Jesus is the Good Shepherd

Jesus The Good Shepherd John 10:11-14; Psalm 23:1-6


Jesus The Pastor,Shepherd
The Good Shepherd, there must be a bad one.
The Thief Comes not but for to Steal Kill and Destroy
But I come to give Life and That more abundantly. John 10:10
I am the Good Shepherd:
A.)The Good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep
The hireling and not the shepherd sees the wolf coming and
Leaves the sheep, flees The Wolf Catches the sheep and
scatters them.
B.)I am the Good Shepherd -I know my sheep and am known of them
The Father knows me, and in the same way I know the Father
Knowing the Father, I lay down my life for the sheep
We are not to be concerned about the "other sheep"
C.)When Jesus wants to say something he paints a picture with
words.
In the New Testament there are 14 other references to pastor as
the Greek word is used
Seven times refer to an actual pastor of real sheep
Seven times refer to the office of pastor in the Church
If we are to understand the allegory and Paul's mystery of the
church we are to understand that the church becomes the
manifestation of Christ in this age, in short the church
becomes the pastor to the sheep On this principle hangs the
first half of the lesson. It matters little how much Jesus
is the pastor or even the Great Shepherd if it does not touch
the heart of the person. In order to actually experience the
mystery of being Sheep, the church must provide the context of
the situation. In many lands, peoples, societies and families
the specific out working of this mystery takes different forms
and styles. Since the early fifties a new phenomenon has begun
to develop across the face of the church. In Korea a pastor
named Yonggi Cho
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoido_Full_Gospel_Church)
using the gifts and people available to him, developed a new
style of effecting the job of pastor. His was a society where
women were the driving force within the family and the streets
remembered the action of war only a few years earlier.
Destruction and rubble wallpapered the hearts of the believers.
His mother-in-law responded to hurt, loneliness and pain that
littered the community around her. She approached her
son-in-law with the proposition, could she organize a small
group of the ladies to minister to other ladies in a way to
which ladies could understand and respond.
Together with her daughter (the pastors wife) she met with
eight others of different ages and backgrounds. Pastor Cho had
already worked for nearly four years with almost no apparent
success to build his church. Almost dismissively the pastor's
blessing was given. This idea however was one whose time had
come! Not since Acts 2:46 had the church functioned on a
discrete level touching the souls of each individual "where one
really lived." The results in Korea were similar to those in
Jerusalem in first century. The church multiplied. As each
group developed the miniature living rooms could hold only a
few. By default each group would begin to subdivide with a new
leader stepping forward to "look after the sheep." The room
size requirements forced the group size to twelve and less.
After certain problems developed administration caused the
church as a whole to require size limits for the grouped to be
twelve or less. Jesus told a parable of a shepherd with 100
sheep, ninety-nine were accounted for yet one was lost. In the
ears of His listeners, a flock of a hundred was a substantial
lot! Today the average church, in this century is one hundred
or less. It seems that this is a threshold above which the
more needy of the flock drift away, needs unmet. With Yonggi
Cho in Korea the small groups cared for the minor needs of the
general population. In the likely event someone had a need
greater than the small group could pastor, that person drifted
to pastor of the group immediately before. If the specifics of
that problem, were greater the person would be passed up higher
and higher until at the last the sheep would be in the presence
of the wisest in the growing church. In this manner all sheep
were pastored and "Not one was lost!" Currently the flock
numbers 852,000. Over the years other churches have adopted
this small group style of pastoring the needs of the sheep.
Those that have effectively incorporated this "small group
concept" have grown to a point that in every city in the world
there exists churches well over the 100 person limit that the
one shepherds is able to care for. In the Southern Baptist
Convention, when a church gets to a size that a new pastor is
needed, one is hired. Soon he develops "his flock" and the
multiplication process begins anew. Because no one can serve
two masters he soon splits off to a new building across the
street or across town.


At Lake Pointe we have incorporated this concept in our ABF
(Adult Bible Fellowship.) It meets in the structure of the
"Sunday School" but effectively functions as a small group
fellowship. Each "pastor-teacher" organizes the people into
smaller groups that meet regularly in homes or cafes where each
person may exchange the thoughts of their heart. In this manner,
our leadership may touch the needs of more than the one hundred
person cap that hovers over most churches.

The second half of our lesson expands upon the Psalm 23
This image, "The Lord is my Shepherd, eliminates from David of old
in Psalm 23. Phillip Keller in "A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23"
describes admirably the picture described in the Prophetic ritings.

