WEBVTT 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:08.480 Oh folks, John chapter 10. My soul needed this this week in John chapter 10 and it needs it this morning. 00:00:08.980 --> 00:00:14.280 And can I suggest that you need the truth of John chapter 10 this morning. 00:00:14.859 --> 00:00:22.960 And just in terms of being reminded this week of one of the things we know to be true about God, that he is sovereign. 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:28.900 He knows the end from the beginning. He knows what is happening in each of our lives. 00:00:28.899 --> 00:00:31.219 He knows what we would be facing this week as a church. 00:00:31.899 --> 00:00:41.960 And in his sovereignty, his total control, I could not have picked a better passage to be preaching today had I been given the whole Bible to pick from as the one that we're in. 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:47.679 And so John chapter 10 is just the most profound of passages. 00:00:48.239 --> 00:00:53.239 So please do have it open in front of you as we get into this today. 00:00:53.239 --> 00:00:56.079 But let me just to get us into it. Let me ask us at the start. 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:58.899 If you were an animal, what would you be? 00:01:01.100 --> 00:01:05.599 Right? Have a think about it. It's one of those awkward icebreaker questions that we all love. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:08.079 And we're all so glad when people ask it, aren't we? 00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:10.819 If you were an animal, what would you be? 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:16.959 And I have to be honest and say that everything inside me wants to answer that question and say tiger. 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:20.939 Okay? King of the jungle. 00:01:21.919 --> 00:01:23.939 These guys are top of the food chain. 00:01:24.839 --> 00:01:28.199 They're brave. They're powerful. They're large. They're in charge. 00:01:28.419 --> 00:01:29.899 You fend for yourself. 00:01:30.339 --> 00:01:34.739 And I want everything that's true of a tiger to be true of me. 00:01:34.839 --> 00:01:37.239 And I hear Katy Perry sing in the background. 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:41.439 I've got the eye of the tiger, a fighter dancing through the fire because I am a champion. 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:43.219 And you're going to hear me roar. 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:46.219 And I think to myself, I would love to be a tiger. 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:53.120 I would love to have the things that are true of a tiger and have them true of my life as I lead it in the world. 00:01:53.500 --> 00:01:57.439 Except the thing is, I know none of that is true for me. 00:01:58.260 --> 00:01:59.400 Right? Powerful. 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:06.460 How about he needs his eight hours sleep a night minimum or he's a walking zombie the next day? 00:02:06.459 --> 00:02:08.939 How about brave? 00:02:09.079 --> 00:02:14.900 Well, how about somebody who gets so easily distracted, his emotions are up and down, 00:02:15.019 --> 00:02:18.699 and so often I sit under a dark cloud of discouragement? 00:02:19.479 --> 00:02:19.699 Okay? 00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:22.840 I am no lion. 00:02:22.840 --> 00:02:35.020 And that's why I think I have found, by God's goodness, such strength in being reminded of the wonderful and liberating truth 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:43.980 that comes if you and I embrace the animal that Jesus says we are in this passage. 00:02:44.099 --> 00:02:47.719 This animal is not top of the food chain. 00:02:48.219 --> 00:02:50.620 This animal has fleas. 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:58.280 This animal doesn't know what it's doing, and yet this animal is where we will find freedom today in embracing that we are it. 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:08.240 Because what this has done this week, in all honesty, is being in this place again and reminding myself of this truth. 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:12.240 It's taken the eyes of my heart off of a weak me, 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:16.840 and it's flung them onto a strong Christ. 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:21.200 It's taken them off of how I'm feeling, 00:03:21.659 --> 00:03:28.439 which is always such a sugary peg on which to build the foundation of our lives, 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:32.539 and instead it's fixed them on what I know to be true. 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:35.340 Can I suggest if that's you here this morning, 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.680 and you're coming in here and you're not feeling great, 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:42.860 what you need this morning is not people telling you that you should be feeling better. 00:03:43.980 --> 00:03:48.980 What you need to be this morning is to be in a place where you're reminded of what is true. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:57.520 Because Jesus says quite simply, and this is one of the most simple yet profound statements 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:59.980 I think any human being has ever made. 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:03.660 Jesus says, I am the good shepherd. 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:10.800 And it's unique among the I am statements, the other ones that we get in John's gospel. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:14.620 All the others reveal something about him, 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:22.259 except this one also reveals something humbling and freeing about us. 00:04:22.259 --> 00:04:29.120 You know, years ago there was a Scottish minister and hymn writer called Horatius Bonnard. 00:04:29.259 --> 00:04:31.360 They don't do first names like that anymore, do they? 00:04:32.219 --> 00:04:33.180 Horatius Bonnard. 00:04:33.699 --> 00:04:38.259 He lived in Broughton on the other side of the city early 1800s. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:42.920 I've loved learning about Horatius Bonnard over the years. 00:04:43.039 --> 00:04:46.060 That's why many of you know the Bonnard Trust that we're involved with as a church, 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:48.219 is where they take their name. 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:50.219 I think it was Andrew Bonnard, Horatius Bonnard. 00:04:50.220 --> 00:05:00.740 Anyway, big brain, he penned these words to a hymn to describe what his soul found in Jesus. 00:05:01.260 --> 00:05:03.880 And this is one of my favourite hymns. 00:05:04.580 --> 00:05:09.120 And if you want to go home and go on YouTube, you'll find a wonderful version of it by a lady called Audrey Assad. 00:05:10.420 --> 00:05:12.400 Simply says this, here it is. 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:18.139 I heard the voice of Jesus say, come unto me and rest. 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:20.399 That's what Luke I read at the start. 00:05:20.599 --> 00:05:25.539 Lay down thou weary one, lay down thy head upon my breast. 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:31.199 I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:34.359 And I found in him a resting place. 00:05:35.019 --> 00:05:36.759 And he has made me glad. 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:41.039 And that is the song of someone who's embraced what it is to be a sheep. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:48.219 I find myself coming back to that song again and again and again and again in the Christian life. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:52.120 And so what we're going to do over the next half hour or so, 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:57.219 is we're just going to bleat our way through this passage of scripture. 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:00.240 And here's the beat of the bleat. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:03.500 It just says, how good is our shepherd? 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:09.040 Now if we're going to savour the sweetness of what Jesus says here even more, 00:06:10.280 --> 00:06:15.040 we need to understand that he's saying it at a particular time in this gospel. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:19.560 With Jesus, if you've learnt anything, it's that timing is everything with him. 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:21.560 No opportunity is wasted. 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:22.920 No moment is squandered. 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:25.560 No, Jesus says it in John chapter 10. 00:06:25.639 --> 00:06:27.400 Here's the first thing that we need to understand. 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:30.500 is that there's bad shepherds in the background of this. 00:06:31.259 --> 00:06:32.139 So come with me. 00:06:32.179 --> 00:06:33.159 Verse 1, Jesus says, 00:06:33.259 --> 00:06:34.979 Truly I say to you. 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:38.839 And immediately we should be asking who is the you that he's speaking to. 00:06:39.719 --> 00:06:43.620 And if you glance back to verse 40 of chapter 9, 00:06:43.739 --> 00:06:45.959 you just go back a few verses, 00:06:46.239 --> 00:06:49.359 you will see that Jesus is still talking to the Pharisees. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:52.659 In the immediate context of John chapter 9, 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:54.439 Ian took us through that last week. 