God’s Got Other Sheep for You to Reach

Today’s passage is John 10:11-21.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

John 10:11-13 (NIV)
¹¹  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
¹²  The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
¹³  The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

On verses 11-13:  Here Jesus calls himself the good shepherd, the one who loves the sheep so much that he would lay down his life for the sheep.  This is exactly what Jesus would do for us when he would die on the cross for our sins.

Who is the “hired hand” that verses 12-13 are referring to?  It is not absolutely clear.  Israel had had its share of corrupt kings, lying prophets and false messiahs who should have led and taken care of Israel but only took care of themselves.  Prophets like Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 23:1-4, for example), Ezekiel (see Ezekiel 34:2) and Zechariah (see Zechariah 11) would speak against them.  Perhaps these were the “hired hands” Jesus was referring to.  Alternatively, Jesus could simply be using the image of a hired hand as a foil, that is, as a hypothetical picture to contrast with what the good shepherd is like.

John 10:14-15 (NIV)
¹⁴  “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me–
¹⁵  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.

On verses 14-15:  Here Jesus the good shepherd speaks about the intimate relationship he has with his sheep, how he knows the sheep and the sheep know him (v14).  He compares the closeness and intimacy of that relationship to the relationship Jesus has with the Father (v15).

What can we learn from this?  They say that in business it’s not what you know but who you know.  That is even truer in the kingdom of God.  No matter how much you think you know about the Bible, religion, or philosophy, you only come into the flock called the kingdom of God by knowing the shepherd who is Jesus.  It’s a relationship with Jesus, not your own knowledge, that saves you.

John 10:16 (NIV)
¹⁶  I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

On verse 16:  Who is Jesus referring to when he talks about “other sheep that are not of this sheep pen” and that he must “bring them also”?  He is likely referring to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish people of this world.  Jesus came to rescue and save people from every nation, background and culture.  Together all those who trust in Jesus form one flock under one shepherd.

What can we learn from this?  Jesus isn’t content to just have the sheep He currently has.  He wants to bring in as many people as possible.  If we are followers of Jesus, we are to have a heart like Jesus to see those who don’t know Jesus come to know him.  God is on a mission to save as many people as possible.  We are sheep on mission with our shepherd to lead other lost sheep into Jesus’ fold.

John 10:17-18 (NIV)
¹⁷  The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life–only to 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 authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

On verses 17-18:  Four times in John 10:11-18 Jesus talks about laying down his life.  In other words, Jesus would voluntarily give up his life for us, as verse 18 emphasizes.  At the same time, we also learn from these verses that laying down Jesus’ life was something that the Father commanded Jesus to do, and that is why the Father loves him (i.e. is so proud of him). So which one is it: was Jesus commanded to lay down his life or did Jesus choose to do it?  Both.  Jesus, in obedience to his Father’s will, chooses to lay down his life for us.

Finally, notice that not only would Jesus lay down his life, but he would “take it up again” (v17).  Here Jesus refers not only to his death but also to his resurrection.  Jesus conquered our two biggest problems – sin and death – by his crucifixion and by his resurrection.

John 10:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  At these words the Jews were again divided.
²⁰  Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
²¹  But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

On verses 19-21:  The people were divided over who Jesus is (v19).  The same is true today.  Don’t let the presence of many different opinions about who Jesus is discourage you from discovering who Jesus is for yourself.  One day, when you stand before God in heaven, He will effectively ask you, “Who do you say Jesus is?”  At that time, He won’t ask you what other people say, but what you say.  Each of us needs to make a decision on who Jesus is: was Jesus crazy?  Was Jesus lying? Or is Jesus who he says he is?

Take a good look at the different opinions and ask yourself, “Which opinion, which perspective, makes the most sense considering all the evidence available?”  I think you’ll find that the most reasonable conclusion based on the evidence is that Jesus was not demon-possessed or crazy, but that Jesus is who he claimed to be: the Son of God.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.  Thank You that You love me, know me, care for me, lead me, and protect me.  Since you have other sheep to reach, please use me to bring those other sheep to You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!