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 Well, amen and good morning. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in John chapter 10.

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 It's good to be back with you this morning. Last week we were wrapping up a trip to Memphis to see my niece graduate.

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 And I think about this time when I would have preferred to be opening God's Word with you.

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 So, I was in a minivan on Highway 22 in northern Alabama, which is just a mind-numbing stretch of road.

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 I would have really liked to have been doing this instead, so I'm glad that I'm here with you today.

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 Our text for today is John chapter 10, verses 1 through 6.

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 The Bible uses many titles to refer to Jesus Christ.

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 I propose to you that none is more precious than the title, Good Shepherd.

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 Lord willing, we're going to spend the next five weeks in John's Gospel in this chapter where Jesus refers to himself in this way.

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 Now, we covered all of chapter 9 in a single week, a couple of weeks ago.

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 So, you may go, why suddenly are we going to pump the brakes so much and slow down?

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 And the reason is the chiastic structure.

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 The literary structure of this chapter presses it in that direction.

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 So, really quickly, if you're unfamiliar with chiasms, it's a literary structure that allows you to take a text and fold it upon itself.

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 So, the first thing in the text corresponding with the last thing in the text and stepping toward a center of the text.

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 So, just quickly and broadly, I want to walk you through chapter 10 so you'll get why we're doing this.

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 And then we'll do a little bit of background and then read our text together.

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 So, firstly, the first section, today's text, verses 1 through 6.

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 The sheep hear the shepherd's voice.

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 So, kind of thematically, we're picking that up.

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 Then the corresponding part of it is the substantive part of the text, which is verses 19 through 42.

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 So, Lord willing, a month from now, we'll look at those verses together.

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 And there, we see Jesus saying again that his sheep hear his voice.

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 Next, verses 7 through 10, Jesus talks about him being the door for the sheep.

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 And correspondingly, verses 15 through 18, he talks about laying down his life for the sheep.

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 And then the central piece of it is Jesus declaring himself the good shepherd in verse 11 and in verse 14.

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 So, we'll take a look at each of those, and I won't talk about it at all today, past this, but verses 1 through 6, also chiastic.

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 And each of those breaks down in that way.

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 As we spend this time in John chapter 10, it has been my prayer that God would profit us greatly as we take it up.

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 So, before we read, allow me just a moment to connect the end of chapter 9 to the discourse that is before us.

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 In chapter 9, Jesus heals a man who was born blind.

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 As you have come to expect, this causes confusion and commotion.

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 So, the man is brought before the Pharisees and put through a series of examinations.

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 First him, then his parents, and then back to him again.

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 At the conclusion of this series of examinations, the man says, this is chapter 9 in verse 33,

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 If this man, referring to Jesus, were not from God, he could do nothing.

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 And they answered him.

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 This is a group of Pharisees he's brought before.

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 You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?

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 And they cast him out.

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 Verse 35, Jesus heard they had cast him out.

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 And having found him, he said,

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 Do you believe in the Son of Man?

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 He answered, And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?

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 Jesus said to him,

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 You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.

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 He said, Lord, I believe.

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 And he worshipped him.

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 So, Jesus welcomes the man that was born blind, that he had healed.

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 Verse 39, Jesus said,

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 For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.

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 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him,

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 Are we also blind?

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 Jesus said to them,

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 If you were blind, you would have no guilt.

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 But now that you say, we see, your guilt remains.

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 So, we spent a minute of time talking about this text,

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 And noted that Jesus, having healed a blind man of his physical disability,

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 And then, much more importantly, of his spiritual disability,

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 Uses this sight language to expose the prideful Pharisees.

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 He's speaking here with a great deal of irony.

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 Similarly, in Mark chapter 2, verse 16 and 17,

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 We read,

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 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors,

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 Said to his disciples,

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 Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?

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 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them,

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 Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

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 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

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 So, it's these men that think they're righteous because of their careful observance of the law,

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 Which was not a perfect observance of the law.

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 See no need of a savior that Jesus is talking about here.

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 And so, it's in this context that Jesus goes on to speak in chapter 10.

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 He is speaking to these Pharisees.

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 Blind men who have been thrown out of the synagogue a seeing man.

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 So, John chapter 10, verses 1 through 6.

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 And I'm actually going to read all the way through verse 18,

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 Just to get our heads set into the discourse.

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 But before I do, I'll pray.

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 Father, would you help us as we take up your word together this morning?

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 Would you bless my feeble preparation and I'm sure my feeble delivery?

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 We want to rightly understand it.

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 We want to behold Jesus by it.

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 We want to be changed from one degree of glory to another for the sake of your name.

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 And so, it's in that name that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Alright, John 10, beginning in verse 1.

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 Jesus says,

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 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way,

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 that man is a thief and a robber.

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 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

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 To him the gatekeeper opens.

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 The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

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 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

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 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

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 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

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 So Jesus again said to them,

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 Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

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 All who come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

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 I am the door.

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 If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

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 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

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 I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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 I am the good shepherd.

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 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

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 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep,

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 sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

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 He flees because he has a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

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 I am the good shepherd.

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 I know my own, and my own know me.

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 Just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.

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 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.

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 I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.

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 So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

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 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

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 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.

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 I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.

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 This charge I have received from my Father.

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 So Jesus, in chapter 10, employs a rich metaphor.

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 We have very little cultural context to enliven what is happening in this moment.

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 First century Jews were agrarian people.

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 The whole economy was based on livestock and fields and harvest.

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 First, the average person among us can see a cow eating grass in a field

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 and then order a burger in a drive-thru and make no mental connection between the two.

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 How does one get from there to there?

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 But not so with them.

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 Livestock were part of their daily experience.

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 Sheep being taken out to pasture and brought back into safety at night

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 would have happened regularly, happened right in front of them.

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 So this picture of sheep being called out and led would have been vivid in their minds.

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 This is strategic language that Jesus is employing here.

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 Further, and I would suggest more importantly,

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 it's a rich metaphor because of its biblical foundation.

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 I hope that we are a bit less lost at this point.

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 Perhaps you know your Old Testament well.

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 I hope so.

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 The men that Jesus is addressing most certainly would have known their Old Testament well.

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 Does anything leap into your mind when Jesus presents himself as a shepherd?