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:59.019 Jesus has just given sight to this blind man. 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:00.839 And he has become, 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:01.779 verse 38, 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.019 look at that little description there we get of him. 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:04.759 What did he do? 00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:06.560 He worships the Lord. 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:08.079 He worships Jesus. 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:11.600 This man has become a worshipper of the living God. 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:14.560 And is that not a wonderful description of what it is to be a Christian? 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:17.500 Worshipping Jesus. 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:22.639 Jesus has quite literally given this man his life back. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:27.680 And you think everybody should be rejoicing in this scene, 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:28.719 but verse 34, 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:31.120 the Pharisees cast him out of the synagogue. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:32.019 You're a liar. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:33.560 You're not speaking the truth. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:38.319 And so when Jesus speaks in this passage of thieves and robbers, 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:40.740 when he speaks about hired hands, 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:43.439 who don't give two hoots about the sheep, 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:47.479 this is a jab at the Pharisees. 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:54.379 Now these men would know that this isn't the first time that God's had some really chilling words to say 00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:58.180 about bad and selfish leaders of his people. 00:07:58.460 --> 00:08:00.460 Ezekiel chapter 34. 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:01.180 Ezekiel, 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:03.360 one of the prophets that we get in the Old Testament, 00:08:04.640 --> 00:08:06.360 speaks to his generation. 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:06.800 God, 00:08:07.020 --> 00:08:07.560 through Ezekiel, 00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:09.819 speaks to his generation of really, 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:11.840 really bad and selfish leaders. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:15.079 And you get it in Ezekiel 34. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:16.539 You can read it in your own time, 00:08:16.579 --> 00:08:17.639 a little snapshot of it there. 00:08:18.239 --> 00:08:20.119 These leaders are not feeding the sheep. 00:08:20.619 --> 00:08:22.439 They're not caring for the sheep. 00:08:22.719 --> 00:08:25.379 They're not running to meet the needs of the sheep. 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:29.559 They're not tracking down the sheep who have run way, 00:08:29.719 --> 00:08:30.679 way off course. 00:08:30.799 --> 00:08:32.139 And as a result of that, 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:35.299 God's people are massively suffering at the neglect 00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:39.259 of this generation of God's leaders. 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:41.740 And the root cause of it, 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:42.519 I think, 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:46.879 is that the relationship between God's leaders, 00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:48.279 if you like, 00:08:48.340 --> 00:08:49.500 the under shepherds, 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:51.759 and God the great shepherd, 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:55.279 that relationship that's meant to be driving everything that they do, 00:08:55.580 --> 00:08:57.500 is non-existing. 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:01.120 Now it was Robert Murray McShane, 00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:03.720 who was another Scottish pastor from way back, 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:09.000 he observed that what his people needed most from him 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.420 was his own holiness. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:14.460 Now what he meant by that is if he's saying, 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:16.560 if I'm not pursuing the Lord, 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:18.920 if I'm not loving him and worshipping him, 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:21.420 I've got nothing to pass on to my people. 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:24.740 I'm in no fit place to lead them in worship of the Lord. 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.800 He recognized that in order to serve and love God's people, 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:32.199 you need to do so out of an overflow of a heart 00:09:32.199 --> 00:09:35.059 that's captivated by a wonderful Christ. 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:39.359 Something that we're always asking ourselves as elders of this church. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:41.139 We did it a few weeks ago as we went away. 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:42.039 Is this job, 00:09:42.459 --> 00:09:45.579 is this role still a joy to us? 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:48.899 Because we love the Lord Jesus. 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:51.139 We love him, 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:55.039 and that love for him spills out in a love for his people. 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:58.439 Because no one is more committed to his people than Jesus, 00:09:58.580 --> 00:09:59.220 as we'll see. 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:01.279 We serve you, 00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:02.100 dear friends, 00:10:02.199 --> 00:10:03.840 and it is a joy to do that, 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:06.500 because we love him. 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:09.399 And we love him, 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:10.360 and get this right, 00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:13.279 because he first loved us. 00:10:16.600 --> 00:10:19.700 And there's none of that going on in Ezekiel 34, 00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:21.620 and God says to those shepherds, 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:22.940 I am against you. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:25.100 But in the very next breath, 00:10:25.660 --> 00:10:26.540 God promises, 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:30.020 not only to deal with the bad shepherds, 00:10:30.520 --> 00:10:33.640 but also gloriously and graciously, 00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:34.680 God promises, 00:10:35.180 --> 00:10:38.700 not to post an advert on S1 jobs for a better shepherd. 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:44.020 Not to try and recruit and go head hunting to get more shepherds. 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:45.300 God says, 00:10:45.540 --> 00:10:47.759 he promises to be to his people. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:51.159 He will come and be the good shepherd that they need. 00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:54.379 John chapter 10, 00:10:54.539 --> 00:10:55.399 that's the context. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.299 There's bad shepherds in the background, 00:10:58.100 --> 00:11:01.019 but the good shepherd is in the foreground. 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:03.779 And I just want us to hear, 00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:05.159 if we can do this today, 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:05.620 right, 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:07.500 as we hear his voice, 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:09.759 I just want us to hear, 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:10.740 as he speaks, 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:13.480 three wonderful tones 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:16.659 in the voice of our good shepherd today. 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:17.720 If you're a note taker, 00:11:17.800 --> 00:11:19.279 these are three C's. 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:23.420 And hear him speak to you today. 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:24.580 He says, 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.879 I want to be your shepherd. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:27.960 I want to be your shepherd. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:28.700 Here's the first. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:29.899 Hear in his voice, 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:31.480 him express, 00:11:31.920 --> 00:11:33.820 his complete care of us. 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:35.720 Jesus says, 00:11:35.820 --> 00:11:36.740 verse 3, 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:38.240 and just take it what he's saying here. 