June 15, 2023
The Shepherd’s Sacrifice
“All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:8-11 (NASB)
This last Friday, I attended a funeral for a friend of mine who died while on duty. He was a twenty-five-year veteran sergeant. What a sad day to hear of another death of a law enforcement officer on duty in America. He gave his life for those he protected each day. After wrestling with a suspect for 6 minutes and 19 seconds, he collapsed. The average person cannot wrestle at full strength for more than a minute and a half. By then the heart is at maximum capacity to pump blood. His gave out when the suspect was secured. This is a classic case of being a shepherd. His sheep were the county’s residents. He, “lays down His life for the sheep.”
“All who came before Me are thieves and robbers,” Robertson says, “Jesus refers to the false Messiahs and self-appointed leaders who made havoc of the flock. These are the thieves and robbers, not the prophets and sincere teachers of old. The reference is to verse 1. There had been numerous such impostors already and Jesus will predict many more (Matt. 24:23). They keep on coming, these wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15) who grow rich by fooling the credulous sheep.”[1] These “thieves and robbers” seek only one thing, to lead those away from Christ, and into destruction and horrible confusion. By these two actions they can destroy the sheep outwardly and inwardly. Fortunately though, “the sheep did not hear them.” When we as sheep become the Shepherd’s, we are so firmly bound together that we cannot hear the lies of new or strange doctrines. This keeps us from wandering as sheep without a shepherd. Isolated sheep are in extreme danger without someone to care and to protect them. When Jesus comes into the believers life, He “came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” This abundant life is seen as superabounding in the blessing of salvation. It is so distinct it would be like comparing false prophets to Christ. This life features a state of superabundance, like nothing one could even imagine, for it is the power of Christ living within us. It is so precious and perfect that God sent His One and only Son, perfect in all attributes, without sin to pay our penalty on a cruel cross. He, “lays down His life for the sheep.” Then, Jesus’ resurrection destroyed the power of death over the believer’s life, and makes him a new creation in-Christ.
When I think about the final gift my friend gave for this community, I think of this; “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). There wasn’t a time where he said, “Well I changed my mind.” He gave his last breath for you and me. He stood in the face of danger and was willing to give his best so you and I can “go in and out and find pasture.” This is what Jesus Christ did for you and I. He gave his best, down to His last breath saying, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). My friend died on that scene with his friends surrounding him that night. Jesus didn’t have that luxury though. Many of His disciples had already scattered, and only a few remained. But He did it, anyway, knowing it was all in the Father’s plan to redeem mankind.
[1] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 10:8). Broadman Press.