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THE GREAT SHEPHERD
A. Introduction: We’re living at a time when there are multitudes of competing and contradictory ideas about
who Jesus is, why He came into this world, and how people who believe in Him should live. We need to
know what the Bible says about these issues.
1. We’ve just completed a series about who Jesus is according to the eyewitnesses—men who walked with
and interacted with Jesus. Last week we began a new series about why Jesus came into this world.
a. Jesus made a number of very specific statements as to why He entered this world. In last week’s
lesson we looked at a statement found in the Gospel of John: I am come that they (my sheep, my
followers) might have life and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10, KJV).
b. We pointed out that in many Christian circles today, Jesus’ statement has been used to support the
idea that He came to give us an abundant life in this life—successful, prosperous life where all our
dreams come true. But, is that what Jesus meant or what the first Christians heard?
2. To properly interpret any passage in the Bible we must always consider context. Part of establishing
context is determining how the original audience would have understood specific passages.
a. When we examine the context of Jesus’ words in John 10:10, we find that Jesus was not talking
about the quality of our life in this life. He was talking about eternal life, the uncreated life in God
Himself. Through faith in Jesus, we become partakers of this life.
1. The New Testament was originally written in Greek. The word that is translated life in Jesus’
statement is zoe. John, in his gospel, uses the word zoe when he refers to life as God has in
Himself, life as Jesus has in Himself (absolute or perfect uncreated life) and gives to us.
2. John 5:26—The Father has life (zoe) in himself, and he has granted his Son to have life (zoe) in
himself (NLT).
b. By the time John recorded Jesus’ statement about abundant life, John had already used the word zoe
twenty-six times—all but four of them in red letters (meaning they were direct quotes from Jesus).
1. Every time the word is used in John’s gospel it refers to eternal, everlasting life, the life in God,
the life of God. It never once means quality of life in this life.
2. No one who heard Jesus speak would have thought that Jesus was talking about having a good
life in this temporary life (prosperity, success in business, a life with no problems; etc.).
3. I’m not suggesting that God is against those things or that He doesn’t help us in those areas. I’m saying
that Jesus didn’t come to make this life the highlight of our existence.
a. We have a purpose and a destiny bigger than this life that will outlast this life. We were created to
become sons and daughters of God by partaking of the uncreated, eternal life in God Himself.
b. Sin has disqualified us for our created purpose and cut us off from life in God. Jesus came to earth
to die as a sacrifice for sin, and open the way for sinful men and women to be restored to their
created purpose through faith in Him. Eph 1:4-5; II Tim 1:9-10; I Pet 3:18; etc.
c. When we believe on Jesus, God by His Spirit and life indwells us and restores us to what we were
always meant to be—sons and daughters of God who are Christlike in character—holy and
righteous in every motive, thought, word, and action. Rom 8:29
B. Let’s look at some examples of how the word life (zoe) is used in the Gospel of John before Jesus made His
statement about bringing abundant life to men. It will help us understand what Jesus meant.
1. John opened his gospel with a clear statement about Jesus: In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and
the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not
anything made that was made (John 1:1-3, KJV).
a. John used a specific Greek word for was (en). The word expresses continuous action in the past, or
no beginning. The Word (Jesus) has always been, because He is God.
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b. John used the word zoe for the first time in John1:4—In him (the Word) was (en) life (zoe); and the
life (zoe) was (en) the light of men (John 1:4, KJV).
1. Since the Word has always existed, the life in Him is uncreated. Therefore, the life in Him has
always been. Zoe is the uncreated life in God, the life of God.
2. John called the Word the light of men because He (Jesus) brings true knowledge of God who is
the source of all life—created and uncreated.
c. John next used the word zoe when he quoted Jesus as saying that He would be lifted up or crucified
because: God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life (zoe) (John 3:16, KJV).
1. The Greek word that is translated perish means to destroy fully, to perish, to lose or be deprived
of. It can mean physical death or eternal separation from God who is life. There is no greater
destruction that can come to a human being than to be lost to our created purpose.