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:41.720 I call my own by name. 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:42.860 Verse 14, 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:43.340 he says, 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:44.940 I know my own, 00:11:45.300 --> 00:11:47.140 and my own know me. 00:11:47.260 --> 00:11:52.300 So in terms of his relationship with his sheep, 00:11:53.040 --> 00:11:56.220 Jesus doesn't know of his sheep. 00:11:57.040 --> 00:11:59.800 He doesn't just know about his sheep. 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:03.719 He knows his sheep. 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:06.120 Now many of you will have that experience 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:07.299 of running a race, 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:07.919 right? 00:12:08.079 --> 00:12:09.099 It's marathon day today. 00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:10.419 I didn't even know that until yesterday. 00:12:10.859 --> 00:12:12.339 Marathon day today in our city. 00:12:12.579 --> 00:12:14.159 You know what it's like when you do these races 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.000 and what do you get on your chest to put on? 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:17.859 You get a number, 00:12:17.979 --> 00:12:18.399 don't you? 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.179 And nothing makes you feel special 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:22.379 and known like knowing 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:24.579 that you are number 44978, 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:25.139 does it? 00:12:27.819 --> 00:12:29.779 That's not far off being a telephone number, 00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:30.639 in truth, is it? 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:32.639 44978. 00:12:33.839 --> 00:12:35.740 We cannot get our heads around 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:37.639 knowing that amount of people. 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:41.219 But Jesus is not like us. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:43.419 He's not just like us on our best day. 00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:44.599 Right? 00:12:44.959 --> 00:12:46.439 The all-knowing one. 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:48.639 When Jesus says he knows his sheep, 00:12:48.719 --> 00:12:49.479 we need to understand 00:12:49.479 --> 00:12:51.199 that we are not a number to him. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.539 You are a name to him. 00:12:54.979 --> 00:12:57.379 These are wonderfully intimate words 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:59.039 that convey his wonderful 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:00.200 and perfect knowledge 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:03.320 of every detail of our lives. 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.600 And that's the metaphors 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:06.340 what a shepherd in this day would do. 00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:08.720 He would sleep beside the sheep. 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:09.679 He would camp out 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:10.860 and eat with the sheep. 00:13:10.939 --> 00:13:13.059 He'd even have nicknames for his sheep. 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:14.240 Because in this day, 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:15.220 his flock 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:17.220 is his livelihood. 00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:19.080 Right? 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:20.440 It is his bank account, 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:21.540 if you want to put it like that. 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.940 He loves his sheep. 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:24.720 They are his sheep. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:26.240 And Jesus is saying 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.540 in a greater way, 00:13:27.660 --> 00:13:28.860 he knows his sheep. 00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:30.379 Right? 00:13:30.420 --> 00:13:31.840 And you need to take this in today 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:32.759 if you are his. 00:13:33.420 --> 00:13:35.560 He knows every single struggle 00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:37.060 that's going on in your heart today. 00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:40.279 And he knows every single weakness 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.239 that you're carrying 00:13:41.239 --> 00:13:42.559 in your life today. 00:13:43.479 --> 00:13:45.159 And he knows every fear 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:45.979 that's in your mind 00:13:45.979 --> 00:13:47.439 that's dominating you today. 00:13:48.219 --> 00:13:50.239 And he knows every need of your soul. 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:53.899 And so when we call out to him, 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:54.859 this is not like 00:13:54.859 --> 00:13:56.919 when you phone your insurance company 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:57.819 and you get 00:13:57.819 --> 00:14:00.139 the customer services line 00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:00.579 that says, 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:02.019 your call is important to us, 00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:03.419 your number 18 in the queue. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:03.839 And you think, 00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:05.319 how can I be important to you 00:14:05.319 --> 00:14:06.379 if I'm 18 in the queue? 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.179 Friends, when we pray 00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:11.039 to our Father 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:12.019 in the name of Jesus, 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:12.859 we need to understand 00:14:12.859 --> 00:14:14.000 that he is right there 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.879 at the right hand of God 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.679 interceding for us 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:19.859 by name, by need. 00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:22.079 And when we pray, 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:24.699 we have the ear of God. 00:14:25.619 --> 00:14:27.119 Not begrudgingly, 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.039 but delightfully. 00:14:29.979 --> 00:14:30.919 He loves us. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:31.879 He loves us. 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:33.659 You know, Chloe did that the other day. 00:14:33.719 --> 00:14:34.739 She came down into our room 00:14:34.739 --> 00:14:35.819 at one o'clock in the morning. 00:14:36.140 --> 00:14:37.300 I want a drink of water. 00:14:37.400 --> 00:14:38.400 I can't get to sleep. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.879 Now, who does that? 00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:42.800 Only somebody who's got 00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:43.500 the confidence 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.940 that they're going to a parent, 00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:46.040 not a teacher, right? 00:14:47.520 --> 00:14:49.120 That we have that kind of access 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:49.960 before this God. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:51.379 We can pray to him 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.340 knowing that he loves us 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.520 because of the son. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:55.780 In the words of the late Tim Keller 00:14:55.780 --> 00:14:57.660 who died and went to be 00:14:57.660 --> 00:14:58.760 with Jesus last week, 00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.280 Tim Keller, 00:14:59.420 --> 00:15:00.700 profound influence 00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:02.520 on my life 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:03.600 and many others in the world, 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.319 he says this 00:15:04.319 --> 00:15:05.199 and take this in. 00:15:06.939 --> 00:15:07.779 To be loved 00:15:07.779 --> 00:15:09.079 but not fully known 00:15:09.079 --> 00:15:10.259 is superficial. 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.500 To be known 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.299 but not loved 00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:14.360 is our worst nightmare. 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.720 Only Jesus 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:17.980 knows us to the bottom 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:20.460 and he loves us 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:21.039 to the sky. 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:24.720 Hear the complete care 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.259 this morning 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.579 of your shepherd's voice. 