Series: Characteristics of Believable Believers

Title: The Characteristics of Jesus’ Sheep

Text: John 10:22-30

I. To Follow Him by Nancy Sheffey (Drama at 10:30 only)

One clear characteristic of a Christian, is leaving your sins behind and following Jesus.

II. Sheep and Goats

As children, we learned that there are clear differences:

Between apples and oranges.

Between cats and dogs.

Between boys and girls.

Between playing baseball and playing with dolls.

 

As adults we quickly learn that there are clear differences:

Between vacation at the beach and vacation in the mountains.

Between a good investment and a bad investment.

Between a life-giving work environment and a life-draining work environment.

All is not vanilla. All in not the same.

Jesus clearly understood and taught this.

In Matthew chapter 25, he said,

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. ³²All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Matthew 25:31-33 (NIV)

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Matthew 25:34 (NIV)

41"Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew 25:41 (NIV)

There is a clear difference between sheep and goats, between a follower of Jesus and those who reject Jesus.

In our reading from John chapter 10, Jesus clearly defines the key characteristics of his sheep.

I believe it was no accident that Jesus contrasted his faithful sheep with those who rejected him, during the Feast of Dedication.

The Feast of Dedication is also known as the Feast of Lights or more commonly known as Hanukkah.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the temple in the year 164 B.C., in the month of December.

Eleven years earlier, in the year 175 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes had become king of Syria, including all of Palestine.

He did all in his power to Hellenize the Jews. He introduced Greek art, Greek architecture, the Greek language, and the pagan gods of the Greeks.

As the Jews resisted his pagan influences, he became more and more hostile toward the Jews and their religious practices.

Finally in the year 170 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes attacked Jerusalem:

Eighty-thousand Jews were slaughtered.

Eighty-thousand more were sold into slavery.

Roughly 500 million dollars worth of gold and silver was stolen from the temple.

Antiochus turned the temple chambers into a brothel.

Knowing that pigs were unclean and repugnant to the Jews, Antiochus slaughtered a sow pig to Zeus on the Altar of God.

Those who were found with a copy of the Scriptures were put to death.

Those mothers who had their sons circumcised, were crucified with their dead babies hung around their necks.

There is no clearer foreshadowing of the Antichrist, than Antiochus Epiphanes.

There is no greater contrast between sheep and goats, between the righteous and the unrighteous, than Antiochus Epiphanes and God’s faithful people.

Three years later, against all odds, Judas Maccabaeus and his followers, miraculous rose up and defeated Antiochus.

After cleansing God’s temple, they rebuilt God’s altar and had a glorious dedication ceremony.

Because most of the oil had been defiled by the Greeks, they only had one jar of kosher oil for their lamps. That one jar of oil should have only lasted for one day, yet it miraculously lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared.

(William Barclay, The Gospel of John)

Today Hanukkah is the eight day celebration of the Jews’ victory over the ungodly Antiochus Epiphanes and the miracle of the oil.

On the first night of Hanukkah one candle on the Mennorah is lit. On each additional night an additional candle is lit, until all eight candles put forth their light.

Jesus carefully and intentionally chose Hanukkah – the time of contrasting God’s faithful followers with those who were hostile toward the Lord – to contrast those who would follow him and those who would reject him: the sheep and the goats.

Our reading this morning is from a short portion of John chapter 10.

Throughout the chapter, Jesus contrasts those who are his sheep and those who are not.

In verse 24,

24The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

John 10:24 (NIV)

Some of the Jews sincerely wanted to know.

Others were trying to tap him, so they could put him to death before his time.

As he often did, Jesus refused to answer them directly.

In verses 25-26, he said,

25 ...I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, ²⁶but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
John 10:25-26 (NIV)

In other words, Jesus’ miracles proved that He was the Christ. He didn’t have to say it directly.

These stubborn rebellious anti-Christ people simply refused to believe in Jesus.

Jesus said, "... you are not my sheep."

Three times in previous chapters Jesus said to his antagonists:

"You are determined to kill me" (John 7:19, 8:37, & 8:40).

Even though the truth would set them free, these men did not want to hear the truth (8:32). They covered their ears.

Fifteen-hundred years earlier, something similar happened in the wilderness during the time of Moses. From Numbers chapter 14,

11The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?
Numbers 14:11 (NIV)

 

A few years after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, those who rejected Jesus literally covered their ears at the preaching of Stephen. Stephen was telling them the loving truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Acts chapter seven says,

57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸dragged him out of the city and began to stone him...[to death]

Acts 7:57-58 (NIV)

There is a clear difference between sheep and goats.

There is a clear difference between those who embrace Jesus as Savoir and Master and those who reject him.

In our reading from John chapter 10, Jesus clearly defines key characteristics of his sheep.

Take a look at verse 27. Jesus said,

27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27 (NIV)

1. True followers of Jesus listen to His voice.

2. True followers of Jesus, put feet on their faith and follow Him.

1. True followers of Jesus listen to His voice.

Earlier in verse five, Jesus said that his sheep:

5...will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice."
John 10:5 (NIV)

True followers of Jesus not only listen to His voice, but they also recognize His voice.

How do they recognize Jesus’ voice? How do you recognize Jesus’ voice?

The same way you recognize your child’s voice.

The same way you recognize your parents’ voice.

The same way you recognize your best friend’s voice.

You’ve talked with them so much, you immediately know their voice.

When you spend time with Jesus through worship, prayer, and the study of his Word, you become more and more familiar with his voice.

You might say:

I just don’t have the time.

My life is so busy.

I have so many demands.

Jesus could have made the same excuse. At the peak of his ministry, great crowds continually followed him around:

They wanted to be healed.

They wanted his teachings.

They wanted his advice.

Jesus could have ministered 24-7 and still not met the demands placed upon him.

Yet, Luke chapter fives, verse 16 tells us,

16...Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)

He spent time with his heavenly Father. He spoke and he listened.

If you and I are to truly "listen to [his] voice," we must do as he did. We must spend time with Jesus. There is no other way.

The second key characteristic of Jesus sheep, is to follow him.

Once we have learned to listen to the voice of Jesus, we will follow where he leads.

Unless you grow to know and trust the voice of our Shepherd Jesus, you will not follow.

In Psalm 23, the Lord is the shepherd who leads his people "through the valley of the shadow of death," into greener pastures.

Unless you know and trust his voice, you will not follow.

Twenty times in the Gospels Jesus told the people, "Follow me."

Peter and Andrew immediately,

" ²⁰...left their nets and followed him.

Matthew 4:19-20 (NIV)

They had grown to know and trust Jesus.

Others, like the rich young ruler,

22...went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Matthew 19:22 (NIV)

He did not know or trust Jesus.

As you spend time with Jesus, as you learn to listen to his voice, it will become more and more natural to follow him.

As Jesus said,

27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27 (NIV)