2. God did not create anyone to die physically or to be separated from Him eternally. Death is
present in the world because of Adam’s sin. Gen 2:17; Rom 5:12
A. Once you come into existence at the moment of conception, you are an eternal being.
Although your body will die, you will not cease to exist.
B. When your body dies, you (the immaterial part) pass into another dimension where you are
either with God in a place called Heaven or separated from Him in a place called Hell.
3. Jesus came into the world to make it possible for human beings to receive eternal life (zoe) now
(God’s life and Spirit), and to open the way for all who believe on Him to live with God forever.
2. In chapter 4 John recorded a conversation Jesus had with a Samaritan woman at a well. Jesus asked
her for a drink, and she responded with surprise that a Jew would ask a Samaritan for water, because
there had been great hostility between Jews and Samaritans for generations.
a. Jesus responded: If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and
I would give you living (zao) water (John 4:10, NLT). Living is the verb form of zoe and it is used
nine times leading up to Jesus’ statement about abundant life.
b. Jesus told the woman: The water that I give (people)…takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a
perpetual (everlasting) spring within them, giving them eternal life (zoe) (John 4:14, NLT). Note
that Jesus likened the life He gives to an unending source of life (zoe) within a person.
3. In chapter 5 John wrote about an event that took place in Jerusalem at the Pool of Bethesda. Jesus
healed a man who had been lame for thirty-eight years.
a. Jesus did it on the Sabbath, which upset the Jewish leadership. When Jesus told them that He was
doing his Father’s works, they sought to kill Him for making Himself equal with God. John 5:18
b. Jesus responded to these religious leaders with a lengthy statement in which He used the word zoe
seven times. Consider several examples. None of them have to do with a prosperous life now.
1. John 5:24—I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have
eternal life (zoe). They will never be condemned (face judgment) for their sins, but have
already passed from death to life (zoe) (NLT).
2. John 5:25—And I assure you that the time is coming, in fact it is here, when the dead will hear
my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen to me will live (zao) (NLT).
3. John 5:28-29—Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice
of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to eternal life
(zoe), and those who have continued in evil will rise to judgment (condemnation) (NLT).
A. Note that there is a present and a future aspect to God’s life. God indwells us by His Spirit
and life now, in this life. Ultimately, He will give His life to our dead bodies and, by His
Spirit, make them immortal and incorruptible—beyond the touch of corruption and death.
B. Note that all must come to Jesus (trust in Him, believe on Him, follow Him, obey Him)
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because He is the source of life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (zoe). John 14:6
C. Jesus told the unbelieving religious leaders: You search the Scriptures because you believe
they give you eternal life (zoe). But the Scriptures point to me. Yet you refuse to come to
me so that I can give you eternal life (zoe) (John 5:39-40, NLT).
4. In chapter 6 John recounts the time that Jesus turned two fish and five loaves of bread into enough food
to feed thousands of people. After this miracle, some said Jesus was that prophet (John 6:14), a term
from a prophecy given by Moses about the coming Messiah (Deut 18:15-18).
a. When crowds came seeking Jesus He said: You seek me because I fed you—You shouldn’t be so
concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life (zoe) that
I, the Son of man can give you. For the Father has sent me for that very purpose (John 6:27, NLT).
b. The people asked: What does God want us to do? Jesus said: God wants you to believe on the
one he has sent (John 6:28-29, NLT), to which they responded: Show us a sign and we’ll believe.
After all, Moses gave us manna.
1. Jesus said: I assure you, Moses didn’t give them bread from heaven. My Father did. And
now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes
down from heaven and gives life (zoe) to the world (John 6:32-33, NLT).
2. They responded: Sir, give us this bread every day of our lives (John 6:34, NLT), to which
Jesus replied: I am the Bread of life (zoe): he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst (John 6:35, KJV).
A. Jesus was clear: I’m not talking about natural bread. Your ancestors ate the manna and
died. I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life. With this word
picture Jesus shows that this life comes from partaking of Him by believing in Him.
B. John 6:51—I am the living (zao) bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats
this bread will live (zao) forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so that the world may live
(zao) (NLT).
