In today’s gospel reading from John we have two of Jesus’ famous “I am” statements and also a very well-known bible verse – “I came so that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
And this morning I’d like to look at these statements and their significance and then try and show why a life lived in relationship with Jesus – with him as our good shepherd – we can experience abundant life.
So, firstly, John wrote his gospel to show that Jesus is God. As he says at the end of his gospel; “these (things) are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
And in order to show that Jesus is God, John includes seven “I am” statements in his gospel.
We find the significance of these “I am” statements in Exodus chapter 3 when God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and told him to go to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery.
Moses says to God; “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
And God says to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.”
So, God describes himself as “I am” – and I think it’s a great description – because as well as describing God as always just being and existing, ‘I am’ can also be used to describe many aspects of who God is.
For instance - I am the source of life. I am the one behind everything that exists. I am your creator. I am love. I am perfect. I am just. I am all seeing. I am all knowing.
I could go on – but hopefully you get the picture.
And Jesus then continues in this vein with seven “I am” statements that throw light on his identity and purpose.
So, firstly, in verse 9, he says “I am the gate” or if you go back a couple of verses, “I am the gate for the sheep.” Jesus is saying that the only way to know God and to be part of God’s people is through him.
Before I became a Christian, I used to think that there were many ways to come to know God, but I realise now that this is untrue. You can meditate till the cows come home, but it won’t get you to God.
You can try in your own strength, to live a worthy or holy life but it won’t get you to God. You can chant a lot and grow your hair or fingernails to great lengths but it won’t get you to God.
There are not many doors to God. There is a single gate or door to God, and that gate is Jesus himself.
And that is because Jesus is the only one who has dealt with the problem of our sin – which is humanity’s major problem and is what separates us from God.
Jesus is the only person in history to have led a perfect life – and was therefore qualified to offer his perfect life as a sacrifice for us.
He is the only one to have borne our sins in his body on the cross; he is the only one to have overcome death and to have been resurrected and to have opened up the way to God.
It is only through the blood of Jesus that we can be forgiven and made clean.
He is the gate and as we invite him into our lives, we invite salvation into our lives and the way to God is open for us.
And this of course leads us onto Jesus’ second “I am” statement in today’s gospel reading – “I am the good shepherd.”
The idea of God as the good shepherd is again rooted in the Old Testament. For instance, in the 23rd Psalm – the Lord is my shepherd.
But also, in the book of Ezekiel, where God rebukes the leaders of Israel who haven’t shepherded his people well.
He says; “I will appoint for them a single shepherd, and he will feed them. My servant David will feed them. He will be their shepherd. I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be their prince.”
So, by saying “I am the good shepherd,” Jesus was both asserting His deity and also claiming to be the fulfilment of a Messianic prophecy. He was saying to the Jewish people, I am the Messiah – the good shepherd who was promised to you in scripture.
But as Jesus explains in verse 16 – he hasn’t come just for the Jewish people but for Gentiles as well – ‘other sheep that do not belong to this fold.’ He has come to be a good shepherd for all people everywhere who will accept him.
And as I’ve already explained the most important thing that the good shepherd does for his sheep is to lay down his life for them. The sheep cannot save themselves. They need their shepherd to lay down his life for them to save them from sin and death.
And because his sheep are so valuable to him, Jesus is prepared to die for them. Each sheep is precious to the good shepherd. None are unimportant.
Jesus is totally committed to each of his sheep for its whole life, and each sheep is eternally safe in his hands.
Good shepherds don’t lose their sheep and Jesus won’t lose you. He said; “I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
“For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
So, as the good shepherd, Jesus lays down his life for us to save us – but he also acts in many other ways in our lives.
He communicates with us and as he says in verse 16, as his sheep we can hear his voice. It takes time to learn to recognise God’s voice in our lives but Jesus speaks to us – to guide us and encourage us; to explain scripture to us and to give us words of encouragement for others.
Sometimes he speaks very clearly – especially when he is calling us to a particular role or guiding us onto a path in life.
I’ve heard several Christians describe how God has called them to particular roles.
I remember when I first felt that God was calling me to preach. I felt a bit uncomfortable about the idea. I didn’t really want an upfront role. I was quite happy sitting at the back and listening to other people.
However, God spoke to me very clearly one evening when I wasn’t expecting him to and so I was obedient to what I felt he was asking me to do.
The good shepherd leads us into green pastures. Green pastures can be churches where we can flourish and grow strong or the teaching and example of Christian leaders that will help us to grow and mature.
I have been helped hugely in my understanding of the bible and my walk with God initially by a great bible teacher called Roger Price, but also by Christian leaders like Colin Urquhart and Nicky Gumbel.
Green pastures can also be areas of service where we will flourish and grow strong in our faith. Where we can use our gifts and be a real blessing to other people.
The good shepherd watches over us and protects us. I know that my life is safe in God’s hands and that he will watch over me till my dying day.
I know that he has drawn a line in the sand and said to Satan concerning me – ‘thus far but no further.’
As Psalm 121 puts it; “The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
The good shepherd tends for us when we are hurt or injured or ill. These can be physical or emotional or spiritual wounds or sicknesses.
All of us need healing to a greater or lesser degree. We all get hurt by people and by life. Often things that have happened to us in childhood – which weren’t necessarily our fault - can affect us as adults.
As the good shepherd Jesus can free us from the effects of these experiences and restore our souls. As we walk through life under his guidance, he helps us to become more whole and complete; to become happier more patient and loving people. He gives us hope and a purpose in life and takes away our fear of death.
Although he works through conventional medicine, he also sometimes intervenes in our lives to heal us himself and make us well.
And when we are depressed or in despair – when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death - he helps us through the difficult times and helps us to come out on the other side with renewed hope and vigour.
Sometimes he gives us promises from his word to help and encourage us. For instance, when I got very depressed several years ago, he spoke to me through Psalm 40.
And although it has been a gradual work in my life, which he is still continuing, as he promised he would; “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
“And He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”
There are all sots of ways in which Jesus as our good shepherd guides and helps and encourages us through life which I don’t have time to go in to.
But Psalm 103 summarises what Jesus does for us quite well. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds; He who forgives all your iniquities, and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion, who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
And through Jesus being our good shepherd we come to experience abundant life.
We can experience his presence with us and his love. We can experience the joy of being filled with his spirit and know his great compassion for those around us who are lost and struggling with life.
As we come to understand the truth of his word and his promises to us, it helps to set us free from fear and anxiety.
We come to realise that with him in our lives, we are saved and eternally safe and that whatever life throws at us – he will see us through it. And when death comes, we have nothing to fear.
So, to conclude what I want to say this morning, have you entered through the gate and have you invited Jesus to be your good shepherd?
If you haven’t, it’s a simple thing to do. What you need to do is to make the decision that from now on you – rather than just going your own way in life -you want to live under his direction and guidance.
And then simply invite Jesus into your heart and life. Just say ‘Jesus I want to live under your direction and guidance. Please come into my life. Be my good shepherd and help me to experience the abundant life you promise.’
I’m going to close now with a time of quiet prayer and reflection when you can talk to Jesus and share whatever is on your heart with him.
So, let’s pray.
Lord Jesus thank you that you are present with us now and that you look at us with love and compassion. Lord come to us and helps us; hear the cry of our hearts as we pray to you silently now.
my shepherd.I desperately need a good shepherd to
And more than anything else, I need a shepherd who will sacrifice his life to save me from sins. A shepherd who will lay down his life for me in order to purchase me for his own.
Jesus is all of those things, and so much more.
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