I Am the Good Shepherd

When we begin our worship this evening, we're going to sing to God's praise in Psalm 42, the Scottish Psalter, verse 262.

And to thy countenance approach, and in God's sight appear.

How we come to worship God, thirsting for him and longing for his presence.

Psalm 42, verse 1 to 5, we stand to sing.

Psalms 42:1–5

Amen.

Psalm 42, verse 1 to 5, we stand to sing.

Psalms 42:1–5

Psalm 42, verse 1 to 5, we stand to sing.

Psalms 42:1–5

Psalm 42, verse 1 to 5, we stand to sing.

Psalms 42:1–5

Psalm 42, verse 1 to 5, we stand to sing.

Psalms 42:1–5

My heart to me, God, in my heart, where this night of the same.

My soul is poured out in me, when this night of the same.

He was born, because that with the maldiction I here to go, had gone.

With the maldiction I here to sing.

With the maldiction I here to sing.

Of the maldiction I here to sing.

Of the mald voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy

!

voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy

Trust down my soul, why in this odyssey?

Trust of for I shall precede,

this countenance is my name.

Let's come to God in prayer. Bow our heads in a word of prayer.

Lord, our gracious God, as we gather in your name,

I knew this evening we are thankful for this, your day.

We are thankful to be able to gather together in this way to come,

offering praise to you, beginning with these words that we have sung,

thirsting for your presence, thirsting for you as the psalmist was.

We pray that that would be our longing and desire this evening as we come,

as we come seeking you and come to hear your word,

come to be in your presence and in the fellowship of your people.

We pray that you will give us that thirsting soul and that longing after you.

And we thank you that in the psalm we are reminded too that,

just like the psalmist in his day who lived in a time when there was so much mocking of you,

when people said to him,

where is this God of yours?

And we live in such a day as well and we see so much mocking of you,

when we hear so many people who just put slander across about you,

who make fun of you, who make a joke out of you.

And we thank you that we can come this evening knowing that you are God and there is no other.

And we pray, Lord, for your mercy upon us as we live in these days,

as we see these things around us.

We pray, Lord, that we will have the confidence of the psalmist,

that we will come maybe feeling our souls cast down,

but yet saying, why are we so dismayed when we can trust God and praise you

and that you are our aid at all times,

that you are the one who is our help and our keeper.

And so, Lord, we pray these words this evening.

We pray that they may bring us close to you in our worship,

that they may, from the outset, give us a focus upon you,

that we'll be able to leave aside other distractions

that maybe we even had as we came through these doors this evening

or even as we sat speaking to one another

when there are things that can easily lead our minds away from you.

We pray that you will give us that focus upon you for this time of worship,

that you will give us a prayerful spirit,

that you will help us even now as we unite our hearts in this way,

offering up all our prayers to you,

spoken and unspoken,

prayers that maybe no one else knows,

but you do.

And we thank you that you are the hearer and answerer of prayer.

And we thank you that we can come to you in that way,

that we can come,

even as Jesus himself taught the disciples so long ago,

to come saying,

Our Father, who art in heaven,

we thank you that we can come in that way,

calling upon you in such an intimate and a personal way,

even though you are Lord and God of all,

that we can say,

Our Father, who art in heaven.

And so hear all our prayers

and guide us by your spirit as we seek to worship you.

We might do so in truth,

that we might hear your truth as we read from it

and as we consider it together this evening.

May it be your truth that guides us in life

and keeps us going on.

Your truth that brings us back to the right paths

and helps us to remain on them.

And we pray for the blessing of your spirit

to be on the reading of your word

and all our meditation upon it,

that you will lead us into it in a fresh way,

in a new way,

and that your word would speak to all our hearts.

We are thankful for it,

for all it says to us,

for all we have been reminded about already this day,

of the wonder of your covenant bond with us,

for all that you have done for us

and for all the generations of your people.