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 I hope something, something jumps up in your mind.

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 We read together Psalm 23 not that long ago.

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 Perhaps at least that text for you.

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 But if not, some time in the Old Testament is going to serve us well at this point.

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 So leave John 10 behind for just a moment

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 and join me in some quick sweeping Bible background

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 by joining me in Ezekiel chapter 34.

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 The blessed sound of turning pages.

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 Ezekiel 34.

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 I'm going to hop through this text a little bit just for the sake of time.

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 Listen to the words that Ezekiel recorded.

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 Verse 1.

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 The word of the Lord came to me.

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 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel.

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 Prophesy and say to them, even to the shepherds,

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 thus says the Lord God.

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 Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves.

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 Should not shepherds feed the sheep?

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 You eat the fat.

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 You clothe yourselves with wool.

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 You slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.

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 The weak you have not strengthened.

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 The sick you have not healed.

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 The injured you have not bound up.

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 The strayed you have not brought back.

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 The lost you have not sought.

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 And with force and harshness you have ruled them.

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 So they were scattered.

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 Because there was no shepherd,

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 and they became food for all the wild beasts,

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 my sheep were scattered.

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 Skip to verse 11.

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 For thus says the Lord God,

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 Behold, I myself will search for my sheep,

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 and will seek them out.

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 As a shepherd seeks out his flock,

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 when he is among his sheep that have been scattered,

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 so will I seek out my sheep,

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 and I will rescue them from all places

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 where they have been scattered,

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 on a day of clouds and thick darkness.

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 And I will bring them out from the peoples,

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 and gather them from the countries,

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 and will bring them into their own land,

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 and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel,

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 by the ravines,

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 and in all the inhabited places of the country.

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 I will feed them with good pasture,

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 and on the mountain heights of Israel

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 shall be their grazing land.

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 There they shall lie down in good grazing land,

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 and on rich pasture they shall feed

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 on the mountains of Israel.

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 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,

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 and I myself will make them lie down,

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 declares the Lord God.

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 Skip to verse 22.

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 I will rescue my flock.

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 They shall no longer be a prey,

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 and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

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 And I will set up over them one shepherd,

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 my servant David,

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 and he shall feed them.

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 He shall feed them and be their shepherd.

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 And I, the Lord, will be their God,

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 and my servant David shall be prince among them.

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 I am the Lord.

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 I have spoken.

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 I will make with them a covenant of peace

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 and banish wild beasts from the land

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 so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness

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 and sleep in the woods.

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 Shepherds who are taking advantage of the sheep,

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 we see in Ezekiel 34.

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 Sheep who are scattered.

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 A prince who protects and feeds.

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 The men Jesus is speaking to,

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 were they not blind,

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 should be perceiving all of this

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 as Jesus presents this metaphor.

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 This text should be alive in their minds.

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 However, this is not the only Old Testament text.

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 These men declared themselves disciples of Moses

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 in John chapter 9 and verse 28.

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 One might think they would recall the prayer of Moses

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 for a successor.

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 Numbers 27, verse 15 and following,

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 Moses spoke to the Lord saying,

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 Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh,

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 appoint a man over the congregation

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 who shall go out before them

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 and come in before them,

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 who shall lead them out and bring them in.

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 Language sound familiar?

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 That the congregation of the Lord

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 may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.

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 The next verse in Numbers 27

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 names Joshua as Moses' successor.

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 So we've got David as a type for Christ

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 and Ezekiel.

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 We've got Joshua now.

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 Jesus is the transliteration of the name Joshua

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 from Hebrew to Greek to English.

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 These connections ought to be being made.

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 Other Old Testament passages indict the priests

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 for not shepherding as they should.

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 Isaiah 56, verse 9 through 12.

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 Jeremiah 23, verse 1 through 4.

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 Chapter 25, verse 32 to 38.

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 Zechariah 11.

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 I'm just showing you that it's replete.

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 It's all throughout the text.

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 And the Old Testament presents God

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 as the ultimate shepherd of his people.

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 Psalm 23, Psalm 80, verse 1,

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 Isaiah 40, and verse 11.

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 Do you see how rich this metaphor is?

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 It's not random.

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 It's not offhanded.

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 Jesus is not shooting from the hip here at all.

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 He's saying some very, very clear things

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 to this group of men.

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 This is a metaphor.

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 It's laden with Old Testament teaching.

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 In a few short words,

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 he's bringing all of this up

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 to say to them that they are false shepherds

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 and that he is the true God

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.879
 who will call out his people.

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:55.939
 Now, in the back of your bulletin,

00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:57.919
 adults, it's not really for you,

00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.600
 but you might like to color too.

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.919
 There's a cartoon.

00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.380
 And it's a quote from John Calvin.

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:06.319
 This is in his preface

00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:09.160
 to Olivier Tannes' New Testament.

00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.119
 I hope I pronounced that correctly.

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.680
 He said this quote,

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:38.920
 So,

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:41.080
 you rightly take up,

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:44.000
 rightly study the Old Testament,

00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.720
 you will arrive at the conclusion

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:50.000
 that Jesus is the Christ.

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:52.240
 And that is the very point

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.600
 that Jesus is making here.

00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:56.480
 He's not being cryptic in John 10.

00:17:57.300 --> 00:18:00.039
 He's indicting false religion

00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:02.380
 and false teachers.

00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:06.000
 They know exactly what's going on.

00:18:06.080 --> 00:18:07.280
 We'll see as we progress

00:18:07.280 --> 00:18:09.520
 through chapter 10.

00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.900
 But verse 6 records,

00:18:11.620 --> 00:18:12.920
 back in John 10,

00:18:13.580 --> 00:18:14.600
 this figure of speech

00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:15.920
 Jesus used with them,

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:18.620
 but they did not understand

00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:21.040
 what he was saying to them.

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.920
 And understanding all of that background,

00:18:24.260 --> 00:18:27.140
 John means for this to be striking to us.

00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:30.560
 How could these men not understand

00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:32.559
 the thing that he is saying

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.159
 as he speaks of himself

00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:36.119
 as the shepherd?

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:39.339
 This is how he begins the dialogue,

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.259
 verse 1.

