MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM JOHN: 7 Words + 7 Signs - 8/11/09

Continuing our series in John we looked at the next 'word' of Jesus - I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Each week we have seen that we must understand the context if we are to understand exactly what Jesus is getting at. This week we saw that there were at least 3 connected and interlocking contexts

(1) General Context: Real Life Shepherds. We can all understand that a shepherd (a) tends and feeds and guides his flock & (b) protects the flock from enemies

(2) Immediate Context: The healing of the blind man. Jesus wanted to expose the Pharisees blindness and bring them to himself.

(3) The Old Testament Story (which continues) also know as “the meta-narrative” or overarching storyline of the bible.

It is this third context that is most vital - this is the “backdrop” the ministry of Jesus and helps us understand (a) who God is (b) what God does and therefore how Jesus fulfils all of the Old Testament (cf. Luke 24.25-27, 24.44-47, John 5.39-41 + Matthew 5.19-20)

What do we already know from the story so far?

Psalm 78 - That at the heart of the story of the people of God is the image of God/David being a shepherd to the people of Israel (vs 52-53 + 70-72)

Psalm 23- The Shepherd God who…..

    (1) Provides (vs1)
    (2) Guides (vs2)
    (3) Gives Rest (vs2-3)
    (4) Protects (vs4)
    (5) Gives Joy (vs5-6)

Ezekiel 34 - The False Shepherds of Israel who looked after themselves and not the flock (vs1-10), God is against them & God is going to come himself to be their Shepherd (vs11-16ff) and God will give them a new shepherd from the line of David to be their prince and rule them with justice (vs23-24)

So Jesus comparing himself (the good shepherd) with the Pharisees (the false shepherds). Where-as the Good Shepherd willingly and voluntarily (vs18) lays down his life for the sheep, the false shepherds are like the hired hand that runs when danger comes (vs12-13). The Good Shepherd pays the ultimate cost (lays down his life) for the sake of protecting the sheep from the wolf whereas the hired hand has no love for the sheep and therefore runs. The defining characteristic of The Good Shepherd is that he lays down his life for the sheep (vs11, 15 + 17).

By laying his life down and taking it up again Jesus defeated the only enemies/wolves that can ultimately and eternally hurt us

    - Death was defeated
    - Guilt was removed
    - The devil was disarmed
    - Sin, Judgement and Hell were paid for

Everyone at the time understood just how outrageous Jesus’ words were and they were divided in their response to him. Jesus always divides people (vs19-21)

Here is the fruit (or lack of) of living under The Good Shepherd

(1) Guidance - His voice or another voice? Where do you go to make decisions? How do you make decisions?

(2) Provision - peace or anxiety? Do you really believe God will provide for you. Nothing everything you want, but everything you need (Matthew 6.19-32)

(3) Rest - contentment or striving? Do you know the rest of the soul that Jesus brings (Matthew 11.28-30) or are you always striving to prove yourself or achieve the next thing?

(4) Protection - boldness or fear? This seems to be the main fruit of walking closely with The Good Shepherd. The Valley’s may still be dark but you have a confidence and courage because he is with you and he is comforting you. Are you able to take risks? You able to step out of your comfort zone? Are you able to fail? Where do you see the (negative) fruit of fear in your life? Jesus defeated the only enemies that can ultimately and eternally hurt you freeing you from fearing anything else. NOTHING can ultimately hurt you - as Paul put it “nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8.31-39)

(5) Joy - Joy or passing happiness? Do you know passing happiness which is dependant on your circumstances or do you know a joy that lasts through the suffering and lasts into the mundane nitty gritty of everyday life because it is a joy in Jesus (and he never changes)?

There will always be wolves (false shepherds) that we can follow. We have to actively turn away from them, say “no” to the father of lies because he ultimately only comes to destroy and leave us anxious, nervous, restless, discontent + fearful.

Application

(1) Use Psalm 23 + Romans 8.31-39 to thank God for who he is and what he does (has done in Christ). Spend some time worshipping God through song.

(2) How does it make you feel to know that Jesus has always divided people? How does that affect your 1-2-1 evangelism?

(3) Where do you see the negative fruit in your life? Why? What are the false shepherds you are running to? What does it look like for you run to the Good Shepherd today (and tomorrow and always)?

(4) How does knowing that Jesus has defeated our ultimate enemies give us confidence day by day to live for God and stand out for him?

(5) How does Jesus willingly and voluntarily laying down his life help you trust him? Why does that make him THE Good Shepherd?

(6) Confess you sins (running to other Shepherds) to one another and thank God for his forgiveness.

(7) For leaders - How does 1 Peter 5.1-4 pick up on this theme of shepherding? How does this affect our leadership? What are the alternatives that Peter gives us? What are we do to instead?