As we were reminded of the covenant with Abraham this morning,

we thank you for how we see it out,

worked and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And we pray that this evening,

as we continue to worship you as Lord and God,

that you would continue to remind us

of all the blessings that are ours in Christ

and that we have so much to be thankful for.

So hear our prayers, Lord,

and we pray for so many different needs around us.

We pray for our communities.

We pray for our island.

We pray for our nation and the world in which we live.

We pray for all the different needs.

There are so many, Lord,

and yet none hidden from you.

We thank you for your knowledge of us,

that wonderful knowledge that nothing is beyond your reach,

nothing is beyond your control or power,

but that all things are done by you and for you.

And so we pray, Lord, that you will do good to us,

do good to our people, our congregation here.

May you bless us.

May you guide us.

May you help us.

Every step that we take,

may you guide us by your spirit,

unite our hearts in prayer,

and bless us, Lord, with your presence

and with your peace.

We do pray, Lord,

to see your spirit working in our midst,

thankful for all the promises that we have in your word

that remind us that your word does not return to you empty or void.

And we pray that,

whether it's in the preaching of your word from the pulpit here

or in our prayer meetings,

in our Sunday school and creche and twinnies and Bible class

and all the efforts made to reach out with your gospel,

that you would bless it.

We pray for this week ahead as we think of all that goes on

and as we look ahead, God willing,

to our baptism service next Sunday morning.

We thank you for the privilege of that.

We thank you for the families who will be coming for baptism.

We pray for the parents and the children and all the families,

that your spirit be with them, Lord,

as we prepare for that.

We thank you for the blessings that there is in baptism.

And not just for the ones that we look forward to, God willing,

but as we look back as well,

we thank you for the bonds that there are in baptism as a congregation.

And we remember the many children who have been baptized here

over so many years.

Many now even parents themselves or even grandparents.

We're thankful for the blessings that there are

in that community of your people.

We pray for those who have been committed to you over many years,

who have fulfilled their vows,

who have kept the faith,

who have gone to flourish as Christians.

We thank you for that.

Remember those who are maybe still seeking after you,

maybe even over many years seeking for you

and seeking your peace and your presence.

We pray that you will come and bring that peace to them,

that they will find you as their Lord and as their God.

We remember others maybe who have,

although been baptized,

have wandered away,

who have gone maybe to different parts of the world even,

who have even turned their back on you at a time.

But Lord, we pray that you will remember these vows that were taken,

remember these children as they were baptized,

or even adults as they were baptized,

and draw them to yourself in your time and by your spirit.

And so we do thank you, Lord,

that your eyes are upon us.

We thank you for that,

for our community as well,

and all the different things that are going on.

And we thank you that you are not a God who is sleeping,

not a God who will be mocked,

but that you will come in your power and by your ways.

Remember that as our community needs you.

It needs enriching.

It needs enlivening.

It needs your spirit to work,

that we would see many being drawn to you,

turning from darkness to light.

And so we pray for every endeavor made in your name.

And we pray for our nation, O Lord,

that you would bless us,

that you would guide us,

that you would help us,

even as we think of our government at this time.

And even in this coming week,

when there are many decisions that will be made,

many budgets that will be set,

and we think of the great trials that they face

in terms of leading our nation,

helping our nation.

And we pray, Lord,

for your spirit in the midst of it all,

to give wisdom,

to give guidance,

to give a turning to you.

For we neglect you at our peril.

We turn away from you,

and we see the consequences.

But we thank you that your promise in your word

is that when we return to you,

that you will return to us.

And so, Lord,

may you hear our cries,

may you hear our prayers,

and protect your people.

Protect your people to all ends of the earth,

Lord,

as we thank you for the gospel that goes out to all ends.

We pray that it will be blessed,

and that your people,

near and far,

as they are described as your sheep,

even as we think of it this evening,

we thank you for our shepherd,

the one who is gathering his flock together,

the one who is building his church.

And we pray, Lord,

to see and hear great things

throughout all nations of the world.

So remember us, we pray.

Remember our people.