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.139
 Truly, truly,

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:42.579
 it's to say,

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.960
 really, really,

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.740
 listen, pay attention,

00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:46.700
 this is true,

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.879
 I say to you,

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.720
 he who does not enter

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.179
 the sheepfold by the door,

00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:53.619
 but climbs in by another way,

00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:55.639
 that man is a thief

00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:57.159
 and a robber.

00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:58.440
 He's expounding on

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.859
 what he has said at the end,

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.679
 of chapter 9.

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:03.960
 Now, the sheepfold

00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.079
 was a place

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.500
 where a group of families

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.720
 would bring their flocks

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.740
 in at night

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:10.440
 for protection.

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.019
 Right?

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:13.139
 Smaller flocks,

00:19:13.419 --> 00:19:14.339
 a group of people

00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:16.359
 partnering together

00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:18.240
 to put them into

00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.559
 a common pen

00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.019
 or perhaps a courtyard,

00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:22.859
 and a man,

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.899
 often referred to

00:19:23.899 --> 00:19:25.480
 as an under-shepherd,

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:27.059
 would be hired

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:28.339
 to watch over them

00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.440
 throughout the night.

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.279
 Now, the sheep

00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.539
 would be safe

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.240
 from predators

00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.720
 in the sheepfold.

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.000
 It was a structure

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.980
 designed to keep wolves

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:39.039
 out,

00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:41.119
 but not safe

00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.339
 from a thief

00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:43.419
 and a robber.

00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:43.679
 So,

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.980
 somebody would be hired

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.119
 to look over

00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.899
 the space

00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:47.480
 and make sure

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.759
 somebody didn't come in

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:50.119
 and take out

00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:52.019
 what was not theirs.

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.480
 Now,

00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.379
 these words,

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.639
 thief and robber,

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:57.039
 are too similar

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.779
 in English

00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:59.099
 to ascertain

00:19:59.099 --> 00:19:59.619
 much of any

00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:00.420
 variance in them.

00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:01.440
 Isn't a thief

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:01.940
 and a robber

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:04.039
 just the very same thing?

00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:05.279
 But they could be

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.819
 translated from the original

00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.819
 a thief

00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:09.519
 and an insurrectionist.

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:11.480
 I don't pretend

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.240
 to know exactly

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.180
 what Jesus means

00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.759
 by these two words,

00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.879
 but perhaps he is suggesting

00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:17.440
 that the leader

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:19.180
 who is not the shepherd

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.799
 doesn't belong

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.660
 among the sheep

00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:23.079
 as he gets in

00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:24.259
 and he stirs up,

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.400
 but he means harm

00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:27.220
 and he causes rebellion.

00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.180
 Well,

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.059
 whatever is meant here,

00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:31.259
 they are presented

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.660
 as being harmful

00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:34.599
 and being entirely

00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.720
 unconcerned

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.519
 about entering

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:38.839
 the proper way.

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.039
 Now,

00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.440
 I don't believe

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.299
 that anybody

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:43.960
 in my hearing,

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.759
 I could be wrong,

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.980
 but falls into this category

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.559
 of false religion,

00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:49.680
 false teacher.

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.299
 My assumption this morning

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.079
 is that none of you

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.920
 are presently

00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.519
 in the works

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.299
 of trying to form

00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:57.019
 a cult of some kind.

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.599
 At least I certainly hope

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.900
 that that's not the case.

00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:02.559
 The strong indictment

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.339
 of this text

00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:04.799
 really doesn't demand

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:06.079
 a lot of our time,

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.700
 but what does require

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.119
 attention

00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:08.839
 is the juxtaposition

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.819
 of the metaphor

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:13.379
 which then infers

00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:14.180
 some warning

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.460
 for us.

00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:16.099


00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:17.319
 not this,

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.639
 but this,

00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.559
 and here we have

00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.680
 such opportunity

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:22.119
 to look

00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.180
 to Christ.

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.240
 Verse 2 says,

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.940
 but he who enters

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:28.359
 by the door

00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:29.839
 is the shepherd

00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:31.420
 of the sheep.

00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.000
 Jesus

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:34.359
 is the shepherd

00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:35.619
 of the sheep.

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:37.000
 verse 1-6

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.879
 might leave that

00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.479
 unclear,

00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:39.179
 but we know

00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:39.799
 this is the case

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.459
 because he tells us

00:21:40.459 --> 00:21:41.179
 so in verse 11

00:21:41.179 --> 00:21:42.379
 and verse 14.

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:42.959
 There he says,

00:21:43.439 --> 00:21:45.699
 I am the good shepherd.

00:21:46.199 --> 00:21:47.259
 The good shepherd

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.779
 lays down his life

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.539
 for the sheep.

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.699
 Verse 14,

00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:52.159
 I am the good shepherd.

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.759
 I know my own

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.799
 and my own

00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:57.039
 know me.

00:21:57.699 --> 00:21:58.899
 It's the shepherd

00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.759
 that is granted

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.319
 access

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.799
 to the sheep

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:02.699
 because he has

00:22:02.699 --> 00:22:03.359
 the authority

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.279
 to come into the sheep.

00:22:04.439 --> 00:22:06.500
 He is the shepherd

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.899
 and so it is to him

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:08.819
 the gatekeeper,

00:22:08.939 --> 00:22:10.419
 this under-shepherd

00:22:10.419 --> 00:22:11.139
 opens.

00:22:11.219 --> 00:22:11.919
 He comes and knocks

00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:12.639
 and the gate

00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:13.419
 is opened

00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:14.799
 for the shepherd.

00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:15.699
 At once,

00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.799
 the gate is opened.

00:22:17.459 --> 00:22:18.139
 And what is it

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.859
 that the shepherd

00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:20.059
 does

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:20.859
 when the gate

00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:21.819
 is opened?

00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.839
 He calls his sheep.

00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.199
 What the shepherd

00:22:25.199 --> 00:22:25.919
 does is he gathers

00:22:25.919 --> 00:22:26.519
 to himself

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.599
 his sheep.

00:22:27.719 --> 00:22:28.919
 The job of a shepherd

00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:29.859
 is to lead

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:31.219
 sheep.

00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:32.839
 But notice,

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:35.119
 not every sheep

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.559
 in the sheepfold.

00:22:38.959 --> 00:22:39.859
 Therein lies

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:41.379
 the inferred

00:22:41.379 --> 00:22:42.699
 warning.

