80. WE ALL NEED A GOOD SHEPHERD!Who are you following? It matters.
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How often do you think about sheep and shepherds? Outside of Kurban Bayramı, probably not often! But there is a lot you can learn from them. Have you ever watched a shepherd with his sheep or goats? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit for hours on guard as the animals grazed in the elds? For most of us it would be quite boring. But shepherds have something that many of us don’t, lots of time to think. They also have a lot of responsibility. If they leave their animals unattended, a wolf or dog might kill or attack the sheep. If they don’t pay attention, some might get lost, stolen, or poisoned from plants they shouldn't eat. They also need to make sure that the animals don't eat too much which also causes complications. If the shepherd slacks off in any of these areas he will lose more than the animals; he will lose his income.
Shepherds are also trustworthy. Did you know that sheep are some of the most vulnerable animals on the planet? They have no way to protect themselves and are easily frightened. Therefore, they de- pend on the shepherd to take care of them. From the moment they are born, they form an attachment to the shepherd and remain loyal only to him. Let’s explore this fact in the following illustration.
Atıl loves to go walking with his father in the mountains. Every Sunday afternoon, they pack a lunch, get into the car, and drive out of the city. Although they have several villages to choose from, Atıl always wants to go to the same one. He likes it because there is a
large cave on the side of the mountain behind the village.
Like most kids, Atıl likes to look inside the large cave and touch its strange shaped rocks. But even more fascinating to him are the sheep in the village. For years, a villager has been using this cave as a shelter for his sheep. Every time they go to the village, he hopes that the sheep will be in their pen because he wants to touch them. But on this particular day, they are once again grazing on the mountainside.
After parking the car, Atıl and his father started walking up the val- ley behind the village. It was a beautiful spring day. The smell of wild owers and the sound of rushing water lled the air. There were butter ies, birds, and squirrels. As they came around a bend in the trail, Atıl saw the sheep.
“Well what do you think Atıl? Do you feel lucky today?” his father asked.
“I hope so,” he replied
Atıl slowly walked ahead of his father and got closer to the sheep. He tried not to move too quickly so he wouldn’t startle them. But the sheep had known for a while that he was coming. They heard his unfamiliar footsteps and smelled his fresh washed clothes. Before he could get any closer they began to move away. Atıl knew that if he rushed towards them, they would ee. So he decided to talk softly to them,
“Stay calm. I won’t hurt you. I am your friend,” he whispered.
But they kept moving away from him. In a last chance effort to catch a sheep, Atıl started to run towards them. But his efforts were fruitless. The sheep ed in an instant.
“Uh, why do they always run away? Why can’t I ever pet one?” he complained. “They don’t even give me a chance!”
Atıl’s father just laughed, “Because they don’t know you son. Sheep are like that. They are afraid of everything but their owner.”
“But I walk slow, I talk calmly, and they see me every time I come here.”
“You are right. But they don’t know your voice. You don’t do anything for them. You don’t feed or protect them. They probably think you will hurt them,” his dad replied. “Don’t give up. There is always next time. Let’s see if we can get to the top of the mountain before lunch,” he chuckled.
We can learn several important lessons from this story about both the sheep and shepherds. Just like modern day Turkey, sheep and shepherds were common sights in ancient Israel. They served as excellent metaphors for the behavior of humans and their relationship with God. In fact, some of the Bible’s greatest men were shepherds: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and King David were a few.
Jesus, the greatest storyteller of all time, saw a vivid analogy between the vulnerability of sheep and the human condition. Pay close attention as you read Jesus' words. We can start by reading John chapter 10 verses 1-6:
1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will ee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. 6 This gure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
In his introduction, Jesus mentions four different characters: the sheep, thief, shepherd, and gatekeeper. It is easy to picture what he
is literally saying, but his real point is concealed. If we look at this illustration literally, it summarizes the story we just read. In short, sheep follow the shepherd because they know him. But Jesus, as always, is talking about something deeper. Instead of trying to un- derstand it with our own thoughts, let’s see how Jesus unlocked its meaning. We can continue reading in John chapter 10 verses 7-12:
7 So Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and nd pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Now he is speaking clearly! Jesus said, "I am the door."