Remember those in need at this time,

as we remember those in hospital,

both here in Stornoway,

and further afield as well,

those who are going through treatment,

those who have gone through operations,

those who are laid aside at this time.

Lord,

may you be their refuge and their strength.

May you be their ever-present aid.

May you watch over them and all the families

and hear our prayers for them.

So remember us, Lord.

Go before us,

comfort us,

guide us by your Spirit.

Receive our praise

and forgive all our sins

as we come confessing them on you this evening.

You know, Lord, our hearts,

and we pray that you will cleanse us,

that you will renew us,

that you will build us up.

And all we ask,

we ask in the precious name

of our Lord and Saviour,

Jesus Christ,

for his sake and glory.

Amen.

We'll again sing to God's praise.

We're going to sing this time in Psalm 139a,

in the Sing Psalms version.

You'll find this on page 180,

Psalm 139a.

We'll sing from verse 1 down to verse 10.

Psalm speaks of the wonderful knowledge

that God has of his people,

has of us all,

how he knows everything about us.

O Lord,

you have examined me,

you know me through and through.

My sitting,

rising,

all my thoughts

are far

are known to you.

My going out

and lying down

are plain before your view.

Before I speak a word,

O Lord,

it is

well known to you.

We will sing

from verse 1

to verse 10

and the tune is

Saint Andrew.

We stand to sing

to God's praise.

O Lord, you have examined me.

You know me through and through.

My Savior Christ, in all my thoughts,

have found my room to live.

My going out and lying down

are plenty for your good.

Before I speak a word, O Lord,

it is my home to you.

You have been behind before.

You hear only your hand.

Such joy is too wonderful.

To hide, to understand.

Where can I from your spirit flee?

Are proper dresses full?

If doom the heavens dear are there,

or in the necks below.

If I should take the wings of God,

and where are beyond the sea,

there also you who give my guide,

your right and holding me.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

We'll turn together now to read God's word.

We're reading in the Gospel of John,

John 10 · chapter mention

chapter 10.

Gospel of John, chapter 10.

John 10 · chapter mention

We read from the beginning of that chapter

down to verse 21.

John, chapter 10, verse 21.

John 10:21

John chapter 10, verse 1.

John 10:1

This passage that speaks of Jesus

and one of the I am sayings in the Gospel of John

where he describes himself as the good shepherd.

I am the good shepherd.

Truly, truly, I say to you,

he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door

but climbs in by another way,

that man is a thief and a robber.

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

To him the gatekeeper opens.

The sheep hear his voice,

and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

When he has brought out all his own,

he goes before them,

and the sheep follow him,

for they know his voice.

A stranger they will not follow,

but they will flee from him,

for they do not know the voice of strangers.

This figure of speech Jesus used with them,

but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus again said to them,

Truly, truly, I say to you,

I am the door of the sheep,

and all who come before me are thieves and robbers.

But the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the door.

If anyone enters by 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.

He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd,

who does not own the sheep,

sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees,

and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

He flees because he is a hired hand

and cares nothing for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd.

I know my own and my own know me,

just as a father knows me and I know the father,

and I lay down my life for the sheep.

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.

I must bring them also,

and they will listen to my voice.

So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

For this reason the father loves me,

because I lay down my life,

that I may 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 I have authority to take it up again.

This charge I have received from my father.

There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.

Many of them said,

He has a demon and is insane.

Why listen to him?

Others said,

These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon.

Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?

And so on.

And may God bless that reading from his word.

Before we turn back to look at this passage,

we'll again sing to God's praise this time in Psalm 106

in the Scottish Psalter,

singing at the beginning of the Psalm.

Psalm 106 from the beginning,

verse 1 to verse 5,

four stanzas.

The tune is St. David.

Give praise and thanks unto the Lord,

for bountiful is he,

his tender mercy doth endure into eternity.

God's mighty works who can express

or show forth all his praise.

Blessed are they that judgment keep,

and justly do always.

We'll sing from verse 1 to 5

into God's praise we stand to sing.