00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:46.059
 Jesus calls

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.199
 his

00:22:47.199 --> 00:22:49.019
 sheep.

00:22:50.199 --> 00:22:51.319
 Verse 3 goes on,

00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:51.799
 the sheep

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.079
 hear his voice

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:54.899
 and he calls

00:22:54.899 --> 00:22:55.879
 his own sheep

00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:56.679
 by name

00:22:56.679 --> 00:22:57.480
 and leads

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.399
 them

00:22:58.399 --> 00:22:59.439
 out.

00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.100
 sheep.

00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:01.980
 Now,

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.680
 sheep are

00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.779
 not the brightest

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.340
 of animals.

00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:06.400
 They desperately

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.180
 need shepherding

00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:08.059
 as they will not

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.799
 stay alive long

00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.660
 without someone

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:11.320
 watching over them.

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:13.360
 I challenge you,

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.600
 and you may know

00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:14.960
 of one,

00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:16.420
 I've never heard

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.820
 of wild sheep.

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.559
 I don't think

00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.220
 they exist.

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:21.339
 I think they will

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:21.860
 get eaten

00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:23.740
 and wiped out.

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.480
 However,

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.460
 to the sheep's

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:26.920
 credit,

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.600
 sheep can

00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:29.500
 and do

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.559
 learn the voice

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.240
 of their shepherd

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:33.140
 and will loyally

00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:33.960
 follow

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:35.180
 his voice.

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.819
 This is still

00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.720
 a Near East

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.480
 shepherding

00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:38.940
 practice,

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.579
 to gather

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.440
 small flocks

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.299
 into larger

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:41.920
 flocks

00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:43.220
 for protection

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:43.740
 at night.

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.339
 Shepherds will

00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.279
 team up together

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.759
 to help

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.839
 protect one

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:47.619
 another's

00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.740
 sheep.

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.500
 And in the morning,

00:23:49.659 --> 00:23:50.259
 each shepherd

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.019
 calls to their

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.299
 sheep,

00:23:51.379 --> 00:23:51.740
 and as they

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.259
 go their

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.039
 separate ways,

00:23:53.159 --> 00:23:53.639
 the sheep

00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.500
 will follow

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:56.059
 their shepherd.

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.659
 There is

00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:58.699
 not confusion

00:23:58.699 --> 00:23:59.299
 about which

00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:00.119
 sheep belong

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:00.559
 to whom.

00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:00.919
 They don't have

00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.459
 to brand them

00:24:01.459 --> 00:24:01.959
 and figure out

00:24:01.959 --> 00:24:02.459
 how to sort

00:24:02.459 --> 00:24:03.099
 them out.

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:03.779
 Again,

00:24:03.879 --> 00:24:04.299
 the sheep

00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:05.500
 know who

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.559
 they are

00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:08.179
 to follow.

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.720
 The Bible,

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.099
 as we have

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.699
 already noted,

00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.740
 uses this

00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.839
 sheep metaphor

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.399
 for God's

00:24:15.399 --> 00:24:15.819
 people.

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.819
 I think

00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.379
 it's very

00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:18.959
 healthy for

00:24:18.959 --> 00:24:19.619
 us to push

00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.480
 against a

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:20.959
 highly

00:24:20.959 --> 00:24:22.179
 individualized

00:24:22.179 --> 00:24:23.579
 version of

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:23.959
 Christianity.

00:24:24.699 --> 00:24:25.339
 We get that

00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.519
 me and

00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:27.459
 Jesus type

00:24:27.459 --> 00:24:28.659
 of culture.

00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.980
 Most of you

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.659
 here are

00:24:30.659 --> 00:24:31.379
 members of

00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:31.839
 our church

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.199
 and we've

00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:32.779
 pressed upon

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.179
 you the

00:24:33.179 --> 00:24:34.139
 need for

00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:34.299
 that.

00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:34.779
 It's a

00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:35.059
 biblical

00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.839
 command that

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.079
 you be

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:37.079
 joined to

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.879
 a group

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.399
 of Christians.

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:38.740
 This is

00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.019
 part of

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.319
 God's

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.099
 design for

00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:40.439
 healthy

00:24:40.439 --> 00:24:41.220
 Christian

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.319
 living.

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:42.939
 I want

00:24:42.939 --> 00:24:43.139
 you,

00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:43.480
 when you

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:43.980
 think of

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.659
 your salvation,

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:45.119
 to be

00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:45.699
 caught up

00:24:45.699 --> 00:24:46.199
 into thoughts

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.420
 that are

00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:47.299
 much grander

00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:48.000
 than just

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.539
 you.

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:48.980
 I want

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.200
 you to

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.580
 think of

00:24:49.580 --> 00:24:51.180
 peoples saved

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:51.539
 for the

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.120
 glory of

00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:52.460
 God.

00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:53.340
 Peoples from

00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:54.160
 all over the

00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.900
 world called

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.519
 into local

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.100
 assemblies to

00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:56.840
 love and

00:24:56.840 --> 00:24:57.980
 serve one

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.400
 another.

00:24:59.840 --> 00:25:00.480
 But,

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.200
 when the

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:02.559
 Bible

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.660
 individualizes

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.420
 our salvation,

00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:05.180
 we should

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:05.880
 pause,

00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:07.940
 just for a

00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.299
 moment,

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:10.100
 to do the

00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:10.580
 very same.

00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:10.720
 people,

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:12.119
 I find

00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:12.639
 these words

00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.159
 just

00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:13.859
 incredible.

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:14.679
 The sheep

00:25:14.679 --> 00:25:14.939
 hear his

00:25:14.939 --> 00:25:15.339
 voice,

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.379
 and he

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:18.000
 calls his

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.659
 own sheep

00:25:19.659 --> 00:25:22.220
 by name

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.399
 and leads

00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:23.799
 them out.

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.559
 This is a

00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.519
 variance on

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.039
 the picture

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.579
 of a

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:27.839
 shepherd.

00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:29.899
 In reality,

00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.720
 he would say

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.159
 something.

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.539
 I don't know

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.299
 what shepherds

00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.819
 say to sheep.