But who are the thieves and robbers? Who are the sheep? To really understand what Jesus is saying here, we need to look at what happened in the previous chapter of John. In chapter 9, we can read the story about Jesus healing a blind man. The man was well known because he was a beggar and had been blind since birth. Similar to other times, Jesus performed this miracle on a Sabbath Day.
As we have seen in other lessons, the Sabbath Day was very important for the Jewish people. It reminded them that God was the creator, provided them with a day of rest every week, gave them the opportunity to spend the day with family, and most importantly to contemplate spiritual things. But in Jesus’ day, the Pharisees had taken the joy out of the Sabbath Day and replaced it with hundreds of man-made rules. People weren’t allowed to walk great distances, carry a mat to sit on, or spit in the dirt because these things were considered work. Of course, plowing and watering your fields is work. But spitting on the ground? We would be hard pressed to call that work!
Although the Pharisees may have thought they were protecting the holiness of the Sabbath Day, their actions showed that they were more concerned with controlling the people. So when they heard that Jesus had healed a blind man on the Sabbath they were enraged. Not only was he working, he was defying their rules.
It is absurd to think that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day would be angry because he healed a blind man on the Sabbath. He had just performed a miracle that had never been done in the history of the world. He had literally reversed the “fate” of a man. But they were unable to see the glory of the miracle because they were blinded by jealousy. They were worried that people would listen to Jesus more than them. In short, they were worried that Jesus was undermining their power and positions. It is in this context that we can better un- derstand what Jesus is saying.
In verses 7-12, Jesus said he is both the door of the sheep pen and the good shepherd. The thieves are those who try to influence, take, or lead the sheep without going through the door (i.e., Jesus). In his day, the thieves were the Pharisees and Sadducees who refused to recognize Jesus’ miracles, message, and identity. In another place, Jesus said the thief was Satan himself. Who are the sheep? The sheep were God's people.
Did you notice the three functions of the shepherd/door? First, the door provides a way to salvation. Second, the shepherd watches over the sheep and provides them with an abundant life. The third function shows us how he does that, he gives his life for the sheep! It is apparent from our earlier studies that Jesus really wants the people to understand what he is saying. By repetitively saying the same things, he is stressing the importance and validity of their truths. Jesus is the good shepherd and door. We must go through him if we want to be safe and saved. Let’s read verses 12 and 13:
12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
It is so amazing how Jesus could use the simplest things in life to teach others. In verse 12, he introduces the hired worker as the fth character in the story. Unlike the shepherd, the hired worker is more concerned with his own life than with the sheep’s. If trouble arises, he is quick to ee. Jesus is saying,
“I am not a hired worker, I will not flee from trouble. I will protect my sheep. I will give my life for them so that they can have an abundant life.”
Just in case the people didn’t hear him, Jesus makes the claim again and clarifies whom the sheep are. Let’s continue in John chapter 10 verses 14-16:
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one ock, one shepherd.
Jesus is the good shepherd! Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “I am one of many good shepherds.”
He said that he was “The Good Shepherd." But he said something else that is very important for us. Jesus said that he had “sheep not of this fold.” In other words, he is also the shepherd of those who aren’t Jewish.
Sometimes we are led to believe that religions and cultures go hand in hand. If you don’t follow the religion of those around you, you aren’t Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Turkish, or Iraqi anymore. In their eyes, you are an outcast or traitor. But Jesus is saying that there is only one ock and one shepherd of that ock. Who is the shepherd? In Jesus’ own words, he is! In his own words, he says that if anyone
tries to lead people spiritually without him, they are a thief and liar.
How do you think the Pharisees responded? You can be sure they weren’t happy! Jesus continued speaking in verses 17 and 18:
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may 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 I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.
Jesus closed his short sermon with a powerful statement. Although Jesus was speaking metaphorically in verses 7-16, he lays aside the metaphors and speaks directly in verse 17. In previous lessons, Jesus said that he would suffer and be killed. But in verse 17 he makes it clear that he will not be killed unwillingly. Have you ever heard of someone giving permission for his or her own murder? Well that is essentially what Jesus is saying here. Remember, he isn’t a hired worker. He is the good shepherd. Just like a shepherd would give their life to protect the sheep, he is willing to give his own life that we might live.