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:29.139 And hear secondly, 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:30.780 hear the total commitment 00:15:30.780 --> 00:15:31.900 to you in his voice. 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:33.900 Verse 10, 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.740 Jesus says, 00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:35.940 others have come 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:36.600 to steal, 00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:37.560 kill and destroy. 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.420 And you see, 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.420 it's just a contrast 00:15:39.420 --> 00:15:40.660 that he's setting up here. 00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:42.600 He talks about 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:44.040 the hired hand. 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.520 The hired hand 00:15:46.520 --> 00:15:47.660 sees the wolf coming 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:48.680 and he thinks to himself, 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:50.520 I'm getting out of there. 00:15:50.640 --> 00:15:51.660 This is not my job. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:53.060 I did not sign up for this. 00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:54.540 I'm not taking on the wolf 00:15:54.540 --> 00:15:55.220 for this sheep. 00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.259 I'm not paid enough 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:56.800 for this. 00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:58.139 Right? 00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:58.920 I remember doing that 00:15:58.920 --> 00:15:59.960 one of my first ever jobs 00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:00.560 as a student 00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:01.360 during the summers. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.560 One of those old school 00:16:02.560 --> 00:16:03.540 restaurants we used 00:16:03.540 --> 00:16:04.320 to have to go to. 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.460 Some of you remember 00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:06.180 this kind of thing. 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:07.320 You had to clock in 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:07.899 and stamp. 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:08.680 Yeah? 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:10.279 Stamp, clock, 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:11.040 that was you in. 00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.620 When you left, 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.340 stamp, clock, 00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:12.960 that was you out. 00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:14.259 I'm doing my shift. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:17.420 And that's the hired hand. 00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:20.759 I'm only paid to do this. 00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:22.000 I don't care about the sheep. 00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:24.180 It's my job. 00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:25.839 But with Jesus, 00:16:25.959 --> 00:16:26.739 it's not a job. 00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:27.439 With Jesus, 00:16:27.599 --> 00:16:29.259 this is his calling. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:31.659 They say that, 00:16:31.739 --> 00:16:32.159 verse 12, 00:16:32.239 --> 00:16:34.679 because they don't own the sheep. 00:16:35.099 --> 00:16:35.739 They don't care 00:16:35.739 --> 00:16:37.179 what happens to the sheep. 00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:38.519 They just want to care themselves. 00:16:38.859 --> 00:16:39.839 Jesus, on the other hand, 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:41.199 he could not be more in it 00:16:41.199 --> 00:16:41.899 for his sheep 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:45.019 because he owns his sheep. 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.059 Do you see that word? 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:47.319 He owns them. 00:16:49.599 --> 00:16:51.019 And it's a wonderful thought today 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:52.500 that if you're a Christian 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.319 here this morning, 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.759 that Jesus called you. 00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:58.899 Jesus bought you 00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:01.699 with his precious blood. 00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:03.480 Jesus took responsibility 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:06.680 for you and I's sin. 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:09.319 Jesus pulled out all the stops 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:12.319 to make you and I his sheep. 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.720 And the truth that we need 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:15.059 to understand this morning 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:17.740 is that this good shepherd, 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:19.379 he has us. 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:22.019 He has us. 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:25.240 Our times are in his hands. 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:27.559 No one is getting to us 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:29.980 because our shepherd will defend us. 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:32.299 Our shepherd has our times. 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:34.819 Our shepherd has our lives. 00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:36.319 And as dark 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:38.039 and as scary 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:39.799 as the valley gets 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:41.019 and as painful 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:43.960 and as long as the path might be, 00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:45.720 even through death, 00:17:45.879 --> 00:17:46.679 this shepherd, 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:49.119 not only is he with us 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.419 in the darkest valley, 00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:53.119 this shepherd will lead us 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.240 through to the other side. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.119 And no one will snatch us 00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:58.819 from his hand. 00:17:59.919 --> 00:18:00.960 We'll see that next week. 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.639 No one will snatch us 00:18:02.639 --> 00:18:03.639 from his hand. 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:04.800 And what I want us 00:18:04.800 --> 00:18:05.640 to know this morning 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:08.160 as a church family 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:10.860 is that no one 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:11.720 is more committed 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.780 to loving us 00:18:12.780 --> 00:18:14.860 than Jesus is. 00:18:16.820 --> 00:18:18.700 Jesus will never run away 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.540 from us. 00:18:21.560 --> 00:18:22.700 Jesus knew exactly 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.900 what he was taking on 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:24.860 when he called us 00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:25.520 to himself. 00:18:29.040 --> 00:18:29.980 What makes him 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:30.620 the good shepherd 00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.600 is verse 15. 00:18:31.780 --> 00:18:32.120 He says, 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.220 I lay down my life 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:33.740 for the sheep. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.559 He's talking there 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:35.400 about the cross. 00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:37.420 In other words, 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.680 if you were a roaming reporter 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.759 going around the streets 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:40.380 of Jerusalem 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.059 on the day 00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:42.259 that Jesus was crucified 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.519 and you held up 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:45.380 a microphone 00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:46.620 to his mouth 00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:47.319 and said, 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:47.740 Jesus, 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.700 what are you doing 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.240 up there? 00:18:49.600 --> 00:18:50.440 The answer 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.680 which he could have given 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:54.900 is I am laying down 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.380 my life 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.100 for my sheep. 