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.339
 He'd give

00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:34.759
 some kind of

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.259
 a command

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:36.179
 or a

00:25:36.179 --> 00:25:36.720
 noise or

00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.159
 something,

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.779
 and they

00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.080
 would hear

00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:38.320
 him and

00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:38.540
 they would

00:25:38.540 --> 00:25:38.920
 know it's

00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:40.180
 time to

00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:40.640
 move.

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.160
 But here,

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:41.820
 Jesus presents

00:25:41.820 --> 00:25:42.779
 himself as

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.940
 calling them

00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:45.840
 individually by

00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:46.300
 name.

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.080
 His sheep,

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.080
 drawing them

00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:50.360
 together into

00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:52.680
 a flock and

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.279
 leading them

00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.240
 out.

00:25:56.540 --> 00:25:57.180
 Now,

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:57.580
 if at this

00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:58.080
 point the

00:25:58.080 --> 00:25:58.900
 question enters

00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.700
 your mind,

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:02.220
 am I one

00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:02.460
 of his

00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:02.759
 sheep?

00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.860
 I want you

00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:05.240
 to know that

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:05.640
 I do not

00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:06.320
 think that

00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:06.960
 question

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.360
 unfair,

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.100
 but I do

00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:11.100
 think that

00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:11.539
 it is the

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.160
 wrong

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.420
 question.

00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.279
 I would

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.600
 say to

00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:16.140
 you rather,

00:26:16.340 --> 00:26:16.539
 if you're

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.019
 unsure,

00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:18.559
 has Jesus

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.360
 called me

00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:20.259
 by name,

00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.500
 you should

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:21.980
 ask the

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.480
 question,

00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.420
 do I

00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:23.840
 hear him

00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.259
 calling?

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.620
 If so,

00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.160
 follow.

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.279
 Don't ask

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.600
 the other

00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:30.120
 question.

00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:31.160
 Do you

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:31.519
 hear him

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:31.880
 calling?

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.440
 Follow.

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.120
 You may

00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:34.460
 find that

00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:34.620
 you are

00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.000
 sitting here

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.420
 this morning

00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:35.740
 as a

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.539
 means of

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.099
 Jesus

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:38.359
 calling your

00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:38.599
 name.

00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:38.879
 I'm not

00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.339
 asking you

00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.299
 to audibly

00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:40.980
 hear him

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.480
 call your

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:41.819
 name.

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.399
 You're in

00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:43.839
 church this

00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:44.119
 morning,

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.240
 hearing the

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.799
 gospel and

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.399
 our prayers

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:46.720
 and our

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.079
 singing,

00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.240
 read,

00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.019
 preached.

00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:50.779
 You may

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.019
 have been

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.619
 born into a

00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:52.139
 family with

00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:53.019
 Christian parents

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.940
 as a means

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.559
 of Jesus

00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:56.379
 calling your

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:56.759
 name.

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:58.460
 Jesus

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.899
 delights in

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.839
 using ordinary

00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.740
 means for

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.799
 extraordinary

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:04.460
 ends.

00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:06.299
 do you

00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:06.759
 hear him

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:08.019
 calling your

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.299
 name?

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:08.920
 Do you

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.660
 find yourself

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.400
 hearing the

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:10.860
 gospel of

00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:11.559
 Jesus Christ?

00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:13.079
 Repent and

00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.480
 believe.

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.240
 Follow.

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.400
 Follow.

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.819
 He goes

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.120
 on in

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:19.680
 verse 4,

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:20.900
 when he

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.720
 has brought

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:23.000
 out all

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.620
 his own,

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.059
 he goes

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:25.779
 before them

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.100
 and the

00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:26.860
 sheep follow

00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:28.140
 him for

00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:28.799
 they know

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.460
 his voice.

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.460
 sheep.

00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:32.299
 Now I

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.519
 learned

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.000
 something this

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.539
 week about

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.240
 shepherding that

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:34.779
 I was unaware

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.220
 of.

00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.259
 I thought I

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:37.059
 had my head

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.600
 wrapped around

00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:37.840
 it.

00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.420
 This is what I

00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:39.640
 learned.

00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.640
 Sheep that

00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.220
 are led

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.120
 back and

00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:42.980
 forth from

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.460
 familiar pasture

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.319
 to familiar

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.340
 pins or

00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:47.240
 enclosures

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.319
 back to the

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.720
 barn are

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.600
 typically led

00:27:50.600 --> 00:27:51.720
 from behind.

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.059
 Kind of the

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:53.759
 normal picture,

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.539
 at least in my

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.340
 head, that we

00:27:55.340 --> 00:27:56.140
 have of shepherds

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.920
 walking along

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.340
 behind with the

00:27:58.340 --> 00:27:59.460
 staff, right,

00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.299
 giving little

00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.200
 corrections as

00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:01.720
 they go, but

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.559
 from behind.

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.200
 That's the

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.579
 picture that

00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:04.000
 comes into

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.500
 your mind

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.940
 or not.

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.660
 The shepherd's

00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.660
 concern is for

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.640
 that occasional

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.539
 straggler,

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.620
 right, that

00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:11.640
 wanders off,

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.480
 is distracted

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.880
 by something.

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:14.940
 But the

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.819
 sheep generally

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.579
 know the way

00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.640
 they are to

00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:17.940
 go.

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.720
 Some of them

00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.160
 get out in

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.880
 front and

00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:20.340
 lead, they

00:28:20.340 --> 00:28:20.680
 know the

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.180
 place they're

00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.640
 going to,

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.440
 and so off

00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:24.779
 places are

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.140
 led from

00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:25.680
 the front.

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.819
 Sheep don't

00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.620
 naturally

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.819
 trust a

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.259
 pathway.

00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:30.879
 You can't

00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:31.079
 put them

00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:31.339
 on a

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.739
 road and

00:28:31.739 --> 00:28:32.139
 just expect

00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:32.399
 them to

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.119
 walk down

00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:33.739
 the road,

00:28:33.939 --> 00:28:34.759
 or can

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.519
 they comprehend

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:37.239
 a destination?

00:28:37.899 --> 00:28:38.219
 You can't

00:28:38.219 --> 00:28:38.719
 tell them,

00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.199
 hey, we're

00:28:39.199 --> 00:28:39.859
 going over

00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:40.399
 there.