Amen.

Give freedom and sound to the Lord,

for bounty, cool is he.

His tender mercy doth endure unto eternity.

God's mighty works who can express

our show forth all his praise.

our show forth all his praise.

God's mighty works who can express

our show forth all his praise.

Blessed are they that judgment keep,

and King,

and just

in due

always.

Remember

me,

Lord, with

God above,

which thou

tonight

us bear.

With

thy

salvation,

O

my God,

to visit

thee

for near.

But I

thy

chosen

could

be seen,

and

in their

joy

rejoice,

and

and

be

with

thy

inheritance,

on

cheerful

voice.

As we're

singing in

these verses

in Psalm

106,

that verse

4,

there is like

a prayer for

us to offer

up.

Remember me,

Lord, with

that love,

which thou to

thine

dost bear,

with thy

salvation,

O my God,

to visit

me,

throw near.

And sometimes

we can feel

like we're

calling out to

God in

that way.

Remember me,

Lord,

remember me

with that

love which

you show to

your people.

And as we

come to

this passage

this evening

in John

10,

we are

reminded of

how God

has remembered

us,

and how he

has sent

salvation for

us.

And he has

visited us,

he has drawn

near to us

in the

person of

Jesus Christ,

his son.

And that's

what we see

as we were

thinking as

Gordon was

preaching this

morning on

the reminder

of the

covenant,

God's promise

to us,

and how it

will be

fulfilled in

Christ this

evening.

We're just

kind of

following on

on that

theme and

just seeing

how Jesus

is the

one we

see the

fulfillment

of that

in.

He is the

good shepherd

who has

come for

his people.

We're going

to read at

verse 9 in

John 10,

John 10:9–11

verse 9 to

11.

I am the

door.

If anyone

enters by

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.

The Bible

often describes

the relationship

between God

and his

people in

this way

of using

the image

of the

shepherd

and the

sheep.

We are

described as

people as

being like

sheep and

I don't

know what

that calls

to mind

for you as

you immediately

start to

think.

When you

think of

sheep,

what do

you think

of?

For some

people,

when you

think of

sheep,

it's a

joyous

thing.

If you

love

sheep,

if you

love

looking

after

sheep,

spending

time on

the moor

or gathering

the sheep,

shearing the

sheep,

whatever it

is, it's

a pleasure

for many

people.

For others,

it may be

just a

pain, a

waste of

a good

Saturday,

or just

a time

that's

misspent.

Sheep are

often seen

in these

two different

ways.

But what

characteristics

of sheep

do you see

and you start

to think,

well, I can

understand why

the Bible

describes us

as sheep

and the need

of a shepherd

that we have.

think of

some of the

characteristics

of sheep.

Maybe some

of the more

negative ones

first, they

easily led

astray.

Many will

just follow

after one

or a part

of the flock

and they'll

just go

with them.

It doesn't

matter which

way they're

heading or

what they're

doing.

They're social

creatures.

They like to

be surrounded

by others.

They like to

be part of

a flock.

Again, that

can describe

people.

They can be

wanderers.

They can just

go off on

their own and

just go

astray,

just thinking

the grass

is greener

over there,

that's the

way I'm

going,

and they

wander off

and end

up lost.

They can

be stubborn.

Again, it's

a characteristic

we see in

ourselves so

often.

We see so

many characteristics

in sheep

that remind

us of

ourselves,

but we're

also like

sheep,

defenseless,

we're

vulnerable.

We're all

of these

things.

The list

could go

on and

you could

perhaps add

your own

description.

But what

about valuable

or precious?

Is that

the way

that you

think of

sheep?

Is that

the way

you think

of yourself

as valuable

or precious?

Well, as we

think of these

words of Psalm

106,

remember me,

Lord,

with that

love which

thou to

thine

dost bear.

The word

of God

reminds us

that we

are indeed

precious.

sheep can

be very

precious.

In

August

2020

in

Lanark,

just

outside

Glasgow,

there was

a sheep

sale

there.

