The Lord's Day Bible Message Outlines
June 6, 2010
Pastor Dana Johnson
"The good shepherd
gives His life for the sheep."
-John
10:11
"I am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd gives His life for the
sheep."
1. Our good shepherd,
the Lord Jesus, contrasts Himself with:
a. Thieves
and robbers
John
10:8 - "All who ever came before Me are thieves and
robbers, but the sheep did not hear them."
1) "all" -
The word is used in its popular usage; the general
rule, though there were exceptions (like John, the
prophet). Jesus may be referring to the false
shepherds of Jeremiah (23:1) and Ezekiel's (34:2-3)
day and the scribes and Pharisees of His own
day.
2) "thieves" -
This refers to the way they disguise themselves to
deceive others.
3) "robbers" -
This word highlights the oppressive and violent nature
of their crime.
4) What do they
steal? They steal material resources as well as the
devotion, attention and honor that belongs only to the
Lord. As blind leaders of the blind they steal an
opportunity for instruction and help.
5) The good
shepherd gives in contrast with the robber who
takes.
b. The hired
servant.
John
10:12 - "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."
1) The
hired servant does not own the sheep.
John
10:12 - "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."
2) Therefore, he
does not value them, nor does he have any special
feelings for them.
John
10:13 - "The hireling flees because he is a hireling
and does not care about the sheep."
3) Therefore, he
does not protect the sheep.
4) The good
shepherd gives His life in contrast with the hired
servant who flees to save his life.
2. Remember who the
sheep are - sinful humans. What motivated Jesus to give
Himself for us sinners?
a. His
relationship to His Father.
John
10:15, 18 - "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the
Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
18No 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."
b. The sheep were
given to Him by His Father.
John
10:29 - "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater
than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My
Father's hand."
3. Regarding the
question of the extent of the atonement:
a. There are
some depictions of the atonement (Passover, brass
serpent) that indicate its sufficiency for whoever comes
to faith.
b. There are other
depictions (like Christ as shepherd) that indicate Christ
gave Himself specifically for the elect of
God.
4. As a result of the
shepherd's sacrificial love:
a. We are
saved from Satan's evil intentions.
b. We have
life.
John
10:10, 28 - "The thief does not come except to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have
life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
28And I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My
hand."
(All
Scripture quoted is from the New King James
Version)
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