00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:40.899
 They don't

00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.679
 understand what

00:28:41.679 --> 00:28:43.059
 you might be

00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:43.479
 saying.

00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:43.979
 So the

00:28:43.979 --> 00:28:45.359
 shepherd sets

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.279
 the example

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:48.619
 and goes

00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.679
 before them,

00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:51.699
 leads out

00:28:51.699 --> 00:28:53.419
 ahead of

00:28:53.419 --> 00:28:53.599
 them.

00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:55.000
 this is

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.539
 so

00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.819
 astoundingly

00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:58.000
 tender

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.579
 and

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.000
 merciful.

00:29:00.959 --> 00:29:01.259
 Jesus

00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:03.000
 says this

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.339
 with

00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:04.319
 purpose.

00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:05.679
 He leads

00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:06.740
 them to a

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.319
 place that

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:07.839
 they have

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.119
 not been,

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.659
 and he

00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.599
 goes there

00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:12.000
 first.

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:13.659
 My mind

00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:14.019
 leapt to

00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.359
 Hebrews

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:15.719
 chapter 6,

00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:16.919
 verse 19

00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:17.539
 and following.

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:18.679
 There the

00:29:18.679 --> 00:29:19.219
 author says,

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.619
 we have

00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:21.059
 this as a

00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:21.779
 sure and

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.579
 steadfast

00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.440
 anchor of

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:23.980
 the soul,

00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.259
 a hope

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:25.960
 that enters

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.379
 into the

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:27.119
 inner place

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:28.480
 behind the

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:28.819
 curtain,

00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:30.099
 where Jesus

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:31.180
 has gone

00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.920
 as a

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.740
 forerunner

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.899
 on our

00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:34.980
 behalf.

00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:36.420
 Jesus goes

00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:37.599
 before us

00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.059
 into the

00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.759
 presence of

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.299
 God that

00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.000
 we might

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.879
 also go

00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:42.460
 there.

00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:43.920
 Jesus does

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.240
 not lead

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.879
 his people

00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.740
 anywhere

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.619
 that he

00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:47.660
 has not

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.420
 first

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.700
 gone.

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:51.860
 suffered,

00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.240
 died,

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.660
 was raised.

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.779
 What a

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.779
 savior.

00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:58.380
 What a

00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:58.620
 shepherd.

00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.360
 This

00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:00.799
 reflection,

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.640
 this little

00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.220
 piece so

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.640
 far has

00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.019
 been worth

00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.460
 all the

00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:03.740
 time I

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.059
 have spent

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.559
 on these

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.420
 brief

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:05.779
 verses.

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.340
 This was

00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:07.819
 the moment

00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.559
 that I

00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:08.779
 went,

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.200
 oh,

00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:09.640
 this is

00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.039
 a good

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.480
 text.

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.080
 What a

00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:13.600
 blessing it

00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:14.000
 is that I

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.279
 get to

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:14.860
 open this

00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:15.480
 text and

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:15.980
 talk about

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.220
 it.

00:30:16.840 --> 00:30:16.960
 This

00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.220
 morning,

00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:19.299
 Jesus goes

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:21.240
 before his

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.500
 sheep.

00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.120
 He doesn't

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.640
 prod us

00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.339
 from behind,

00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.039
 he leads

00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:25.620
 from the

00:30:25.620 --> 00:30:25.920
 front.

00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:27.980
 And what

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.220
 do the

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.720
 sheep do?

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:29.860
 Notice,

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.100
 the sheep

00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:32.860
 follow him

00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:34.500
 for they

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:34.839
 know his

00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.220
 voice.

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.920
 This is a

00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.440
 picture of

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.059
 deep

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:40.380
 trust.

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:41.920
 The sheep

00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:42.259
 say,

00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.039
 this shepherd

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.819
 has always

00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.519
 led us,

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.019
 will we

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.759
 will gladly

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:47.359
 go wherever

00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:48.859
 he leads.

00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:50.839
 Spurgeon

00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:51.339
 once said,

00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.480
 this is also

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:52.740
 in your

00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.200
 bulletin if

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.519
 you care,

00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:54.200
 Jesus is

00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:54.640
 the good

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.460
 shepherd going

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.079
 before his

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.339
 sheep,

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:57.400
 bidding them

00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:58.440
 follow him,

00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.480
 and ever

00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.119
 leading them

00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:01.180
 onwards with

00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:01.859
 the sweet

00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.420
 word,

00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:03.660
 come.

00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.740
 The

00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.539
 obedience of

00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.599
 Jesus'

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.339
 sheep

00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.920
 trusts

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:11.420
 that wherever

00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.019
 he leads,

00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:12.379
 it will be

00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:12.960
 for their

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:14.099
 ultimate

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:15.400
 good.

00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.500
 We read

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:17.920
 earlier,

00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.379
 Psalm 23,

00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.299
 as I've

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.140
 already

00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:21.539
 mentioned.

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.400
 Jesus is

00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:23.900
 the Lord

00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.579
 of Psalm

00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:26.019
 23.

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:27.599
 Listen again

00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:27.960
 to these

00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.740
 words of

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.000
 David.

00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.859
 The Lord

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.579
 is my

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:31.940
 shepherd,

00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:33.279
 I shall

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.859
 not want.

00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.000
 He makes

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.359
 me lie

00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:35.940
 down in

00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:36.140
 green

00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:36.619
 pastures.

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.720
 He leads

00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.519
 me beside

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.299
 still waters.

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:41.099
 He restores

00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:41.819
 my soul.

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:42.900
 He leads

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.200
 me in

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:43.799
 paths of

00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.259
 righteousness

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:44.940
 for his

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.420
 name's

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.740
 sake.

00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.099
 Even

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:47.440
 though I

00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:47.900
 walk

00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:48.420
 through the

00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:49.059
 valley of

00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:49.519
 the shadow

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.059
 of death,

00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.079
 I will

00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:51.400
 fear no

00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:51.660
 evil,

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.160
 for you

00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:52.680
 are with

00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:52.940
 me,

00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.779
 your rod

00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:54.539
 and your

00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.039
 staff.

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.559
 They

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.119
 comfort me.

00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.379
 You prepare

00:31:57.379 --> 00:31:57.819
 a table

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:58.379
 before me

00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:58.619
 in the

00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.099
 presence of

00:31:59.099 --> 00:31:59.640
 my enemies.