And on

that day,

a Texel

ram by

the name

Double

Diamond

sold for

a world

record fee.

368,000

pounds.

A valuable

sheep.

That just

sounds like

madness to

pay that

much money

for a

sheep.

And yet,

when we

think of

that,

we are

reminded of

those sheep

are vulnerable,

they can be

valuable,

and because

they're valuable,

they come

under threat.

There are

those who

want to

steal them.

There are

thieves who

want to

get a hold

of them

so they

can get

money out

of it.

But there

are shepherds

who want

to protect

them.

And as we

think of the

Bible and

how it

describes

sheep,

and the

shepherd in

this way,

we are

reminded of

so many

different things.

But one of

the greatest

images is

when we

find the

sheep who

are going

astray,

the sheep

who are

precious to

the shepherd.

And because

they're so

precious,

the shepherd

will go

out after

his sheep.

And even

to the extent

as we read

of here in

John 10,

the shepherd

who will

give his

life for

the sheep.

Our idea

of sheep

and the

shepherd

and the

way the

Bible

describes the

relationship

of the

sheep and

shepherd

are

probably

poles

apart.

Modern

day

thinking of

as we

would think

of the

shepherd and

the sheep

is very

different to

what Jesus

would be

describing to

the people

here and

what they

would be

understanding

of this

relationship.

You see

just the

kind of

language that

Jesus uses

here in

this passage.

he says

the sheep

hear my

voice.

They

follow me.

Now when

do you

see that

around our

island here?

The sheep

just listen

to the

voice of

the shepherd.

It has

to be a

very good

shepherd who

will just

speak and

the sheep

will follow.

More often

than not,

the shepherd

is behind

the sheep

driving the

sheep.

So often

it's about

the quantity,

a large

quantity of

sheep in

our idea,

whereas in

Jesus'

day it

would be

smaller

numbers.

Every

sheep would

have a

name.

Today we

don't often

see,

although sometimes

you do,

you have a

lamb,

you call it

a name,

you look

after it,

but it

can soon

be forgotten

about,

whereas the

sheep in

Jesus'

day the

shepherd would

have them

perhaps for

many years

and know

each one

by name

and be

able to

look out

for them

and see

this personal

and protective

oversight of

them.

And so

what Jesus

is talking

about here

is a very

intimate,

it's a very

personal

relationship.

And you

see that

throughout the

Bible.

You see it

in Psalm

100,

when in

verse 3

it says,

no,

the Lord,

he is

God,

it is he

who made

us,

we are

his,

we are

his people,

and then

it describes

and we are

the sheep

of his

pasture.

He has

made us,

we are

his people,

but describes

the sheep

of his

pasture.

So it's

a reminder

that God

has made

us in

that image

of sheep.

There's

a reminder

of where

we are

as sinners

in Isaiah

Isaiah 53:6

53,

verse 6,

it says,

all we

like sheep

have gone

astray,

we have

turned

everyone

to his

own way.

So we've

wandered

off,

we've

gone

away.

Jesus

has another

moment in

his experience

when Matthew

Matthew 9:36

9,

verse 36,

when he's

seeing great

crowds of

people and

he has

compassion on

them.

Why does he

have compassion

on them?

It says,

because they

were harassed

and helpless

like sheep

without a

shepherd.

So you're

seeing there,

there's this

close bond

between shepherd

and sheep.

So the sheep

who are harassed

and helpless,

there's no

shepherd to look

after them.

And that's why

he has

compassion,

like sheep

without a

shepherd.

But then you

come to

John 10

and you

have this

wonderful

passage that

describes the

sheep and

the most

precious

shepherd of

all.

As you think

of this in

light of

John's

gospel and

him talking

about the

great I

am sayings

and how

that reminds

us of how

God

remembers his

people.

Well here

we are again

reminded of

Jesus as

the I

am,

the I

am,

the shepherd

of the

sheep.

