The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls


The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls

On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia

Text from John 10:11-16

Easter II

1. Jn. 7:1-10:21 is devoted to what Jesus said and did in Jerusalem on the occasion of the Festival of Tabernacles (Booths) in Jerusalem in the month of October, just six months before His crucifixion and death. The growing tension between Him and the Jewish authorities is reaching a climax. In Jn. 9 we have the account of the healing of the blind man, a remarkable miracle which also serves as a parable to show the Pharisees their obstinate spiritual blindness. The audience on the occasion of our text is Jesus' disciples, the formerly blind beggar, the Pharisees, and other Jews. The Pharisees are spiritually blind. In this parable vss. 11- 18, Jesus offers both stern warning and sweet comfort.

2. In vss. 11-13 we have Jesus' relationship to His sheep. In vss. 14- 18 we have Jesus' relationship to His Father and His sheep. In both sections the central thought is Jesus laying down His life in the stead of the sheep.

3. The prophets foretold Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Read Ps. 23; Ezek. 34:11-16.23; 37:24; Is. 53:6. Heb. 13:20 calls Jesus the Shepherd. The central thought is Jesus' eternal care for His sheep. In Jn. 10 read also vss. 1-10 and 27-30. Pastors are Jesus' under shepherds. Read Acts 20:28-31, a beautiful passage. Grievous wolves are constantly attacking Jesus' sheep. We must protect them.

4. The wolf is the devil. The hireling is the false pastor, the hypocrite who merely poses as a pastor. The false teacher wears sheep's clothing but inwardly is a wolf. Mt. 7:15. He is like Judas. Jn. 12:6.

5. The relationship between Jesus and His sheep is like that between the heavenly Father and Jesus. As a result of this relationship Jesus laid down His life in the stead of the sheep. Read II Tim. 2:19 and Mt. 7:23. Jesus knows you better than anyone else. He knows your hopes and fears, your joys and sorrows, your sins and your weaknesses. But He lays down His life for you. He does not desert you in your sorrows. On the relationship of believers to Jesus cf. Jn. 14:20; 15:10; 17:8.21; Mt. 11:27; Lk. 22:29; I Cor. 11:3; 15:28; Rev. 3:21; Rom. 8:31-35; 37-39.

6. Of His own free will Jesus gave Himself into the hands of sinful men to die for us and pay for our sins. Jn. 18:4-11; 19:28-30; Mt. 26:52-54; Lk. 23:46. On this willingness read Heb. 10:1-14.

7. Note the following in vs. 16: The "other sheep" are the Gentile Christians. "Of this fold" denotes the Jewish Christians. The word "must" denotes the obedience of Jesus to the will of the Father. Jesus "brings" the sheep to the Father. They don't find Him. He finds them. Spiritually dead man cannot bring himself to God. As a result of Jesus' bringing, the sheep will hear His voice. The Gospel makes the unwilling unbeliever a willing believer. The Jewish and Gentile Christians will comprise one flock under one Shepherd. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Eph 4:5-6.

8. The great "I AM" passages in Jn.'s Gospel are found at 6:48-51; 8:12; 10:7; 10:11; 11:25; 14:6 and 15:1. In all cases He means "I and none other". The first five occurred in hostile situations and the last two in sorrowful situations. Remember this.

9. In vss. 11 and 16 Jesus says that He lays down His life "in the stead of the sheep". The Greek clearly indicates Jesus as the Substitute of all men. He was not a sinner but God made Him to be sin in our stead. God willed only one death, the death of Jesus Christ, in the stead of all people.

10. Luther said: "Faithful shepherds must both pasture or feed the lambs and guard against wolves so that they will flee from strange voices and separate the precious from the vile. Jn. 10:12-16; Jer. 15:21."

11. The true and faithful shepherds of Jesus not only present the true and wholesome doctrine correctly but also accuse the adversaries who teach otherwise (I Tim. 3:9; Titus 1:9; II Tim. 2:24; 3:16).

12. Jesus is the best and lasting Friend now and forever. The devil is the worst enemy of man. He is very much alive and wants to destroy you. True sheep always listen to the Good Shepherd.


The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls

On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia

Text from John 10:11-16

Easter II

First Sermon

THEME: JESUS, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

INTRODUCTION

Seven times in Jn.'s Gospel Jesus says I AM (6:48-51; 8:12; 10:7; 10:11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1). The first four are figurative (bread of life; light of the world; door of the sheep; the Good Shepherd). Five and six are literal (resurrection and the life; the Way, the Truth, the Life). The sixth is figurative (the vine). All seven mean: "I and none other." He is the only one. There is no good Shepherd like Jesus.

I. WHAT HE DOES AS OUR SUBSTITUTE

II. WHAT HE DOES IN US

CONCLUSION

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is absolutely unique. There is no one like this Shepherd. Heb. 13:20-21: "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, [something] you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you....


The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls

On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia

Text from John 10:1-10, 11-18, 27-30

Easter II

Second Sermon

THEME: THE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP

INTRODUCTION

Jn. 10 is the great Shepherd chapter in the NT just as Ps. 23 is the great Shepherd chapter in the OT. In Jn. 10 Jesus speaks of Himself in two pictures. First, in vss. 1-10 He calls Himself the Door of the sheep. Secondly, in vss. 11-18 and 27-30 He calls Himself the Shepherd of the sheep. He is both Door (entrance) and Shepherd (Savior and Provider).

I. THE RELATIONSHIP OF SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

CONCLUSION

The picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and the Door to the sheep-pen is one of the most beautiful pictures in both the OT and the NT. It is found in the Psalms, the Prophets, the Gospels and the Epistles. It is the Gospel. We are nearing the end of the Festival half of the church-year. In this season we have heard again and again what the Good Shepherd has done and is still doing for us.


This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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