5. In chapters 7 and 8 Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, and was in the Temple,
teaching openly. His teachings increasingly angered religious leaders. Note these points for our topic.
a. On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “If any of you are
thirsty, come to me, come and drink: For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living (zao) water will
flow out from within”. When he said “living waters” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be
given to everyone believing in him (John 7:37-39, NLT).
b. Jesus said to the people: “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling
through the darkness because you have the light that leads to life (zoe) (John 8:12, NLT).
1. As part of the celebration of Tabernacles, people carried torches in a march around the Temple,
and set the lights around the walls, indicating that the Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles.
The rabbis actually called God the Light of the world. Isa 49:6
2. When Jesus took this title, it would have further incensed the leaders (Pharisees, scribes).
They accused Him of making false claims about Himself. This culminated with Jesus telling
them: Before Abraham was, I AM. And they took up stoned to try to kill Him. John 8:58
6. In chapter 9, while still in Jerusalem, Jesus once again healed on the Sabbath day. Jesus put mud on a
blind man’s eyes and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. The Pharisees said Jesus was not from
God. But the healed man said that Jesus must be from God. So the leadership excommunicated him.
a. Jesus told the blind man: I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they
see NLT).that they are blind (John 9:39, NLT). Pharisees overheard Jesus and asked if He meant
that they were blind. Jesus replied: If you were blind you wouldn’t be guilty. But you remain
guilty because you claim you can see (John 9:41,
b. At this point Jesus told the Parable of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18). In this parable, Jesus
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presented Himself as Israel’s True Shepherd in contrast to the rulers of Israel—false shepherds
(thieves) who don’t care for the sheep and exploit for their own purposes.
1. John 10:10-11—The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life
(zoe) in all its fullness. I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for
the sheep (NLT).
A. The Old Testament (their Scriptures) had prophecies about a coming Shepherd—He will
feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to
his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young (Isa 40:10-11, NLT).
B. Every Israelite knew that sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and follow him.
Jesus said: My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give
them eternal life (zoe), and they will never perish (John 10:27-28, NLT).
2. Whereas Israel’s leadership refused to acknowledge who Jesus is, the blind man recognized the
voice of the True Shepherd, followed Him, and received eternal, abundant life—as do all who
believe on the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. John 20:30-31
C. Conclusion: Abundant life is being restored to our created purpose by becoming partakers of God’s Spirit
and life through faith in Jesus. We have more to say in upcoming lessons, but consider these closing points.
1. Humanity has chosen independence from God through sin. We have rejected His standard of right and
wrong in favor of our own standard.
a. Seven hundred years before Jesus came into this world, Israel’s great prophet Isaiah wrote a
prophetic passage describing Jesus and His sacrifice for humanity (Isa 53).
1. In his prophecy Isaiah described the human condition and God’s solution: All we like sheep
have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the
iniquity of us all (Isa 53:6, ESV).
2. Because of our sin, we (all human beings) are lost to our created purpose and destined to perish,
to be eternally separated from Almighty God, the Great Shepherd.
A. Just as a good shepherd goes after sheep that stray from his flock, Jesus came to seek and
save the lost (those who are perishing) by offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our
sins. Luke 19:10
B. Just as a good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, Jesus died for lost men and women
so that we can be cleansed from the penalty and power of sin and restored to God.
b. Paul gives us an important fact about why Jesus died: He died for all, that those who live should no
longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (II Cor 5:15, NLT).
1. Jesus died to change the direction of our lives. We no longer go our own way. We turn from
sin and independence from God, to living for Him His way, in dependence on Him.
2. When we turn from sin, turn from going our own way, and come back to the Father’s house in
repentance and faith, He cleanses us and indwells us.
A. A process of transformation begins that will ultimately purify every part of our being and
fully restore us to our created purpose as sons and daughters of God.
B. When the process is completed we will sons and daughters who are holy and righteous in
every motive, thought, word, and deed—fully glorifying to God our Heavenly Father just
as Jesus, the Perfect Son, was and is. Rom 8:29; I John 3:2-3
2. Note how Paul the apostle closed one of his letters: And now, may the God of peace, who brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in
you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the
sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen
(Heb 13:20-21, NLT). Much more next week!