1 00:00:01,300 --> 00:00:02,400 In the name of Jesus. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:04,600 Amen. 3 00:00:07,300 --> 00:00:09,800 I am the Good Shepherd declares Jesus. 4 00:00:11,900 --> 00:00:13,100 Because sheep 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:18,100 without a Shepherd are some of the most vulnerable 6 00:00:19,900 --> 00:00:23,800 some of the most subject to harm and witless creatures of all. 7 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:32,500 For sheep seem predisposed to wandering. Wandering from the straight and 8 00:00:32,500 --> 00:00:38,600 narrow wandering from the safe and secure. Sheep are always getting 9 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:47,000 lost are bad at finding water bad at finding the verdant sustaining 10 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:48,600 pasture that they need. 11 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:54,200 They are good at treading where none should ever go. 12 00:00:55,500 --> 00:00:57,300 Oblivious, they can be. 13 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,900 So much so that they don't see things are coming. 14 00:01:03,100 --> 00:01:11,000 So when it comes the thief a robber the wolf and the like, when it 15 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:18,400 comes sheep, without a Shepherd, are worse than vulnerable, they are 16 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:25,100 clueless, powerless, defenseless utterly subject to such external forces. 17 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:26,500 Strike the shepherd 18 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:29,800 and the Sheep will be scattered. 19 00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:40,200 Even with forces closer to home when left to their own devices, sheep 20 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:45,200 are notoriously bad at telling the necessary difference 21 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,400 between benevolent and malevolent. 22 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:52,100 Good 23 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:54,100 Shepherd's versus bad Shepherd's. 24 00:01:54,100 --> 00:01:59,900 Only in it for the money Shepherds self-interested, self-motivated 25 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:00,800 worthless 26 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:02,000 hired hands. 27 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,700 Sheep can be so witless 28 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:07,900 they don't see the difference 29 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,400 between the good and the bad 30 00:02:12,900 --> 00:02:14,200 until it's too late. 31 00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:19,600 Moses 32 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:21,800 was a shepherd. 33 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:24,200 David 34 00:02:25,900 --> 00:02:26,700 was a shepherd. 35 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:32,400 It is especially the Lord himself, who promises to come 36 00:02:33,300 --> 00:02:36,900 and to Shepherd His people Israel. 37 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,600 The Lord is my shepherd decalres the psalmist. 38 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:46,100 In their Shepherd, the Sheep lack nothing. 39 00:02:47,300 --> 00:02:52,700 He makes them to lie down in Green Pastures, he leads them beside, 40 00:02:52,700 --> 00:02:57,000 still waters, he restores and sustains them all. 41 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,100 He leads them in the paths of righteousness, for his namesake. 42 00:03:02,900 --> 00:03:05,700 Thou they walk through the valley of the shadow of death 43 00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:11,300 they fear no evil for the Lord is with them. 44 00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:16,100 His rod and his staff Comfort them. 45 00:03:16,100 --> 00:03:20,000 He prepares a table before them in the presence of their enemies. 46 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,700 He anoints them with oil. 47 00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:24,800 All things overflow. 48 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:30,900 Surely goodness and mercy, shall follow them all the days of their 49 00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:31,000 lives. 50 00:03:32,900 --> 00:03:36,000 And they shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 51 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,000 In the last days of the first century. 52 00:03:44,100 --> 00:03:48,600 In and around the great city of Ephesus. 53 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,200 In and around that ever threatening environment of the Greco-Roman 54 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:54,700 world. 55 00:03:55,900 --> 00:04:00,400 The contemporaries of the last of the Apostles whose name was John. 56 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,500 John's contemporaries knew all too well 57 00:04:05,900 --> 00:04:08,500 what it meant to be vulnerable. 58 00:04:11,300 --> 00:04:13,200 With the last of John's works. 59 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,899 With his last will and testament. 60 00:04:16,899 --> 00:04:22,400 That was the last of the gospels. As the day of John's own death 61 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:29,100 drew near. As the day, drew near that the generation of the Apostles 62 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:30,400 would come to an end. 63 00:04:32,100 --> 00:04:34,100 What does the last of the Apostles, 64 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:35,200 what does John 65 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:38,800 want those that he is leaving behind 66 00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:40,600 to know? 67 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:47,500 What does he want them to steadfastly believe until Jesus comes again? 68 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:56,400 Don't be afraid or urges the last of the Apostles. 69 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,200 Great, David's 70 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:03,000 greater son, is our great and Good Shepherd. 71 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,000 Son of David. 72 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:07,400 Son of God. 73 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:11,000 In our own day 74 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,500 the experience of the recent past 75 00:05:15,700 --> 00:05:17,900 and even the last couple days. 76 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:26,300 Has done much to demonstrate to us to in no uncertain terms, just how 77 00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:28,700 vulnerable just how chaotic 78 00:05:30,100 --> 00:05:31,300 this life can be. 79 00:05:33,300 --> 00:05:36,100 Just in case it hasn't always been clear. 