Pastor Slaughter

April 25, 2021

Good Shepherd Sunday

John 10:11-18

Listen to Your Good Shepherd

Why do we listen to people? What makes us even want to listen to something that someone says? I am not just talking about hearing what someone says, but rather listening in the sense that not only hears what someone says but listening that involves doing what they say.

What do you think makes us want to listen to something that someone says? Is it simply what they do/did for you that leads you to want to listen to what they have to say? Is there something about their personality like being charismatic, kind, or caring that draws you to them…that makes you want to listen to them? Is it their relationship to you, your parent or spouse, your teacher or pastor or employer that leads you to want to listen to them?

On the flip side, what keeps you from listening to someone? Is it something that they did/do to you that keeps you from wanting to listen to them? Is it their personality where they seem very selfish where they don’t seem to care about you but only for themselves? Is it your personality where you don’t want to listen because it’s not something you want to do?

How well do you listen to Christ? It’s interesting thought isn’t? Because as I look at the church this Sunday, I am so thankful to see all of you here today gathered around God’s word, to listen to that word and sing praise to your savior. I thank God for all of you here today and watching online. But there are times where we have to admit that we have failed to listen to Jesus. Because at times, what he says may be difficult for us to do, or at times we simply don’t want to listen. My prayer today is that you are encouraged to listen because of this special relationship that you have with Jesus, that you are encouraged to Listen to Your Good Shepherd.

Jesus has this very special connection with you. Jesus has this very special relationship with you and uses the picture of a shepherd and his sheep to illustrate that. To show this, he compares himself, the Good Shepherd, to the hired hand. The hired hand works and does his job. There is no personal connection with the sheep except the money he makes. He does his job. If danger comes around, if that wolf comes to attack the sheep, he will leave them. He will abandon them. And really that makes sense. What is more valuable? His life or the sheep? He doesn’t care about them except the coin that makes by watching them. To him he is far more valuable.

The Good Shepherd is different. When he looks at his sheep, he doesn’t see dollar signs but his precious sheep. Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (v. 14) This knowledge comes through experience and loving fellowship with the Good Shepherd. The sheep know their shepherd because he brought them to be a part of his flock (v.16). He is the one that leads them to green pastures. He is the one that leads them to water. As the shepherd takes care of the sheep, he knows them and he knows what they need.

Think about what Jesus is saying here for a moment. “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” Jesus is saying that he knows you as a shepherd knows his sheep. He knows exactly what you need. He knows your every care and worry, your every joy and happiness. Your every concern and fear, your every struggle and temptation. In fact, he knows you so well that makes a comparison and describes knowing you, “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (v.15a). The way that Jesus knows the Father and the way the Father knows the Son is unique and special that really goes beyond our understanding of how the triune God knows each other. But Jesus is saying I know you like that. I know everything about you!

Your Good Shepherd knows exactly what you need. Right after he says he knows his sheep, Jesus says, “And I lay down my life for the sheep” (v.15b). This is the second time in our lesson that Jesus says he lays down his life for the sheep.  If there is any doubt that Jesus cares about you, Jesus says, “I laid down my life for you.” If you feel alone and abandoned, “I lay down my life for you.” If the situation and the circumstances you find yourself in causes you fear, Jesus says, “I lay down my life for you.”

Think about how that changes our outlook on things. In the midst of every fear, worry, danger, all those scenarios that tempts us to doubt that God cares or loves us, He says “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” for you. Everything seems to be turned upside-down. Jesus the one through whom everything was made freely and willingly sacrifices himself for the sheep. Unlike the hired hand, who ran away from danger who didn’t care about the sheep, Jesus marched to the cross to lay down his life. Here our good shepherd proves he isn’t going to abandon his sheep, he proves that he cares by giving all that he had.

Our Good Shepherd sought us out and brought us through the power of his Word and made us a part of his flock. “I also have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd” (v. 16). Did you catch what Jesus’ sheep do? He says they will listen to my voice.

There is this really cool picture here. When I thought about shepherds, I would picture them driving…pushing them toward to where they wanted them to go. But that is not case. In this culture, the shepherd would go out in front. He would lead them and they would follow. They will listen to his voice. Why? Because he cares for them, loves them, will provide for them, because he lays down his life for them. The sheep listen because they know their shepherd. And they know that what he says is for their good.

Dearly loved members of Jesus’ precious flock, isn’t that a part of the reason why you are gathered here today? To hear Jesus precious word? To hear how it is applied to your lives? To be refreshed by that word, so that you can go out into the world? To not only be assured of the forgiveness of sins, but to hear and to learn what it means to follow Christ?

There is that desire to listen, not only to hear but to do what our Good Shepherd says in his word because he laid down his life for us, his sheep. But when I hear Jesus say, “and they will listen to my voice” my heart skips a beat and I immediately think to the times where I have failed. Because there is this tug, a little pull on our sinful nature. That wants to listen to the world. To listen to lies that make sin seem enjoyable. To listen to what our culture says is right or wrong. Those times when we have fallen into sin and guilt begins to rise and the devil tugs at our conscience and says that there is no way God could love and forgive you.

When we listen to the to those lies, it like we begin to wander away from our good shepherd. When our Good Shepherd says his sheep will listen to his voice, He is not telling us that for his benefit, like we fill some great void or need in God’s life, but it for our benefit. Because what happens when we being to wander away and not listen to him? We become lamb chops! Food for the wolves.

But God commissioned Jesus, our Good Shepherd, to do what we could not. To live that perfect life, to lay down his life and to take it up again! Jesus laid down his life for you. You are not defined by your sinful nature. But your Good Shepherd made you a part of his flock. You are his sheep. His sheep listen to his voice. So when the world begins to tug at your sinful nature, you listen to your Good Shepherd because he cares for you. When tempted with lies and lures of the world, you run back to voice of your Good Shepherd who isn’t going to abandon you. When you have fallen into sin, your Good Shepherd has already rescued you by dying, and rising, and forgiving.

Dear members of Jesus’ precious flock, why do we listen Jesus? Is it something he did and does for us? Certainly! Is it because of something that is at the core of who he is, that he is caring and loving? Certainly! Is it because of who he is? Yes. Jesus is your Good Shepherd who laid down his life for you…and took it up again to shepherd you to eternal life!