Why Sheep Need a Shepherd

Yesterday, I preached from John 10:11-21 on Jesus’ fourth “I am” statement in the Gospel of John: “I am the good shepherd.”

I found crafting that sermon to be a challenge. Not because the text is obscure or difficult to comprehend, but because Jesus so clearly and directly makes his point in the first 5 words of the passage.

There is nothing unclear at all about Jesus’ statement. Sure, the context helps add layers and richness to its meaning. But the point stands on its own. Jesus is a good shepherd. And more specifically, he is the good shepherd.

So my challenge was not so much to explain what Jesus meant, but why it should matter to us. Why do sheep–especially my modern, affluent, technologically advanced hearers–need a shepherd?

Well.

To help them grasp the essence of our sheepness, I showed them the video below.

I hope you laughed. Our church certainly did.

Directionless, Defenseless, and Dumb

Several years ago, Tim Challies wrote about sheep and described them as directionless, defenseless, and dumb. I’ve returned to that description several times because of its accuracy and simplicity (though I’ve adjusted the order).

Not many of us are eager to admit the strong correlation between our lives and the lives of sheep. In our pride, we tell ourselves we are strong and smart and capable, masters of our fate and captains of our own destiny.

That’s normal.

But then I also imagine sheep are tempted to boast in their brilliance when they’re feasting in green pastures and dwelling beside still waters. Never mind the faithful shepherd who led them there.

Just like the sheep, our blessings are hardly the products of our own making. Every moment of our lives is lived under the providential care of a loving Father who provides for us in Jesus a most faithful shepherd.

As a faithful shepherd, Jesus leads and guides and protects his sheep. We may not always want to admit it, but those are things each of us desperately need. On our own, we possess all of the star-studded wisdom of that sheep enjoying a few triumphant seconds of glory before landing in the ditch once again.

Jesus Wants You

To me, the amazing thing about the good shepherd is that he wants sheep like us. The only impressive thing about me is that Jesus loves me. And because he loves me (and you), he not only invites me to know him but he pledges to watch over me, to care for me, to lead me, and protect me.

That is far more than I could ever do for myself.

Even in a world of smartphones, smart locks, ring door bells, and safety features on top of safety features, nothing can protect you like Jesus. Our finite minds cannot see around corners or detect every hint of danger. But Jesus can. He knows everything and he can do anything.

He knows your whole story. From beginning to end, he knows every detail of your life. He knows every triumph and every tragedy, every sin and every victory. He knows every foolish mistake you will ever make. And he knows the moments that will bring you the greatest joy.

He knows every single thing about you and he loves you and wants you anyway. That’s what kind of shepherd he is.

The Good Shepherd Dies for the Sheep

One more thing. In John 10:11, Jesus not only declared himself to be the good shepherd, but he also defined what that means using a single category: The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

You’re probably used to hearing that. But it’s totally backwards logic. In fact, I call it the upside down logic of the gospel.

The shepherd’s life is infinitely more valuable than the life of the sheep. Of course the shepherd should do his best to protect his flock, but even Jewish tradition said that a shepherd was responsible for protecting his sheep against one wolf but not two. And that makes sense. The shepherd’s life comes first.

Jesus, the good shepherd, dies for the sheep because it’s the only way his sheep can live. As I told our church yesterday, “Jesus knew it was you or him, so he chose to die so that you could live.”

More than anything else, that’s why we need a shepherd.

Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He saved us by laying down his life on a bloody cross and taking it up again three days later when he walked out of his grave on two nail-pierced, resurrected feet.

So follow the shepherd wherever he leads. He knows the way, and his path leads to life. Today, take a moment to listen for his voice—where is he leading you?