80 00:05:38,100 --> 00:05:43,200 Just in case some have been lulled into a false sense of what they can 81 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,200 count on. Just in case some have become forgetful. 82 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:53,900 Just in case some have become less than aware of the ever-present, 83 00:05:53,900 --> 00:05:57,800 haunts of the Prince of Darkness. Just in case 84 00:05:59,700 --> 00:06:02,000 the last of the Apostles, John 85 00:06:03,500 --> 00:06:09,200 would have us know certain things until Jesus comes again. 86 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:13,800 Death Shepherds, the foolish. 87 00:06:16,100 --> 00:06:19,500 The Lord Shepherds the living. 88 00:06:21,500 --> 00:06:24,300 I am the Good Shepherd declares Jesus. 89 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,100 Like no other Shepherd 90 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,500 he does what he alone is willing 91 00:06:30,500 --> 00:06:35,600 he does what he alone is desirous and powerful to do. 92 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,000 I laid down my life for the Sheep, 93 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:41,200 says he. 94 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,900 Not once in our texts 95 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,600 not twice, but three different times 96 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,500 he says it and the third time he says it, he says it three times. 97 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:55,800 Are we sensing a pattern? 98 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:03,500 So I guess the matter is of ultimate importance. I know my own and my 99 00:07:03,500 --> 00:07:05,600 own know me says Jesus. 100 00:07:07,100 --> 00:07:08,500 I even have other sheep 101 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:10,000 that are not of this fold, 102 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:11,700 not of Israel. 103 00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:13,400 I must bring them also. 104 00:07:15,100 --> 00:07:17,200 They too will listen to my voice 105 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:19,600 as all must do. 106 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,100 And there will be one flock. 107 00:07:24,900 --> 00:07:25,900 One Shepherd. 108 00:07:30,100 --> 00:07:31,600 Then Jesus says, 109 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:34,500 what may well be 110 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,700 the most remarkable thing of all. 111 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,700 I lay it down declares Jesus 112 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:44,700 that I may take it up again. 113 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:48,500 Wait, what? 114 00:07:50,100 --> 00:07:50,900 Say what? 115 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:55,400 I will take it up again 116 00:07:57,100 --> 00:07:57,800 says he. 117 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,700 No one takes it from me my life. 118 00:08:03,100 --> 00:08:04,700 I lay it down of my own accord. 119 00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:10,800 I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up 120 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:11,500 again. 121 00:08:15,100 --> 00:08:18,100 He then will do what no man has ever done. 122 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:23,100 He will do what 123 00:08:23,100 --> 00:08:26,400 no mere man can do. 124 00:08:28,700 --> 00:08:29,900 I will take it up again, 125 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:32,500 says he. 126 00:08:34,299 --> 00:08:35,000 He will do 127 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:35,400 so. 128 00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:39,299 So when the Sheep follow in his footsteps, 129 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:42,900 when by the same door 130 00:08:42,900 --> 00:08:44,000 they enter by him 131 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:45,000 who is the door 132 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:46,400 they too shall come out 133 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,700 they too shall rise. 134 00:08:52,700 --> 00:08:55,800 And I will appoint under Shepherds declares Jesus. 135 00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:03,000 An important thing for us to notice in this place of the preparation 136 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:08,200 of under Shepherds. I will appoint under Shepherds declares Jesus 137 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:09,100 in my stead 138 00:09:09,100 --> 00:09:12,200 and by my command, they will Shepherd you. 139 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,900 Through them, the Good Shepherd will himself Shepherd, his sheep. 140 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,800 Through trials and temptations. 141 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,400 Through heartache and devastation. 142 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,100 Through the tribulations of this life 143 00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:32,400 into the life of the age to come. 144 00:09:34,300 --> 00:09:36,100 I will not leave you as orphans 145 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,200 declares Jesus as sheep 146 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:42,500 without a Shepherd. 147 00:09:42,500 --> 00:09:45,000 He came he comes. 148 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,100 I will come again declares he. 149 00:09:49,900 --> 00:09:52,200 So that where I am, you also may be. 150 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:56,900 So together, we all may be 151 00:09:58,300 --> 00:10:02,600 one flock in the care of one great and good 152 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,500 Shepherd, the overseer of our souls. 153 00:10:09,100 --> 00:10:11,100 For the lamb declares 154 00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:15,700 the last of the Apostles in another of his works in his apocalypse. 155 00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:16,400 The lamb 156 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:18,600 In the midst of the throne 157 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:21,100 will be their Shepherd. 158 00:10:22,700 --> 00:10:26,700 And he will guide them to springs of living water 159 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:32,500 and God will wipe away every tear 160 00:10:34,300 --> 00:10:35,400 from their eyes. 161 00:10:36,900 --> 00:10:40,200 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.