The only way to rescue the sheep headed to destruction was to come down and show them the way out. And that is exactly what God did in Jesus.
So when John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and exclaimed, ”Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29), he identified Jesus Christ as the perfect, personal fulfillment of all the Jewish sacrificial system.
So as His sheep, we are so helpless, so totally incapable of cleansing or protecting ourselves. Into this utter need comes our great Shepherd.
There are few verses more comforting in all of the Bible than those we have come to today. It was just about this time of year that Jesus walked around the Temple area and spoke the words of John 10 that we have before us this morning.
True Sheep Hear the Voice of Jesus Christ as
Shepherd and Follow Him (John 10:1-14)
In John 10: A believer in the Gospel according to Jesus is someone who hears and obeys Christ’s voice, and enters into an abundantly satisfied life of personally experiencing Christ; and they belong to Christ, they respond to His word, they follow Christ, and they are eternally secure (John 10:1,3,10,11,14,26-30).
Jesus gives 12 indicators of eternal life in John chapter 10, as the Good Shepherd of our souls—
A BELIEVER ENTERS THROUGH JESUS. John 10:1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
A BELIEVER HEARS CHRIST’S VOICE. John 10:3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
A BELIEVER HAS BEEN SAVED BY JESUS AND FINDS PASTURE. John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
A BELIEVER HAS AN ABUNDANT LIFE. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
A BELIEVER TRUSTS IN CHRIST’S LIFE LAID DOWN FOR THEIR SINS. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
A BELIEVER IS KNOWN BY JESUS AND PERSONALLY KNOWS JESUS. John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
A BELIEVER BELONGS TO CHRIST. John 10:26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
A BELIEVER RESPONDS TO HIS WORD. John 10:27a My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
A BELIEVER KNOWS CHRIST. John 10:27b My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
A BELIEVER FOLLOWS CHRIST. John 10:27c My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
A BELIEVER IS ETERNALLY SECURE. John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
Believers Live and Believe in Jesus Christ as
Shepherd and Follow Him (John 11:25-26,45)
Aphorism CITY 