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:00.819 Friends, 00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:01.480 if you want to know 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.039 his commitment 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.720 to you, 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.620 if you want to see 00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:05.720 his love for you 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.440 demonstrated, 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.740 that's where we look 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.099 today. 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.620 Hear in his voice 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.460 his total 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.940 commitment 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.319 to you 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.680 and thirdly, 00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:19.279 hear the absolute 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.460 control 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.900 in his voice. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:23.039 Jesus says, 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.920 I lay down 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.579 my life. 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.779 That's verse 17. 00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:26.980 I lay, 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:27.779 now just take that in, 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:28.940 I lay down my life. 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.519 In other words, 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.759 he's no tragic hero. 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.340 If you grew up in Scotland, 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.320 you'll know Macbeth 00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:35.259 was standard reading. 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.420 Shakespeare kind of 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.340 created that term, 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:38.759 didn't he? 00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:39.960 Tragic hero, 00:19:40.080 --> 00:19:40.400 classic, 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.539 you take a good character, 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.140 you show them 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:43.259 making a bad choice, 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.940 audience sympathizes, 00:19:45.100 --> 00:19:46.120 classic tragic hero. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.960 Jesus is no tragic hero. 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.960 He lays down 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.960 his life. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.340 He is in complete 00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:54.460 control of that. 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.420 That is the very 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.519 reason he came. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.940 He lays down 00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:58.660 his life. 00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:00.380 He's in charge. 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.519 He lays it down 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.140 and 00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:05.000 he takes it up 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.340 again. 00:20:06.300 --> 00:20:07.220 He's talking about 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:07.920 the resurrection. 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.180 He lays down 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:09.720 his life. 00:20:10.060 --> 00:20:10.920 He takes it up 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.140 again. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.140 Jesus is in 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:13.400 total control. 00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:16.100 And it reminded me 00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:17.200 this week of that song, 00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.700 Who's Afraid of the 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.460 Big Bad Wolf? 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:23.140 And as I think 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.019 about the biggest 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:25.220 wolf that's facing 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.019 each of us 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:27.019 in our lives, 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:30.380 the wolf of death, 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.700 we have to understand 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.380 that Jesus 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:35.559 has taken 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.759 care of it. 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:39.819 Because he laid 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.620 down his life, 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:42.039 because he took 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:42.660 my sin, 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.840 because he took 00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:44.620 my place, 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.180 because the Father 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:47.660 raised him in power, 00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:50.180 he took on 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:50.620 death, 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.200 which is the 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.779 biggest wolf 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.540 facing us, 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:54.320 and he won. 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.720 And in him, 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.000 his victory 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.400 is our 00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.000 victory. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.360 And what's 00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:03.240 driving all of 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.460 this? 00:21:03.540 --> 00:21:04.160 What's driving 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:04.600 all of this? 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.160 You've got to see 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:05.400 this. 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.220 See the glorious 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:07.019 answer at verse 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:08.019 15 and 17. 00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:09.040 What's the reason? 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:11.200 15 and 17. 00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:13.040 It's because of 00:21:13.040 --> 00:21:13.540 the loving 00:21:13.540 --> 00:21:15.060 relationship that 00:21:15.060 --> 00:21:16.540 exists between 00:21:16.540 --> 00:21:17.320 the Father and 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:17.799 the Son. 00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:20.379 Jesus, the Son, 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.579 obedient to death. 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.000 The Father in 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.599 heaven who sent 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:24.200 the Son loves 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:24.700 him for it. 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.700 The Holy Spirit 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:27.539 sent to apply 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.319 that work to 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:28.919 our lives. 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.200 Salvation is the 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.919 overflow of that 00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:33.059 loving relationship 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:34.899 of our triune 00:21:34.899 --> 00:21:35.659 God that has 00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:36.460 existed for all 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:36.960 eternity. 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.419 And so when 00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:40.159 Jesus talks about 00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:40.939 life to the 00:21:40.939 --> 00:21:42.799 full, the life 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.559 that he has come 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.139 to give his 00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:45.099 sheep, life to 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:45.819 the full, is 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:48.819 life with our 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.419 three-in-one 00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:49.839 God. 