The Gospel of John 8-14

Part Three: The God Shepherd

                                                       By Louie Marsh, 5-8-2022

Slides – last one Bad Shepherd game.

 

Jesus Reveals Himself to Be…

 

1) I AM the DOOR of the sheep.

 

“7So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

 

• I AM, the sacred NAME of God.

 

13  Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you... Exodus 3:13-15 (ESV)

 

The personal name of Israel's God, Yahweh (usually rendered Lord is built from the Hebrew verb "to be."

 

The name Yahweh for the Israelite God is attested outside the Old Testament in the Mesha Inscription, the Arad Ostraca, the Lachish letters and inscriptions from Khirbet el-Qom and Kuntillat Ajrud, to name a few of the more prominent places

"I am that I am," and designated Himself by this name as the absolute God of the fathers, acting with unfettered liberty and self-dependence. This name precluded any comparison between the God of the Israelites and the deities of the Egyptians and other nations.

 

• Spiritual life can only be found by GOING THRU the door.
  
  

 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

 

All other ways to God are false!

 

2) I AM the GOOD SHEPHERD.

 

 11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

 

 12He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:7–15, ESV)

 

3) I AM has the AUTHORITY to lay down his life & take it up again.

 

“17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”” (John 10:17–18, ESV)

 

4) Jesus is GOD.

 

“24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”” (John 10:24–30, ESV)