Some people say that prophets can’t be mistreated, harmed, or killed. In their opinion, God wouldn’t let anything bad happen to one of his prophets. But in the Old Testament, we see the opposite. It was actually very rare for a prophet to live a secure life of luxury. Daniel was thrown into a lion's den. Joseph was thrown into a pit. Also, John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. The messages that they proclaimed were not words that many leaders and people wanted to hear. In that sense, Jesus’ experience was similar to other prophets. But he also showed how he is different than the other prophets. His claims were bold and shocking.
No other prophet claimed to be the Son of God, the Bread of Life, the Word of God, or the Good Shepherd, which were all endorsed by God when He allowed Jesus’ miracles to take place. It was these kinds of statements that perplexed and angered the Pharisees, Sadducees, and devout Jews. They had read the prophecies and been waiting hundreds of years for the Messiah to come. But this wasn’t the kind of Messiah they expected. Let’s nish by reading John chapter 10 verses 19-21:
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
A father was very concerned about his son’s recent activities. He started hanging out with a new group of friends, went out late at night, and sometimes didn’t come home until the next day. He seemed more interested in “having fun” than school, and his grades were starting to decline. One day he talked to his son,
“Son, what is happening? You don’t hang out with your old friends, your grades are dropping, and you always look tired. Are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?”
“Everything is fine dad. I don’t need to see a doctor,” the son replied.
“I am worried son. I don’t think your new “friends” are really friends. They never come over and I don’t even know them. What do you when you go out?”
“We just walk around, watch movies, and fool around on the computer.”
“Son, in life you will meet people who aren’t what they seem. They may appear nice, loyal, and honest. But in reality they are something else. They are only concerned about themselves. When there is trouble they will turn on you in an instant and leave you alone. You can’t trust them. I think these new friends are like that. They don’t seem to be in uencing you in a positive way. I think they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Be careful!”
Jesus wasn’t a thief masquerading as a shepherd. He wasn’t a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing. His life, works, and words testify that he was who he said he was. He is the Good Shepherd who is willing to give his life that we may have life more abundantly. The voice that you have been listening to up until now is his voice. You hear it, recognize it, and have been following it. Don’t worry about what other people may think or say. Keep following the Good Shepherd!
Discussion Questions
1. When Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd, what does it mean to you?
2. Why do you think Jesus keeps referring to his death?
3. Those who follow Jesus are called disciples of Christ. In your opinion, is it okay for a Turk to be a follower of Jesus? Why or why not?
Be sure to answer according to the Bible.
4. Did you know that some of the earlier Turkic tribes became followers of Jesus and some are still shamanistic? What implications
does that have for us?
Shepherds are also trustworthy. Did you know that sheep are some of the most vulnerable animals on the planet? They have no way to protect themselves and are easily frightened. Therefore, they de- pend on the shepherd to take care of them. From the moment they are born, they form an attachment to the shepherd and remain loyal only to him. Let’s explore this fact in the following illustration.
Atıl loves to go walking with his father in the mountains. Every Sunday afternoon, they pack a lunch, get into the car, and drive out of the city. Although they have several villages to choose from, Atıl always wants to go to the same one. He likes it because there is a
large cave on the side of the mountain behind the village.
Like most kids, Atıl likes to look inside the large cave and touch its strange shaped rocks. But even more fascinating to him are the sheep in the village. For years, a villager has been using this cave as a shelter for his sheep. Every time they go to the village, he hopes that the sheep will be in their pen because he wants to touch them. But on this particular day, they are once again grazing on the mountainside.
After parking the car, Atıl and his father started walking up the val- ley behind the village. It was a beautiful spring day. The smell of wild owers and the sound of rushing water lled the air. There were butter ies, birds, and squirrels. As they came around a bend in the trail, Atıl saw the sheep.
“Well what do you think Atıl? Do you feel lucky today?” his father asked.
“I hope so,” he replied
Atıl slowly walked ahead of his father and got closer to the sheep. He tried not to move too quickly so he wouldn’t startle them. But the sheep had known for a while that he was coming. They heard his unfamiliar footsteps and smelled his fresh washed clothes. Before he could get any closer they began to move away. Atıl knew that if he rushed towards them, they would ee. So he decided to talk softly to them,
“Stay calm. I won’t hurt you. I am your friend,” he whispered.
But they kept moving away from him. In a last chance effort to catch a sheep, Atıl started to run towards them. But his efforts were fruitless. The sheep ed in an instant.