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.500 And see the 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.000 promise that 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.779 Jesus makes at 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.459 verse 16. 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.179 He says, I 00:21:55.179 --> 00:21:55.919 have other 00:21:55.919 --> 00:21:56.500 sheep. 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:56.919 Now in the 00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:57.659 context there, 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.480 who's in his 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.219 mind's eye? 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.199 It's the 00:22:01.199 --> 00:22:01.980 Gentiles. 00:22:03.419 --> 00:22:03.599 Yeah? 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.879 It's other 00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.740 sheep who in 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.399 the years to 00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:07.299 come will hear 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:07.939 the voice of 00:22:07.939 --> 00:22:09.939 the shepherd and 00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:11.199 will respond to 00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:12.579 his voice as 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.699 his word goes 00:22:13.699 --> 00:22:14.619 forth. 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.039 Before we 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.659 move to 00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:19.039 Edinburgh, Alex 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.419 and I spent 00:22:19.419 --> 00:22:20.339 five months in 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:21.439 Malawi in this 00:22:21.439 --> 00:22:21.899 place called 00:22:21.899 --> 00:22:22.799 Blantyre. 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.359 And it's called 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:25.199 Blantyre because 00:22:25.199 --> 00:22:26.980 it's after one 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:28.399 of Scotland's 00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:30.179 leading explorers 00:22:30.179 --> 00:22:31.059 slash missionaries 00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:31.720 called David 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.359 Livingston. 00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:34.819 David Livingston 00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.659 takes the gospel 00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:36.559 to the people of 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:36.859 Malawi. 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.579 There's that close 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.339 relationship that 00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:39.039 exists between 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.639 Scotland and 00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.460 Malawi still to 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:40.939 this day. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:41.799 I didn't know 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.399 this, but in 00:22:42.399 --> 00:22:43.559 David Livingston's 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.779 grave down in 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.779 Westminster Abbey 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:48.059 is this verse 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:48.799 from John 10. 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.639 I've got other 00:22:51.639 --> 00:22:52.200 sheep, says 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.539 Jesus. 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.779 I've got other 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.000 sheep. 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.339 In other words, 00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:55.079 I've got people 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:55.799 all over the 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.799 world, down the 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.500 years, through 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.819 the ages, who 00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.139 are going to 00:22:59.139 --> 00:23:00.059 respond to my 00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.720 voice as I 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.119 call them to 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.399 me. 00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:03.399 And here's the 00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:04.139 blessed thought 00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:04.759 this morning of 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.059 you're a 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.379 Christian. 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.960 However weak 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.619 you're feeling, 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.759 however messy 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.379 you think your 00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.779 life is, it's 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.559 if your trust is 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.480 in Jesus, you're 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:15.799 here because you 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.359 are in Jesus' 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.160 mind as he 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.839 said this. 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.660 He called you 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:22.539 by name. 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.599 That should be a 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.960 great evangelistic 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:27.240 comfort to us, 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.500 that Jesus is in 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.119 the calling 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.099 business. 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:31.859 You know, my 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.720 calls have little 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.220 effect. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.279 We were at the 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:34.839 Meadows Park 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.839 yesterday, couldn't 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.839 find one of our 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:37.599 kids, shouting 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.899 her name, no 00:23:38.899 --> 00:23:39.660 response. 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:42.540 But Jesus 00:23:42.540 --> 00:23:43.140 calls his 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:45.460 sheep and 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.220 they respond to 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:46.800 his voice. 00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:48.420 It's what's 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.140 happening now. 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:49.900 What gives us 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.940 any confidence in 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:52.060 evangelism is that 00:23:52.060 --> 00:23:53.040 Jesus, through his 00:23:53.040 --> 00:23:53.820 word as it goes 00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:55.900 forth, he has 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:56.580 his people who 00:23:56.580 --> 00:23:57.279 will respond to 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:57.660 his voice. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.680 As Danny goes 00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.480 off this morning, 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.040 as she goes, 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.860 and in her heart 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.759 to go to 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.700 Asia, what gives 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.740 her any confidence 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.540 this morning, and 00:24:07.540 --> 00:24:08.640 what gives us as 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.480 we support her 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.040 this morning as 00:24:10.040 --> 00:24:10.700 a church, any 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.600 confidence that the 00:24:11.600 --> 00:24:12.100 Lord will do 00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:12.920 things through her 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.440 and through her 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.759 work, is this 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:16.920 verse, that Jesus 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:18.040 has other sheep. 