Edit — The Sheep, The Shepherd, and The Fold. 1

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Body: Summary from the last two weeks. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will keep us, the sheep of His pasture, safe in and out of the sheepfold. What is a sheepfold? A pen or shelter for sheep. John 10: 7-15 In the opening verses of this chapter, Jesus discussed the benefits associated with being in the sheepfold. While inside the fold, the sheep enjoyed rest, peace, and security. The shepherd watched over and cared for the sheep within the fold. He was familiar with each one, calling them by name, while leading them in and out of the fold. The sheep gladly followed the shepherd, trusting in his care for them. Jesus also warned of those who came to deceive. These sought to be perceived as the shepherd but had come in some other way. These were not genuine shepherds. Jesus described these as thieves and robbers – those who had no concern for the well-being of the sheep. Having shared the benefits of the sheepfold and warned of false shepherds, some were still confused about the true meaning of Jesus’ words. Clearly one would understand and appreciate the door of the sheepfold. It was an essential element in the design of the sheepfold. Jesus is declaring Himself to be the door, in this case the door of the sheepfold. Verse 7 – Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. He revealed Himself as the Shepherd with legitimate access to the fold. Now, He declares that He too is the door of the sheepfold. He remains the Shepherd, and He is also the only door or means of entrance into the fold. We need to understand what Jesus was speaking of here. He was painting a picture that all who heard would comprehend. He is not speaking of a door like the ones we are familiar with. In that day, sheep were kept in an enclosure of stone or branches formed into a wall. An opening was left for an entrance, but there was no literal door. The shepherd became the door of the sheepfold as he lay in the narrow passageway. He was literally their door, and their defense. Jesus had warned of thieves and robbers who sought to gain entrance unto the sheepfold from some other way. The door provided much needed protection for the sheep. This would not have been necessary if there had not been dangers surrounding the sheep. Having a sheepfold in which to gather the sheep would provide the security needed to care for the sheep. Jesus emphasized the need for the sheepfold and the door to protect from the dangers that lurked around the sheep. Thieves, robbers, and wild animals were often found near the sheep herds. The shepherd needed to be continually aware of those who sought to bring harm to the sheep. The opportunity for danger was very real at any moment. It is important that we understand the opportunity for danger that lurks around us at any given moment. Sheep are relatively defenseless animals; they depend on the shepherd to defend them. Being apart from the shepherd and wandering around outside the sheepfold always presents the opportunity for danger. Our adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. We must stay near to the shepherd, the door of the sheepfold, if we are to be secure and survive the enemy’s attack. Jesus described the objective of the thief as he approached the sheepfold. He came to bring about violence and devastation. The thief came to steal sheep from the sheepfold. The devil cannot steal us away from the Lord – we are secure in His mighty hand. However, he would like to lead us away from the Door, out of the sheepfold, separating us from the Shepherd. He would like to steal our joy and our peace. He would like to hinder our walk with the Lord. The thief also comes to kill and destroy. He takes pleasure in leaving destruction and devastation behind. He wants to do all he can to hurt, hinder, and scatter the sheep. We must understand the desires of the enemy, while staying close to the Shepherd for protection. Many Christian lives have faced much hurt and devastation because they left the safety of the sheepfold to follow the desires of the flesh. The enemy has no intention of helping you in any way. He wants to abuse you and bring about as much suffering and devastation as possible. We must abide in the sheepfold, with the Shepherd, if we are to enjoy spiritual victory. (10b) – *I am come that they might have life.*They had yet to comprehend the reason for Jesus’ coming to earth, but He shared His purpose. He came that we might have life. He came to break the curse of sin that leads to eternal death. Jesus came to provide the perfect sacrifice for sin, delivering us from death, forgiving our sin, and reconciling us to God. He will go on to declare that He is the good shepherd, coming with purpose. John 10:11 – I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Jesus’ Provision (10b) – *I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly*. Jesus had not come just to secure life; He came to provide abundant life. Jesus had not come for His sheep to merely exist in life – He came to give life abundantly. He came to provide joy and victory. He came to provide peace and assurance. He came so that we might know Him and enjoy fellowship with Him in this life. There is no reason for the believer to live a life of defeat. We are promised abundant life in Christ. Such abundance will be enjoyed as long as we abide in the sheepfold, with the shepherd. We tend to think of such abundance to be beyond reach in this life. Many assume such abundant life is reserved for heaven. While heaven will exceed our wildest dreams, bringing life as we have never known, we can enjoy abundant life at this moment in Christ. Jesus speaks of present opportunity and blessing. We have much more at our disposal than we realize. There is abundant life in Christ at this very moment. We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy the blessings and abundance of our Lord. 1 Cor.2:9 – But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. We are safe in and out of the sheepfold. We depend on God, for everything, and just as a shepherd watch over his sheep so does God watch over His children. You see, a shepherd, in order to know his sheep and care for them, must live among them. He must be close to them. Jesus came from heaven to earth to be close to His sheep. The Good Shepherd became a sheep, took on our nature, and lived life just like us (except without sin). That’s why He is the good Shepherd. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows His flock and watches over us with love and concern. In the book Chicken Soup for the Soul, Eric Butterworth tells the story of a college professor who had his sociology class go into the Baltimore slums to get case histories of 200 young boys. The students were asked to write an evaluation of each boy’s future. In every case the students wrote, "He hasn’t got a chance." Twenty-five years later another sociology professor came across this earlier study. He had his students do follow up on the same 200 boys who were now men. Apart from 20 boys who had moved away or died, the students learned that 176 of the remaining 180 had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors, and businessmen. The professor was astounded and decided to pursue the matter further. Fortunately, all the men were in the area, and he was able to ask each one, "How do you account for your success?" In each case the reply came with feeling, "There was a teacher." The teacher was still alive, so he sought her out and asked the old but still alert lady what magic formula she had used to pull these boys out of the slums into successful achievement. The teacher’s eyes sparkled, and her lips broke into a gentle smile. "It’s really very simple," she said. "I loved those boys." Their success was based on the love of a teacher. Our success as followers of Jesus is based on the love of a shepherd who was willing to lay down his life for us. He loved us enough that our sinfulness became his burden. Under the Old Testament law, the sheep died for the shepherd, but now the Good Shepherd dies for the sheep. He loved us enough that his perfect righteousness became ours. He loved us enough to suffer on the cross for us. To save us from eternal death. To prepare us to meet His Father. He will keep us safe in the sheepfold if we are His sheep and follow the Good Shepherd. I am thankful for the Door of the sheep. Jesus came to provide life abundant and eternal for those who come to Him by faith. Are you among the sheep of His fold? Do you know Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, I urge you to come to Him in repentance and faith unto salvation. If you are saved, rejoice in the abundance available through Him. You don’t have to live life in defeat and despair. Story: The Diver A young man who had been raised as an atheist –was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to what his friend said about Jesus. One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board, and as he turned his back to the pool on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw his shadow on the wall. It was the shadow of his body in the shape of a cross. It was as if God was reaching out to him. And so instead of diving, he knelt down and asked Jesus to come into his life. As the young man stood up, a maintenance man walked in and turned the lights on. The pool had been drained for repairs!!! (The Shadow of the Cross. From the Internet. Author Unknown.) Jesus is able to deliver and provide for you in abundance. Come to Him with the needs you have! "You are somebody, you are one of his own. You belong to the shepherd, he knows your names, you are his." I want for you the joy and the wonder of His love. Jesus Christ is the door, offering every person who will enter through Him and Him alone the gift of salvation. The good shepherd wants others to find their way to the shepherd’s door. Getting in the sheepfold, it turns out, is not an end, but is a means to something else. "The sheep hears the voice of the good shepherd he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out, he leads them out. If anyone enters by me, he will go in and out and find pasture”. There is something we are being led outside the sheepfold to do. What is it? Once we have entered the door and get safely into the church, why consider going out? Jesus said. "I have other sheep, that are not of this fold … I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So, there shall be one fold and one shepherd." In plain and simple English, we are saved to serve and to witness. We are not saved to sit and be satisfied, but we are saved to serve and to witness. We are not saved to stay inside in comfort, we are not saved to stand by and watch the action from inside. We are saved to see all sheep come to the shepherd's fold, enter the shepherd's door, and become the shepherd's flock. Jesus said. "I am the door ... if anyone enters by me, he will be saved." Father God, in Jesus we have a true shepherd. We come together as the sheep of his fold to worship you and give thanks for this great gift. Help us to draw close to you that by your love and our attentive listening we may become so familiar with Christ’s voice that we will not be deceived or led astray by any other. Nurture and equip us as faithful leaders and ministers of your gospel according to Christ’s example, we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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