“Uh, why do they always run away? Why can’t I ever pet one?” he complained. “They don’t even give me a chance!”
Atıl’s father just laughed, “Because they don’t know you son. Sheep are like that. They are afraid of everything but their owner.”
“But I walk slow, I talk calmly, and they see me every time I come here.”
“You are right. But they don’t know your voice. You don’t do anything for them. You don’t feed or protect them. They probably think you will hurt them,” his dad replied. “Don’t give up. There is always next time. Let’s see if we can get to the top of the mountain before lunch,” he chuckled.
We can learn several important lessons from this story about both the sheep and shepherds. Just like modern day Turkey, sheep and shepherds were common sights in ancient Israel. They served as excellent metaphors for the behavior of humans and their relationship with God. In fact, some of the Bible’s greatest men were shepherds: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and King David were a few.
Jesus, the greatest storyteller of all time, saw a vivid analogy between the vulnerability of sheep and the human condition. Pay close attention as you read Jesus' words. We can start by reading John chapter 10 verses 1-6:
1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will ee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. 6 This gure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
In his introduction, Jesus mentions four different characters: the sheep, thief, shepherd, and gatekeeper. It is easy to picture what he
is literally saying, but his real point is concealed. If we look at this illustration literally, it summarizes the story we just read. In short, sheep follow the shepherd because they know him. But Jesus, as always, is talking about something deeper. Instead of trying to un- derstand it with our own thoughts, let’s see how Jesus unlocked its meaning. We can continue reading in John chapter 10 verses 7-12:
7 So Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and nd pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Now he is speaking clearly! Jesus said, "I am the door."
But who are the thieves and robbers? Who are the sheep? To really understand what Jesus is saying here, we need to look at what happened in the previous chapter of John. In chapter 9, we can read the story about Jesus healing a blind man. The man was well known because he was a beggar and had been blind since birth. Similar to other times, Jesus performed this miracle on a Sabbath Day.
As we have seen in other lessons, the Sabbath Day was very important for the Jewish people. It reminded them that God was the creator, provided them with a day of rest every week, gave them the opportunity to spend the day with family, and most importantly to contemplate spiritual things. But in Jesus’ day, the Pharisees had taken the joy out of the Sabbath Day and replaced it with hundreds of man-made rules. People weren’t allowed to walk great distances, carry a mat to sit on, or spit in the dirt because these things were considered work. Of course, plowing and watering your fields is work. But spitting on the ground? We would be hard pressed to call that work!
Although the Pharisees may have thought they were protecting the holiness of the Sabbath Day, their actions showed that they were more concerned with controlling the people. So when they heard that Jesus had healed a blind man on the Sabbath they were enraged. Not only was he working, he was defying their rules.
It is absurd to think that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day would be angry because he healed a blind man on the Sabbath. He had just performed a miracle that had never been done in the history of the world. He had literally reversed the “fate” of a man. But they were unable to see the glory of the miracle because they were blinded by jealousy. They were worried that people would listen to Jesus more than them. In short, they were worried that Jesus was undermining their power and positions. It is in this context that we can better un- derstand what Jesus is saying.
In verses 7-12, Jesus said he is both the door of the sheep pen and the good shepherd. The thieves are those who try to influence, take, or lead the sheep without going through the door (i.e., Jesus). In his day, the thieves were the Pharisees and Sadducees who refused to recognize Jesus’ miracles, message, and identity. In another place, Jesus said the thief was Satan himself. Who are the sheep? The sheep were God's people.
Did you notice the three functions of the shepherd/door? First, the door provides a way to salvation. Second, the shepherd watches over the sheep and provides them with an abundant life. The third function shows us how he does that, he gives his life for the sheep! It is apparent from our earlier studies that Jesus really wants the people to understand what he is saying. By repetitively saying the same things, he is stressing the importance and validity of their truths. Jesus is the good shepherd and door. We must go through him if we want to be safe and saved. Let’s read verses 12 and 13:
12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
It is so amazing how Jesus could use the simplest things in life to teach others. In verse 12, he introduces the hired worker as the fth character in the story. Unlike the shepherd, the hired worker is more concerned with his own life than with the sheep’s. If trouble arises, he is quick to ee. Jesus is saying,
“I am not a hired worker, I will not flee from trouble. I will protect my sheep. I will give my life for them so that they can have an abundant life.”