00:24:18.520 --> 00:24:19.540 He has sheep all 00:24:19.540 --> 00:24:20.600 over the world who 00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:21.500 he wants to call 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.280 to himself. 00:24:22.780 --> 00:24:23.660 I don't think 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.400 anyone's expressed 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.900 this better than 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:27.120 American missionary 00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:27.680 D.L. 00:24:27.800 --> 00:24:27.980 Moody. 00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:30.100 He says this, and 00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:30.900 think about this, and 00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:31.720 I know for many of 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:32.440 you God has laid 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.220 things like this 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.160 international mission 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:34.940 work on your heart. 00:24:35.040 --> 00:24:35.860 He said this, God 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.960 doesn't expect the 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:39.700 impossible from us, but 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.579 he wants us to 00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:41.519 expect the impossible 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:43.039 from him. 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.180 And you have to 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:46.720 say, what a 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.000 shepherd. 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.279 Verse 20, some in 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.319 this crowd say he's 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:49.860 insane. 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:52.180 Others, verse 21, say 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:52.759 he couldn't have 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.559 opened the eyes of 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:55.319 the blind man if he 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:56.160 wasn't who he says 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.519 he is. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.039 And the question 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.779 we've got to ask 00:24:57.779 --> 00:25:00.160 ourselves is how do 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:03.019 we respond to the 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.680 news of the good 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.039 shepherd? 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:06.839 Do you know his 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.799 voice in your life 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:09.019 presently? 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.940 Maybe for some of 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:12.899 us we've never heard 00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:14.240 nor responded to 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.779 his voice. 00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.579 Well, I take it that 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.599 as Jesus has walked 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.460 off the pages of 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:19.619 John chapter 10, and 00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.619 as his voice has 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:22.539 gone forth, that 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.460 some of us need to 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.440 stop and think about 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.379 his claims about 00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.700 himself and about 00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.259 us. 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.720 Dear friends, it is 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.579 foolishness to go 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.399 alone in life. 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:37.159 But for us who 00:25:37.159 --> 00:25:38.519 know Jesus as our 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.819 shepherd, I wonder 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.519 if some of us just 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.579 need to be still this 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.440 morning and listen to 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:45.440 him, to fix our eyes 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:47.279 on him and follow. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.259 Let me ask you, are 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:50.420 you, are we, letting 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.759 the good shepherd feed 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:53.579 and lead our souls as 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.960 he speaks to us in his 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.279 word? 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.180 You know, there's a 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.899 reason that so often 00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.619 the funerals that I've 00:25:58.619 --> 00:25:59.339 done over the years, 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.559 90% of them have 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.960 featured Psalm 23. 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.840 We don't have time 00:26:03.840 --> 00:26:04.579 this morning to go 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.420 into the connections 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.680 between Psalm 23 and 00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.460 John chapter 10. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.059 I would love to do 00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.220 that, except to say 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.360 that Jesus steps right 00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:11.220 in to fulfill that 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.620 psalm. 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.500 But I love that bit in 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:15.100 Psalm 23, as Jesus 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:16.279 is the shepherd, leads 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.340 us by still waters. 00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:18.299 What happens to our 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:18.660 souls? 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:23.120 He restores them by 00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:23.740 his word. 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:26.019 What are you doing by 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:27.259 means of cultivating 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:29.480 that deep trust in and 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:31.420 love for the great 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:33.319 shepherd as he leads 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:35.099 us through the ups and 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:36.440 the downs of life? 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.700 What a shepherd. 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.779 You know, I heard, went 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.960 for a walk with Ross this 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.640 week and he said 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.339 something about his 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.640 dad. 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.940 He said, my dad keeps 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:47.079 saying, I just don't 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.740 know how you would do 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.099 this. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.480 I don't know how you 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.480 would do this without 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:51.680 Jesus. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:55.900 And it's so true, isn't 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.099 it? 00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:57.740 It's so true. 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.700 I just don't know how 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.220 you would do it. 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.240 I don't know how you 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.259 would fathom it and get 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:03.640 beyond it if it wasn't 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.400 for the good shepherd. 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.400 So friends, what animal 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:09.019 would you be? 