00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:00.440
 You anoint

00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:00.960
 my head

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.519
 with oil.

00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.359
 My cup

00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:03.640
 overflows.

00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:04.700
 Surely

00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:05.359
 goodness

00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.519
 and mercy

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.299
 shall follow

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:08.299
 me all the

00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:08.779
 days of my

00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.180
 life,

00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:09.879
 and I

00:32:09.879 --> 00:32:10.480
 shall dwell

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:10.819
 in the

00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.279
 house of

00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:11.720
 the Lord

00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:13.019
 forever.

00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.759
 Satisfaction,

00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:17.879
 good provision

00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:18.940
 and safe

00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:20.339
 waters,

00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.539
 proper paths,

00:32:22.639 --> 00:32:23.099
 but notice

00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.460
 that the

00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.000
 way is

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:25.339
 not always

00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:26.180
 easy.

00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:27.740
 However,

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.379
 comfort,

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.619
 goodness,

00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.220
 mercy,

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.220
 and God's

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.480
 presence belong

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.379
 to those

00:32:34.379 --> 00:32:35.339
 who belong

00:32:35.339 --> 00:32:36.420
 to him.

00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.039
 This is

00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:39.559
 why the

00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:39.960
 sheep

00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.100
 follow him

00:32:41.100 --> 00:32:42.279
 for they

00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:42.799
 know

00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:44.400
 his voice.

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.519
 It bears

00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.039
 saying that

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:47.420
 this is a

00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:48.460
 text about

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:49.799
 belonging.

00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:51.319
 Remember my

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.319
 reference earlier

00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:53.420
 to the man

00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:54.160
 who was cast

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.079
 out of the

00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.400
 synagogue,

00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.019
 and Jesus

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:57.100
 comes and

00:32:57.100 --> 00:32:57.940
 finds him

00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:59.200
 and welcomes

00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:00.440
 him.

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:01.720
 It's a text

00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.860
 about belonging,

00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.559
 not a text

00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.640
 about discerning

00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:07.059
 God's will.

00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:09.019
 not at all

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.319
 what Jesus

00:33:09.319 --> 00:33:09.679
 is trying

00:33:09.679 --> 00:33:10.220
 to communicate

00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.339
 here.

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:11.879
 He's saying

00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:12.279
 you either

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:13.039
 are my

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:13.339
 sheep

00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:13.879
 or you

00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.559
 are not

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.019
 my

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.119
 sheep.

00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:17.379
 I think

00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:17.579
 we should

00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:17.960
 be careful

00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:18.220
 at this

00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:18.460
 point

00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:18.859
 to not

00:33:18.859 --> 00:33:19.500
 spin the

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:19.779
 metaphor

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.259
 off in

00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:20.740
 a direction

00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.119
 that is

00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:21.500
 not

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.460
 meant.

00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:24.079
 Some,

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.419
 in an

00:33:25.419 --> 00:33:25.779
 effort to

00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:26.259
 discern

00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:26.679
 the voice

00:33:26.679 --> 00:33:27.099
 of Jesus,

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.579
 have become

00:33:28.579 --> 00:33:29.579
 a thief

00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:30.879
 and a

00:33:30.879 --> 00:33:31.200
 robber,

00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:32.639
 thinking they

00:33:32.639 --> 00:33:33.000
 hear a

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.319
 voice,

00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.839
 something

00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:35.079
 that,

00:33:35.919 --> 00:33:36.559
 some truth

00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.039
 that exists

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:37.960
 outside the

00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.460
 text of

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:38.839
 the Bible

00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.819
 and the

00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:41.419
 list is

00:33:41.419 --> 00:33:41.740
 endless,

00:33:41.919 --> 00:33:42.099
 it would

00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:42.419
 seem,

00:33:42.939 --> 00:33:43.700
 these days.

00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.339
 False

00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:44.799
 teachers,

00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:45.720
 false

00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.399
 religion.

00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:46.879
 That's not

00:33:46.879 --> 00:33:47.200
 what Jesus

00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:47.759
 is communicating.

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.319
 He's talking

00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:50.240
 about belonging.

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.399
 Knowing the

00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:52.879
 voice of the

00:33:52.879 --> 00:33:53.460
 shepherd in

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.240
 this context

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.659
 is about

00:33:54.659 --> 00:33:56.139
 hearing and

00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:57.919
 responding to

00:33:57.919 --> 00:33:58.419
 the call

00:33:58.419 --> 00:33:59.059
 of the

00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.379
 gospel.

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.439
 Recognizing

00:34:01.439 --> 00:34:02.220
 our great

00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:03.279
 need of

00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.160
 a Savior

00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:05.299
 and him

00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:05.879
 presenting

00:34:05.879 --> 00:34:07.000
 himself to

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.259
 us and

00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:09.539
 us following

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:11.119
 him because

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:11.619
 we know

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:13.199
 his voice.

00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:14.500
 Be careful

00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:14.920
 not to make

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.320
 it more

00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:16.719
 than that

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:17.559
 or to

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.019
 make it

00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.960
 any less

00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:21.059
 than that.

00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.779
 Verse

00:34:23.779 --> 00:34:24.199
 five,

00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.679
 a stranger,

00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.619
 Jesus says,

00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.400
 they will

00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:29.039
 not follow

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:30.300
 but they

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:30.840
 will flee

00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:31.420
 from him

00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:31.900
 for they

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.519
 do not

00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.119
 know the

00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:33.679
 voice

00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:35.380
 of strangers.

00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:37.159
 Verse

00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:37.739
 five brings

00:34:37.739 --> 00:34:38.519
 me as a

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.380
 minister of

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:39.859
 the gospel

00:34:39.859 --> 00:34:41.139
 great comfort.

00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:41.639
 I hope it

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.099
 does the

00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.519
 same for

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:42.960
 you as

00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.639
 you seek

00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.000
 to share

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:44.319
 the good

00:34:44.319 --> 00:34:45.559
 news with

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.019
 others.

00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:47.579
 God's

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.779
 people will

00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:49.699
 heed the

00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:50.960
 call of

00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:51.460
 the gospel.

