The Shepherd Cares!

Good morning! Today my message is entitled “The Shepherd Cares!”

We celebrate Father’s Day today and what better way to celebrate than to hear from our Lord Jesus Christ about being a father, a shepherd and his sheep. The Scripture that was read earlier in this service, John 10: 1-18, was Jesus telling us what a shepherd does and names Himself as our Shepherd.

Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible tells us “The shepherd was a familiar figure in Palestine. He spent much of his life with his flock. His own sheep knew and responded to his voice. He led (not drove) them to fresh grazing and guarded them from wild animals by lying across the entrance to the sheepfold at, so becoming its ‘door’.
In the Old Testament, God is often called the shepherd of Israel… Now Jesus chooses to describe himself as the ‘true’ shepherd. The phrase sums up so much: the close, personal relationship between Himself and each of His followers; the absolute security we have in Him; His leadership and guidance; His constant company; His unfailing care; His sacrificial love.

Fathers out there, consider your role as that of the shepherd of your family. As we look at this passage, consider how you as a father should love, care for, teach, guide and protect your family.

John 10: 2-4 NIV
2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.
3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Jesus wants a personal relationship with each one of us. Fathers are to seek the same with their family. You do that by being there for them, spending time with them.

Next, Jesus talks about salvation and sacrifice. How do we fathers see ourselves in this teaching?

John 10: 9-10 NIV
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Jesus continues this shepherd context and adds a twist – its not just for the immediate family, it is for all people. We are to shepherd all those who seek God.

John 10: 14-16 NIV
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Galatians 3: 26-29 NIV
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Fathers, we are to be ready to die for our families. We are also to be willing to get back up after falling down. There is no giving up on our families, on the family of God!

John 10: 17-18 NIV
17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

I want to read a poem to you that I discovered somewhere. It is very special for each one of us since it tells us what Jesus does for us. Fathers, take a good listen as we should consider Jesus’s example to live by.

Poem “Someone Touched Them Long Ago! By Lillian B. Musgrave

She pressed through the crowd, sick and alone.
Would she ever reach Him? Should she go back home?
Just a few inches more, she touched His robe,
His strength filled her body, she was made whole!
She touched Someone long ago. Matthew 9

He was born blind; he never saw the sun, the trees, the sky
Till a Man took his hand and put some clay on his eyes,
And told him to the Pool of Siloam he should go.
He washed his eyes, and then he praised
The One who touched him long ago. John 9

She lay there dead, her little body cold.
Her family was weeping, the story is told,
But Someone took her hand and said,
“She’s only sleeping, you know.”
She sat up and smiled into the face
Of the One who touched her long ago. Matthew 9

He blessed the children on His knee. Mark 10; Luke 17
He said, “Bring the little ones to Me.”
He fed the thousands with fish and bread, Matthew 14; 15
He calmed the storm and raised the dead. Matthew 8; Luke 8
He healed the sick and made them whole. Matthew 9; John 5
He made lepers clean, you know. Luke 5; 17
Someone touched them long ago.

He will guide your life and calm your fears,
Solve your problems and wipe away your tears.
He will forgive your sins and save your soul,
And make your heart as white as snow, Ephesians 1
That same Someone who touched them long ago.