The shepherd

who ultimately

lays down

his life

for his

sheep because

that's how

precious his

sheep are

to him.

We want to

think of

three things

about this

shepherd this

evening.

Three things

that we see

of Jesus

as the

shepherd of

his sheep.

And the

first is

his perception,

his knowledge

of the

sheep.

shepherd.

The second

thing is

his purpose

as the

shepherd.

And then

thirdly we'll

see the

promise and

protection that

he gives

to his

sheep.

We'll begin

by looking

at his

perception,

his knowledge

of the

sheep.

When we

think of

ourselves and

the people

we have

around us,

what kind

of knowledge

do you have

of the people

around you?

What kind

of knowledge

do you have

of the people

sitting next

to you,

behind you,

or in front

of you?

It depends

maybe how

close you

are to

them.

There'll be

some who

are family,

there'll be

some who

are friends,

there'll be

maybe some

who are

strangers to

you.

Our knowledge

varies depending

on how much

we see of

the people.

And there

might be

some people

you know

pretty well.

You've got to

know them

over a long

period of

time.

You know

their good

habits,

their kind

hearts,

their generous

spirit,

you know

all of

these things

about them.

And then

the more

you get

to know

people,

you also

see the

less positive

side of them,

the bad

habits that

the people

might have,

their failings

as well.

But it's

all about

getting to

know the

people.

And as you

get to know

people,

you realise

all of

these things

about them,

yet even

the person

you know

best,

you don't

know them

better than

Jesus does.

Jesus'

knowledge of

his people,

of his

sheep,

is far

more than

any of

us can

have,

even we

could say

of ourselves,

that Jesus

knows us

better than

we know

ourselves.

And Jesus

speaks of

his knowledge

of his

sheep here

in John

10.

He speaks

of it in

verse 2

and 3

where he

says,

He

knows

his sheep

so

personally.

He knows

them that

just at

the command

of his

voice,

they will

follow.

They will

follow after

him.

You see

it too

in verse

14.

I am

the good

shepherd.

I know

my own

and my

own

know me.

There's

this

relationship

that's

about

knowledge

of how

he knows

his

sheep.

What

kind of

knowledge

is this?

It's

the kind

of knowledge

that the

psalmist

speaks of

in Psalm

139.

The

knowledge

that he

says

is too

wonderful

as he

describes

too high

to

understand.

There's

not a

word

that

comes

to our

lips

that is

not

known

by

him

even

before

we

speak

it.

Our

rising,

our

sitting,

our

sleeping,

everything

about us

it is

known

to him.

The

psalmist

describes

even if

we

go to

the

utmost

parts

of the

sea,

even

there

your

right

hand

is

leading

me.

There

is a

knowledge

that is

so

wonderful,

so

personal

beyond

anything

that

anybody

else

has

of

us,

even

ourselves.

You

think of

a

relationship

with your

parents

and the

knowledge

that they

have of

you and

you have

of them.

Think

back maybe

when you

were younger

or perhaps

you were at

that age

just now

when you

would go

out in

an evening.

You would

go away

for an

evening

and by

the time

you come

home

it's

later

than you

maybe

should

have

been

out.

You're

trying to

sneak

back in.

You're

trying to

sneak

through

the front

door

and then

trying to

sneak

through

the inside

door,

sneak

through

the

rooms,

sneak

up the

stairs

into your

own

bedroom

and go

to sleep

and you

think to

yourself

I've

got away

with it.

They don't

know what

time I

came in.

They don't

know I

was past

the time

I was

meant to

come in

until the

next morning

and they

tell you

exactly what

time you

came in.

They know.

They don't

miss much

but sometimes

they do.

And yet

the knowledge

that Jesus

has of

us,

it goes

way beyond

even that.

Everything

about us,

every little

detail.

When Jesus

says I

am the

door and

I am

the shepherd,

he is

describing

this knowledge

of us,

that there's

nothing that

we do,

nowhere that

we go,

that he

doesn't

know.

And

describing

himself as

the door

and the

shepherd,

it's not

two different

things.

