The Good Shepherd: Love, Sacrifice, and Seeking the Lost

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I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the Sheep The Hired Hand is not the shepherd and does not own the Sheep so when he sees the wolf coming he abandons the sheep and runs away then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it the man runs away because he is a Hired Hand and cares nothing for the Sheep. [00:38:13]

I am the Good Shepherd I know my sheep and my sheep know me just as the father knows me and I know the father and I lay down my life for the Sheep I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pin I must bring them also they too will listen to my voice and their shall be one flock and one Shepherd. [00:38:53]

The reason my father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again no one takes it from me but I lay it down of my own accord I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again this command I received from my father the word of God for the people of God thanks be to God. [00:39:41]

Woe to you Shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves should not Shepherds take care of the flock you eat the curds clothe yourselves with the wool and Slaughter the choice animals but you do not take care of the flock you have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured you have not brought back the Stray or searched for the lost. [00:46:01]

So they were scattered because there was no Shepherd and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals my sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every High Hill they were scattered over the whole earth and no one searched no one searched or looked for them God words to Israel through Ezekiel think about that. [00:46:39]

I once heard a story about a wildfire that happened out west where there were some folks who in the midst of the recovery firefighters and other folks who had put out a section of the fire and there was smoke coming from the grounds and they were walking through trying to put out any fires that may spring up again. [00:51:23]

They noticed the carcass of a bird right at the base of a tree and one of the folks went up and kind of kicked at that carcass and out went three or four or five chicks who were still alive now we know that Quail do this sometimes grous will do it but they were surprised to see that many tiny chicks come out of that. [00:52:33]

They had made it through the fire the mother had not she shielded them from the flames in doing so gave up her life so that they could live that image that story reminds me so much of what Jesus I think is trying to convey to his audience and to the Pharisees. [00:52:57]

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them doesn't he leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it and when he finds it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home what a beautiful image a Shepherd going out seeking the Lost putting that sheep on his shoulders. [00:54:05]

Not dragging him along not pulling him putting it on his shoulders to carry the Sheep back to be with the flock and when he finds it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home not only that then he calls his friends and neighbors everybody around him everybody that he knows and says Rejoice with me I have found my lost sheep. [00:54:45]

Jesus then says I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent beautiful image of what it means for our God the nature of our God to be a Shepherd self-sacrificial love. [00:55:25]

I want to invite you to confidently step into that place and share who Our Shepherd is who he really is share what he taught share the good news with somebody this week so that maybe just maybe they can find peace and salvation and a and a reconciled relationship with God and maybe get to know God in a different way. [00:58:20]

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