1) The Lord is my shepherd! The shepherd purchases the sheep and owns them. They each know that they belong to this shepherd. A
good Shepherd would have strong healthy sheep each of whom would have a very personal relationship with the pastor. A shepherd not quite so good would omit the doctoring of the pest bites, and scrapes of the shrubbery that sheep experienced while feeding. He might neglect to move the sheep to greener pastures or to drive off predictors. Pitiful members of these flocks displayed the lack of care as sheep are very needful of regular and diligent care. But then again Adonai (Lord) would own each member of his estate. When a person experiences "Born Again" experience he does so by proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior of his life.(Rom 10: 9-10.)

2) I shall not want. David pictures not only the lack of need but the sentence construction of placing an immediate negative actually implies a complete and utter contentment with their state in life. So complete was the satisfaction the person would never think to look anywhere else for source of need. As with many doctrines of the Christian paradigm, excesses manifest. It is imperative to keep a balanced view of life remembering great men of faith experienced lack and deprivation in the course of their daily life. Consider John The Baptist who ate only grasshoppers (or beans depending on the interpretation), Then there was Elijah also dressed in sheepskin. As deception is prone to do, some modern teaching depicts those who lack as being of "little faith." In truth the Lord gives increase with out adding grief there with. Such is a more gentile thing than the excesses of "Faith" that are taught by some. This does indeed contrast against the verse John 10:10 where Jesus proclaims that you will have life and have it abundantly.

3) He maketh Me to Lie down in Green Pastures. Sheep will never lie down unless several conditions are met. First they must experience no fear. They instinctively know that they are a most vulnerable breed. Second, they could not know strife. As in most animals groups, there remains a "pecking order." An older larger and experienced ewe always claims for herself the best graze, water and spots of rest and especially the strongest buck.With pecks, bites, and stomps this preeminent one bosses the subservient members of the flock. For a sheep to lie down all must be "in order" with no strife. Third each sheep must experience no pest, or other discomfort. A standing sheep can jump away from or swat a fly or other biting insect. Fourth and obviously a sheep must be free from hunger. Only then could a sheep trust the staff of the shepherd to "lay down in green pastures." Keller notes that once there was a ewe who forever wandered off in curiosity to see what lay over the next hill. Such a discontented sheep require constant watch and supervision as other sheep would wander off into unsafe area and attendant danger. The next year with great relief the knife eliminated the wandering ewe and her problems. Additionally the shepherd exerted much work and time keeping the pasture green and supple to meet the needs of his sheep.

4) He leadeth me beside still waters. Although sheep's feet are made for dry an arid ground, they still require water.The shepherd by hard and diligent work clears water holes, and seep pits, He also shifts the location of the flock from place to place as needed by the sheep. In the hot summer months, he will even move the sheep up to the mountains to eat the dew found on the leaf of the grass early in the morning. This provided sufficient water for each sheep for the duration of the day. Sheep of the Good Shepherd also moves the little ones from place to place to drink of the water of the Holy Spirit."Generally speaking the sheep obtain water from dew on the grass, deep wells, or gentle brooks and streams." Believers today obtain vital nourishment from the Holy Spirit in similar ways.

5) He restoreth my soul. Remember that it is a sheep that is in the care of the good shepherd that we are thinking of. Each ear would know of the need for a "cast-down" sheep to be "restored!" But what causes a sheep to be "cast down"? Some sheep are more prone to this distress than others. David knew of the bitter taste of tears, and disappointment. He knew personally of the hopelessness and lack of strength that comes form this "cast-down" experience. This old English word describes a sheep on his back and helpless to get himself up. He in this position would need to rust a shepherd to get him up. With slender legs and a large clumsy body once a top heavy sheep lost his balance and landed on his back, he would eventually die if a person could not lift him up. Excess weight of unshorn wool added to the problem. This image bears out in the flock of the Lord. A full grown sheep that delivers no usefulness is more prone to "down-cast" than one who is busy in the Kingdom producing much fruit for the master. Some basic principles apply to both sheep and children of the Good Shepherd. First the ones always looking for the soft spot are in danger. They will pick soft round holes of sorts to lie in as these are cooler and over time more comfortable. These also are places that over time are spots where a careless foot may slip capsizing the sheep leaving him cast down. Unwillingness to "endure hardness" leaves one susceptible to "cast down." Over time this yields to a second characteristic. Seeking soft places hinders the development of endurance. Such endurance carries a person or a sheep over the rough times of life that are sure to come. A parallel characteristic is lack of personal self-discipline. Sheep like people often permit self-indulgence seeking the soft and easy places to eat sleep or live their life. Others find themselves top heavy with burdens weighted down so to speak with the excess. Wool thick and plush; in scripture depicts the self life. Such is, with believers as well as sheep, burdened with the self life are those who might be easily cast down. Wool never was allowed to the Priest in the Holy of Holies, as this depicted self, pride, personal preference comfort, or warmth. God will not tolerate this of a priest representing the flock of the people of Israel. As Peter matured, Jesus promised that he would go to a place he would not want to go, and do things he would prefer not to do. This describes a life of self sacrifice. The assertion and endurance required leaves no space of time to be cast down. A last reason to be cast down resides in the simple condition of carrying too much weight. Balancing work and eats so as to maintain good weight keeps a sheep from becoming too heavy thus susceptible to cast down.