It's the

same thing.

The shepherd

as the

door and

just being

the shepherd

as the

shepherd himself,

they're talking

about the

same thing.

The shepherd

is the

door.

when you

see here

Jesus

talking about

the sheep

fold in

verse 1.

He says

later,

I am the

door for

the sheep.

He's

describing

this setting

where the

sheep would

have to

come in

and go

out of.

A place

that would

have

walls,

four walls

and just

one entry.

And for

every sheep

they had to

go through

this entry,

either coming

out or

going in.

and the

shepherd

would be

the door.

The sheep

would have

to pass

him,

either coming

out or

going in.

So he knew

exactly the

sheep that he

had, he knew

their condition,

and he knew

that he had

them coming

back in at

the end of

the day.

Nothing

was missed.

And that's

the knowledge

that Jesus

has of his

sheep.

And us

as his

sheep,

there's nothing

that passes

by him.

And so when

you think of

your life,

there's no

sneaking past

Jesus,

there's no

thinking,

I got away

with that.

Everything

is known

to him.

This knowledge

is so

wonderful,

it's so

high,

it's beyond

our understanding,

and yet it

should give us

such great

comfort.

Because his

knowledge is

complete.

His knowledge

is past,

present,

and future.

His knowledge

of us means

that we are

watched over

at all times,

wherever we

go.

And there's a

great blessing

in that.

As we think

of ourselves,

as we think

of others,

as we think

even of,

as we're

praying there

for the

baptism service

next week,

God willing,

as we think

of baptized

children,

as we think

of those

who have

gone away

from here,

gone away

from home,

that this

is knowledge

that Jesus

has,

that he is

watching over

his sheep,

that he has

them as his

flock watched

over at all

times.

They're coming

in and they're

going out.

And that as

we pray,

we can pray

in that way

of his

knowing

everything

about us.

So whatever

stage we're

at in life,

we come

to the

shepherd

looking for

his help,

looking for

his guidance,

for his

knowledge to

be revealed

to us,

for his

help to

be given

to us,

for his

rod and

his staff,

as we'll

consider later,

as well as

directing us in

every way that

we should go,

bringing us

back or

putting us

forward.

So as we

think of

what school

subjects we

take,

as we think

about moving

away from

home to

university,

as we think

of going

into the

working life,

as we think

of other

struggles that

will come

our way

through life,

challenges,

as we think

of illness

and bereavement

and all of

these things,

all the

struggles that

we might

have,

whatever it

is,

he knows.

His

knowledge of

us is so

complete.

He is

the good

shepherd who

knows his

sheep.

And that

leads us

then into

his purpose.

His knowledge

of us is so

complete, but

then we begin

to see his

purpose.

Why has

Jesus come?

Why did

God send

his son into

this world?

Well, when you

think of,

again, just

our natural

setting, when

you think of

the lamb

sails or the

sheep sails,

when they

go ahead,

buyers will

come with

a purpose.

They come

for the

best, they

come for the

quality, and

they come to

pay good

money, you

hope for

them.

And you

see the

extraordinary

amounts when

you think of

double diamond

bought for

368,000

pounds.

Vast

sums of

money can

be spent

on sheep.

And how

does the

purpose of

Jesus, the

good shepherd,

compare to

that?

Did he

just come

for the

best?

Did he

come just

to hand

pick the

best for

himself?

Imagine

going to

a sale and

coming home

with sheep

that were

old, sheep

that had no

teeth, sheep

that were

lame or

blind.

It would

seem foolish,

it would

seem madness,

you would be

asked questions,

what have you

done?

Hope you

didn't pay

anything for

them.

And if

you were

to turn

around and

say I

actually paid

top money

for these,

you would

be seen

as being

crazy.

It would

be madness

to spend

any money

on sheep

that are

old and

lame.

And yet

when you

look at the

scriptures and

you see the

relationship of

the shepherd

and his

sheep,

did he

come to

pick the

best?

Did he