Wentzville | Matt Hess
September 14, 2025
John 10:11-21

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 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. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 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.” 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” John 10:11-21 

1. The Good Shepherd SAVES. 

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 

a. Darkness  

“They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.” Psalm 82:5 

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” John 3:19 

b. Danger 

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? Luke 15:4 

c. Death 

For the wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23 

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins Matthew 1:21 

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 (NIV) 

2. The Good Shepherd STAYS.  

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. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me John 10:12-14 

“I will never leave you nor forsake you” Hebrews 13:5 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me Psalm 23:4 

3. The Good Shepherd SACRIFICES. 

a. His sacrifice was Voluntary: 

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. John 10:17b-18a 

b. His sacrifice was Victorious:  

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. John 10:18 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 

Sacrifice is the ultimate expression of love. Jesus willingly lays down His life for His sheep. 

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree…for you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25 

4. The Good Shepherd STRENGTHENS. 

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. John 10:16 

a. He strengthens us Individually: 

Now may the God of peace…equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ… Hebrews 13:20-21 

b. He strengthens us Corporately: 

Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head…from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love Ephesians 4:15-16 

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. John 10:16a