Just in case the people didn’t hear him, Jesus makes the claim again and clarifies whom the sheep are. Let’s continue in John chapter 10 verses 14-16:
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one ock, one shepherd.
Jesus is the good shepherd! Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “I am one of many good shepherds.”
He said that he was “The Good Shepherd." But he said something else that is very important for us. Jesus said that he had “sheep not of this fold.” In other words, he is also the shepherd of those who aren’t Jewish.
Sometimes we are led to believe that religions and cultures go hand in hand. If you don’t follow the religion of those around you, you aren’t Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Turkish, or Iraqi anymore. In their eyes, you are an outcast or traitor. But Jesus is saying that there is only one ock and one shepherd of that ock. Who is the shepherd? In Jesus’ own words, he is! In his own words, he says that if anyone
tries to lead people spiritually without him, they are a thief and liar.
How do you think the Pharisees responded? You can be sure they weren’t happy! Jesus continued speaking in verses 17 and 18:
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may 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 I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.
Jesus closed his short sermon with a powerful statement. Although Jesus was speaking metaphorically in verses 7-16, he lays aside the metaphors and speaks directly in verse 17. In previous lessons, Jesus said that he would suffer and be killed. But in verse 17 he makes it clear that he will not be killed unwillingly. Have you ever heard of someone giving permission for his or her own murder? Well that is essentially what Jesus is saying here. Remember, he isn’t a hired worker. He is the good shepherd. Just like a shepherd would give their life to protect the sheep, he is willing to give his own life that we might live.
Some people say that prophets can’t be mistreated, harmed, or killed. In their opinion, God wouldn’t let anything bad happen to one of his prophets. But in the Old Testament, we see the opposite. It was actually very rare for a prophet to live a secure life of luxury. Daniel was thrown into a lion's den. Joseph was thrown into a pit. Also, John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. The messages that they proclaimed were not words that many leaders and people wanted to hear. In that sense, Jesus’ experience was similar to other prophets. But he also showed how he is different than the other prophets. His claims were bold and shocking.
No other prophet claimed to be the Son of God, the Bread of Life, the Word of God, or the Good Shepherd, which were all endorsed by God when He allowed Jesus’ miracles to take place. It was these kinds of statements that perplexed and angered the Pharisees, Sadducees, and devout Jews. They had read the prophecies and been waiting hundreds of years for the Messiah to come. But this wasn’t the kind of Messiah they expected. Let’s nish by reading John chapter 10 verses 19-21:
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
A father was very concerned about his son’s recent activities. He started hanging out with a new group of friends, went out late at night, and sometimes didn’t come home until the next day. He seemed more interested in “having fun” than school, and his grades were starting to decline. One day he talked to his son,
“Son, what is happening? You don’t hang out with your old friends, your grades are dropping, and you always look tired. Are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?”
“Everything is fine dad. I don’t need to see a doctor,” the son replied.
“I am worried son. I don’t think your new “friends” are really friends. They never come over and I don’t even know them. What do you when you go out?”
“We just walk around, watch movies, and fool around on the computer.”
“Son, in life you will meet people who aren’t what they seem. They may appear nice, loyal, and honest. But in reality they are something else. They are only concerned about themselves. When there is trouble they will turn on you in an instant and leave you alone. You can’t trust them. I think these new friends are like that. They don’t seem to be in uencing you in a positive way. I think they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Be careful!”
Jesus wasn’t a thief masquerading as a shepherd. He wasn’t a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing. His life, works, and words testify that he was who he said he was. He is the Good Shepherd who is willing to give his life that we may have life more abundantly. The voice that you have been listening to up until now is his voice. You hear it, recognize it, and have been following it. Don’t worry about what other people may think or say. Keep following the Good Shepherd!
Discussion Questions
1. When Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd, what does it mean to you?
2. Why do you think Jesus keeps referring to his death?
3. Those who follow Jesus are called disciples of Christ. In your opinion, is it okay for a Turk to be a follower of Jesus? Why or why not?
Be sure to answer according to the Bible.
4. Did you know that some of the earlier Turkic tribes became followers of Jesus and some are still shamanistic? What implications
does that have for us?