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:52.859
 God's

00:34:52.859 --> 00:34:53.359
 people will

00:34:53.359 --> 00:34:53.900
 not follow

00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.440
 the voice

00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:55.259
 of strangers

00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:55.779
 but as

00:34:55.779 --> 00:34:56.699
 the gospel

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.380
 call is

00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:57.940
 made,

00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.059
 God's

00:34:59.059 --> 00:35:00.259
 people will

00:35:00.260 --> 00:35:01.120
 respond

00:35:01.120 --> 00:35:02.880
 in obedience.

00:35:04.780 --> 00:35:04.960
 And so

00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.420
 what are we

00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:05.940
 to do?

00:35:07.640 --> 00:35:08.480
 Be the

00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:08.820
 voice of

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.160
 Jesus.

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:10.440
 Open up

00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:10.940
 the text,

00:35:11.100 --> 00:35:11.580
 explain the

00:35:11.580 --> 00:35:11.920
 word,

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:12.820
 share the

00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:13.500
 good news

00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:14.400
 with people

00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:15.800
 and trust

00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:16.460
 God's

00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:16.920
 saving

00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:18.760
 purpose.

00:35:20.140 --> 00:35:20.980
 This is why

00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.540
 I'm grateful

00:35:21.540 --> 00:35:22.160
 things like

00:35:22.160 --> 00:35:23.060
 this bolster

00:35:23.060 --> 00:35:24.100
 our confidence

00:35:24.100 --> 00:35:24.720
 that when we

00:35:24.720 --> 00:35:25.340
 gather together

00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:25.600
 as a

00:35:25.600 --> 00:35:25.760
 church,

00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:26.340
 we should

00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:27.220
 just open

00:35:27.220 --> 00:35:27.960
 and preach

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.880
 the word.

00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:29.760
 Sing the

00:35:29.760 --> 00:35:29.960
 word,

00:35:30.280 --> 00:35:30.640
 pray the

00:35:30.640 --> 00:35:30.860
 word,

00:35:31.140 --> 00:35:31.480
 see the

00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:32.039
 word in

00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:33.320
 the ordinances

00:35:33.320 --> 00:35:34.320
 and just do

00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:34.960
 that week

00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.900
 in and

00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:37.720
 week out.

00:35:38.700 --> 00:35:39.140
 The

00:35:39.140 --> 00:35:39.400
 blessed

00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.019
 thing that

00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:40.380
 God is

00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:40.780
 about the

00:35:40.780 --> 00:35:41.420
 work of

00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:42.100
 saving

00:35:42.100 --> 00:35:42.900
 his people.

00:35:43.120 --> 00:35:43.360
 He has

00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:43.740
 sent to

00:35:43.740 --> 00:35:44.280
 us the

00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.100
 good

00:35:45.100 --> 00:35:46.100
 shepherd

00:35:46.100 --> 00:35:47.519
 and God's

00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.800
 people will

00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:49.120
 hear his

00:35:49.120 --> 00:35:50.240
 voice and

00:35:50.240 --> 00:35:50.780
 they will

00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:51.539
 respond

00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.980
 in obedience.

00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:54.640
 No need

00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.500
 to fly me

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:55.839
 into this

00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:56.319
 room on

00:35:56.319 --> 00:35:57.259
 cables to

00:35:57.259 --> 00:35:57.779
 impress you

00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:58.039
 all,

00:35:58.519 --> 00:35:58.920
 land me

00:35:58.920 --> 00:35:59.199
 on the

00:35:59.199 --> 00:35:59.619
 stage,

00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:01.179
 jump dirt

00:36:01.179 --> 00:36:01.819
 bikes across

00:36:01.819 --> 00:36:02.420
 the stage,

00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.079
 or give

00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:03.519
 away a

00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:04.039
 car on

00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:04.779
 Easter Sunday.

00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:06.119
 He's going

00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:06.539
 to gather

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:06.940
 and preach

00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:07.359
 the word

00:36:07.359 --> 00:36:08.019
 and send

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.779
 you out

00:36:08.779 --> 00:36:09.259
 to do

00:36:09.259 --> 00:36:10.359
 the very

00:36:10.359 --> 00:36:10.819
 same

00:36:10.819 --> 00:36:11.819
 thing.

00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.579
 He's

00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.259
 calling people

00:36:14.259 --> 00:36:15.219
 by name

00:36:15.219 --> 00:36:16.019
 and those

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:17.219
 sheep

00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:17.859
 will know

00:36:17.859 --> 00:36:18.379
 his voice

00:36:18.379 --> 00:36:19.500
 and they

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:20.900
 will follow.

00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:22.960
 So whether

00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:23.259
 you have

00:36:23.259 --> 00:36:23.719
 confidence

00:36:23.719 --> 00:36:24.319
 this morning

00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:24.860
 that you

00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:25.300
 have been

00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:26.400
 called by

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.780
 name and

00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:28.480
 are following

00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:28.900
 the good

00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:30.240
 shepherd or

00:36:30.240 --> 00:36:30.860
 you don't

00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:31.539
 have confidence

00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:31.920
 that this

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.720
 is true

00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:33.460
 of you,

00:36:34.140 --> 00:36:34.460
 I want

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:34.680
 you to

00:36:34.680 --> 00:36:35.860
 hear my

00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:37.640
 plea in

00:36:37.640 --> 00:36:38.039
 closing.

00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:40.420
 He is

00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:41.519
 a good

00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:42.760
 shepherd.

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.180
 He has

00:36:44.180 --> 00:36:44.860
 gone before

00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:45.280
 us.

00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:46.940
 In him

00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:47.400
 there is

00:36:47.400 --> 00:36:48.780
 satisfaction

00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.840
 and good

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.380
 provision

00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:51.420
 and safe

00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.100
 waters,

00:36:53.059 --> 00:36:53.800
 proper paths

00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:54.180
 that are not

00:36:54.180 --> 00:36:54.840
 always easy

00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:55.500
 but comfort

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.140
 and goodness

00:36:56.140 --> 00:36:56.860
 and mercy

00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:58.300
 and his

00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:58.780
 presence.

00:36:59.680 --> 00:37:00.320
 So listen

00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:02.240
 and follow.

00:37:02.860 --> 00:37:03.539
 Let's pray.

00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:04.239


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