6)He leads me in paths of Righteousness for his name sake. "Sheep are notorious creatures of habit." Keller asserts. For this reason a flock will soon eat away the forage near to the path. The shepherd must continually guide the sheep this way or that maintaining the health of the pasture. Whole country sides are forever changed by sloppiness in feeding sheep. In the same way believers must assertively pursue a path of rightness and truth. This would not usually be an easy path, but instead it would be a path less traveled. There are some who remain stubborn or stiff necked. People like do not submit to the leadership of the shepherd.
Seven attitudes pervade those who follow the shepherd to fresh pastures.
1) Love others more than himself.
2) The attitude to stand alone when necessary.
3) Forgo self rights.
4) Willingness to be at the bottom of the heap. Be last if need be. a lack of competition.
5) Gratitude, In everything give thanks
6) Differ to others instead of asserting self-will.
7) Similarly an attitude of obedience. His directions are always to a path of righteousness.

7) Yea though I walk through he valley of the shadow of Death. From the arrangement of the poetry this phrase is the pivot point of the message of the Psalm.23. The sheep is speaking for himself and describes the situation of walking in great danger. In the heat of summer, the shepherd will mount the march up the side of the mountain and through the long narrow valley surrounded by rough rock cliffs. In these parts, often a mountain cat or wolf would await in the crevices hoping for a straggler that would make an easy meal. In order to reach to mountain top the sheep must needs travel through the valley. In years gone by I worked as a unit room mechanic. That would be the place where power plant repairs would need to be made. Like many professions there was a natural cycle of business. In the winter and early spring the potential service was limited. I discovered that I would need to use the time as efficiently as possible. If I did not get the work allowed me done a little faster than the next man, I would not receive the only remaining job scheduled. I used the time as quickly as possible employing all skills that I could muster. During the quiet times I would rehearse everything in my mind that I had done on the job. As I thought about this until I had cleared up any lost time. If another job with similar requirements would arrive, I could practice the new skills until all was as practiced as possible. Later in the year when business was flush, I would continue to practice the skills learned. In this way I would collect the profit gained from this knowledge when business was good. In the lean times I would learn then collect when times were good. In Hebrews 11 we have the hall of faith, In the first half the men overcame by faith. On the other hand the second group endured through faith. Both experiences required faith and exemplified courage. It is in the Valley that each person gets to know the shepherd personally, not simply as a story another has told. He then could encourage others with the comfort with which he himself was comforted. He also has a method for relief that he could tell others. The question was not whether a person will have a valley experience, but how he will react to the valley.

8) The Sheep said, I will fear no evil, thou are. with me. That seems adequate, The Lord is with me, This is exactly the same thing that comforts the sheep.

9) Thy rod and thy staff comfort me. The staff is a twelve foot branch dried and cured to use to reach across the group of sheep to nudge one on the other side. In this way all knew that the shepherd watched each and every one. This was a comfort to one and all. The Rod was made from the knurled root of a tree partially revealed at the edge of a creek bank that had been washed. He would also cut and trim the piece to use as a piece to throw, strike or jab. The are common and universal tools of the trade. The rod would also whack an unruly sheep that caused trouble. The peace that resulted within the flock truly comforted the balance of the sheep. It also comforted the unruly ones well. The rod speaks of the Word. It implies Authority. The rod also counted the sheep noting if any were missing. It also opened the fleece to examine for sores or insect bites. He could then apply salve to medicate the wound.

10) Thou prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.. The mountain side contained the best forage, It also represented the more dangerous land. Feeding the enemy go a long way toward eliminating them altogether.

11) Thou anoints my head with oil. With Summer the flies swarm. They lay eggs that turn into worms.Any bloody place becomes a host for worms. Worms grow and as they do they cause additional damage. The Oil will dissolve eggs and worms promoting healing. A daily anointing of Oil of the Holy Spirit works to heal heart and soul every day. The continual presence of the Holy Spirit causes a blessing that promotes healing of all other wounds and diseases. The daily thoughts of the anointing causes a person's mind set, to center on healthful and blessed thoughts.

12) I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Choices! choices! The Lord honors our choices. If we see his flock as a place to live in forever, that choice is indeed forever. A thought becomes a plan, A plan in times a course. A course in time becomes a life, a life in time becomes a destiny. It all starts with a choice for God and Godliness.