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.519 And just as we close and 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:15.200 as we think on that, and 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.859 as we think about embracing 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.839 the posture of a 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:18.920 dependent sheep who's 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.240 totally reliant on the 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.759 good shepherd. 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.559 You know, I had another 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:23.539 shepherd in my mind this 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:23.839 week. 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.539 Life staging that. 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.380 That I'm at. 00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.599 She's a shepherdess 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.079 actually. 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.940 I had little Bo Peep in 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.900 my mind all this week. 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.420 And I didn't know it 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:37.400 until I googled it this 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.640 week. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.440 And I don't know if you 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.440 know this as well, that 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.660 there's several verses to 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.559 that nursery rhyme. 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:43.960 Third verse. 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.620 There's a lot of them. 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.519 Goes like this. 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.660 Little Bo Peep began to 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:51.319 weep and lay down to rest 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.940 for a while. 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:55.140 She fell fast asleep while 00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:56.000 counting her sheep. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.259 Then dreamt they came 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.940 home with a smile. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.579 And you have to say 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.619 that's lovely and cute. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.779 And credit where credit's 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:04.059 due, Bo Peep right there. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.079 She clearly loves her 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:05.380 sheep. 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.180 She loves her sheep. 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:10.480 But she's also powerless 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.799 to do anything to help 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.019 them. 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.759 And it strikes me that the 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.960 Pharisees in John chapter 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:18.339 10, sorry, in the 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:19.319 background of John chapter 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:20.960 10, do the opposite of 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.400 Bo Peep. 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:23.140 They've got all the power 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:24.000 in the world to help 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.340 people. 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.400 All the power in the world 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.100 to help the sheep. 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.160 But because they don't 00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:28.600 love the sheep, they're not 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:28.960 bothering. 00:28:31.100 --> 00:28:32.120 But what I want us to 00:28:32.120 --> 00:28:33.060 understand as we finish 00:28:33.060 --> 00:28:34.220 this morning about Jesus. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:37.680 Jesus is one who has both 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.360 the power to help his sheep 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:42.340 and the love for them that 00:28:42.340 --> 00:28:44.820 drives him to act. 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:49.200 He is all power and he is 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:50.960 all compassion. 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:53.500 And they are married, both 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.299 of those things, in the 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:55.099 person of Jesus. 00:28:55.419 --> 00:28:56.720 Friends, our lives could not 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:59.799 be in better hands than the 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:02.220 hands of the good shepherd. 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.720 And so three quick things as 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.379 we close. 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:06.240 Let's know his voice. 00:29:07.439 --> 00:29:08.919 Let's trust his heart. 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:11.619 And let's follow his lead. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.879 Let's pray together. 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:18.639 And so Father, I just pray in 00:29:18.639 --> 00:29:19.659 the silence now. 00:29:22.159 --> 00:29:23.720 Lord Jesus, as we've heard 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:25.960 your voice in John chapter 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:27.759 10, as you walk off the 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:29.179 pages of the Bible. 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:32.799 Lord, I pray that this voice 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:34.579 would come as a challenge to 00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.339 many of us. 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:38.259 I pray that it would come as a 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:40.919 comforting balm to some of 00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:41.259 us. 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:44.059 And Lord, it would come with 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:45.920 great strength to all of us. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.480 And I pray particularly for 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.579 those here today who are 00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:50.920 walking some of the darkest 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:54.619 paths, through some of the 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:56.519 darkest and scariest valleys, 00:29:57.519 --> 00:30:00.140 that they would be so aware of 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:04.879 your rod and your staff in their 00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:05.339 lives. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:07.559 Lord, they would be so aware of 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:11.779 your presence with them as you 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.899 lead them and love them through 00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:13.639 the good shepherd. 00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:16.679 So I just close with that thought 00:30:16.679 --> 00:30:18.200 that Fraser brought this week to 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:18.480 me. 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.779 That I just don't know how you 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:25.460 would do this without Jesus. 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:29.220 And so Lord, I pray that as we 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:31.419 finish our service and as we spend 00:30:31.419 --> 00:30:33.480 time together and as you, as we 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:35.279 speak, Lord, that your spirit would be 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.599 ministering to us in our 00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:39.200 conversations, that we would be 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:40.759 bringing the truth of God's word to 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.619 bear on our lives. 00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:43.460 Father, help us to be a community 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:46.039 that is founded on the truth of the 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.359 gospel. 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:49.299 Father, we just thank you as we 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:52.799 close for your incomparable love 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:55.180 and commitment to us. 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.980 In Jesus is worthy and in his 00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.960 precious name we pray. 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:00.039 Amen.