship, sing and study God’s word together. Christ wants us to live uprightly. As we read in (Psalm 37:37), uprightness is the life Christ has called us unto and which we must live.

Concluding Remarks

The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-6):-

I shall not lack Rest. I shall not lack Refreshment.

I shall not lack Restoration. I shall not lack  Companionship in the hour of trial.

I shall not lack Comfort. I shall not lack Provision. I shall not lack unction. I shall not lack satisfaction.

I shall not lack goodness and mercy. I shall not lack a home in heaven at last!