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Rooted and Grounded
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you,
being rooted and grounded in love" - Ephesians 3:17
Connect with God through this study of scripture looking at the roots and grounded truths we can draw from the text.
109.church
Rooted and Grounded
Why Jesus Calls Us Sheep
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A deep dive into the meaning of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and our identity as His sheep. We explore the contrast between a Good Shepherd and a hired hand, unpacking layers of love, relationship, and protection.
• Discussion on the perceptions of sheep as 'dumb' animals
• Insights into sheep intelligence and social behavior
• Breaking down Jesus' role as the Good Shepherd
• Differences between a hired hand and a true shepherd
• The significance of belonging to one flock
• Encouragement for individuals in finding solace in Christ
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Welcome Back!
Speaker 1Hello friends , and welcome back to another episode of the Rooted and Grounded podcast . Mr Miller , how are you doing ?
Speaker 2Oh , look boy we're elevating .
Speaker 3Middle age .
Speaker 2Uh-huh , yeah , I'm about to get there . You're close , I'm close . What do you think Another couple of years ? A couple of years ? We were talking what is middle age 40 , 45 ? You think 50 ? Older than me . What you think another couple years , couple years ? We were talking what is middle age 40 , 45 ? You think 50 older than me .
Speaker 1Yeah , I'll agree . I agree about his age , about our age , yeah , yeah about our age middle age , yeah , so um all right , uh let me know what uh discounts a aarp gives you .
Speaker 3They are some yeah , that's it I do kind of get that senior discount at mcdonald's for the coffee oh yeah I mean , I just tried it and they're . They didn't turn it down .
Speaker 2So you don't look at , I don't know what that's me I might just want to pay that extra 20 cents point of pride like regular , not not senior .
Speaker 3Yeah all right .
Speaker 1So , uh , quick , quick game for us as we start off today . Um opened up the google machine getting ready for this episode and just thought I would put in what are the dumbest animals , oh and so from the article top 20 dumbest animals what are some that you think would be on the list ? Now , some of these were obscure , random animals , but , like common animals that everyone would know , what are you putting on the list of the top 20 dumbest animals ? Possum ?
Speaker 3No , wow , they're smart .
Speaker 1Well , it never said they were smart . They're not the dumbest .
Speaker 3I know some have been . I've seen them on the road Armadillo Cousin .
Speaker 1Goat ? No , they should be . They should be number one . I'm anti . Are you anti-goat ? My father-in-law has goats .
Speaker 2And so by default .
Speaker 1We have goats .
Speaker 3Yes .
Speaker 1There's a reason of all the animals in creation . Jesus says the people going to hell are goats .
Speaker 3Let's just leave it at that . You understand that .
Speaker 1I feel that in a way this year that I've never felt before but I get it now and hopefully he doesn't listen to this episode .
Speaker 2Yeah , you make sure he's out of town where he can't figure it out . They should be number one , but no , they were not on the list . They didn't make the top 20 ?
Speaker 1No , they didn't Any other guesses . Sheep , sheep , no Wow .
Speaker 3Come on , what's number one ?
Speaker 1Number one and and this was on multiple articles the ostrich is number one . Okay , I can say that yeah um which I think they should be one or two . I had an experience at safari park another episode um I , I don't like ostriches , don't like goats . Really I'm not a big animal person .
Speaker 2Like I like my animals . That's about it and that's it .
Speaker 1Flamingo Wow . Panda A panda I would have never guessed that to be on the list . Turkeys sloth koala and giraffe .
Speaker 2Giraffe . I would have never figured giraffe Sloth .
Speaker 1I could see , but those are kind of consensus .
Speaker 2Were you surprised that sheep wasn't on me ?
Speaker 1I was , and so that led me to my second google . Um , are sheep dumb ? And the answer is not as dumb as we think , and so here are some facts about sheep love it , uh , and intelligence so they can recognize up to 50 different faces , human faces they can distinguish between . They can solve problems like mazes to find food , they form social bonds and can exhibit grief when some of their fellow sheep die . And they can exhibit complex behaviors and they each have individual personalities . That's right Now .
Speaker 2I would guess that one . Yeah , it makes sense about the maze .
Speaker 1I hadn't thought about that yeah , but but bringing all that up to say like we often think of sheep as dumb , and I don't think anyone's accusing them of being the smartest animals right but as we think about jesus being the good shepherd today , by default that makes us think of ourselves as sheep , and so , yes , we're're dumb in a lot of ways and a lot of times , but we're not as dumb as what we think or what other people think .
Speaker 1Yeah , and so , just like sheep , they can recognize the shepherd , they can solve problems , they have emotions , they have personalities .
Speaker 2We do too .
Speaker 1And so , with that in mind , that just kind of sets the scene for us as we look at Jesus being the good shepherd from John , chapter 10 .
Speaker 1And so last episode we looked at John 10 of Jesus being the door and so let's kind of carry this thought on and look in John , chapter 10 , and let's read verses seven through 18 . I know a little bit of a longer passage , but it really sets the scene . So listen to these words of Jesus . Truly , truly , I say to you I am the door of the sheep . All who came 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 his sheep . He , who is a hired hand and not a shepherd who does not own the sheep , sees the wolf coming and leaves and the sheep 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 .
Speaker 1I am the good shepherd . I know my own and my sheep know me , just as the father knows me and I know the father . And I laid 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 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 in 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 , and so this passage mentions multiple times that Jesus will lay down his life for his sheep , in verses 11 , 15 , 17 , and 18 . So , wayne , talk to us about Jesus's willingness to lay down his life for his sheep and then , kind of second part of this , I want you to touch on verse 12 that talks about the hired hand compared to the good shepherd .
Speaker 2So , uh , talk to us about those two things . Well , when you look at these verses 11 through 18 , it all begins in a in a such a beautiful way I am the good shepherd . No , I think it's important , it's not just a shepherd , he is the good shepherd . And I find it interesting when we say the and good , okay , and then he contrasts that in verse 12 , the fact that he was laying down his life . I mean , we don't have time to talk , you guys know this . We don't have to talk about what God was willing to do with the Son and then what Jesus was willing to do to be a doer of the will of God .
Speaker 2Okay , he gave up the glories of heaven , gave up that and came to this earth , took on the form of a servant paul said in philippians too and not only just take a form of servant . Then he died , uh , as as in someone who'd committed sin , who'd never committed sin , okay . So when you think about him giving up his life and all that's behind that , even from the father above , uh , the good shepherd really takes on a new meaning when you think about it in that light . In the last part , he laid down his life when he could have done differently according to verse 17 . You know I lay it down on my own accord . I'm doing this for you , yeah okay I don't even have
Speaker 3to do .
Speaker 2I don't have to do this , but for you to have salvation and for you to be taken care of as a sheep , then I need to do this . I got to do this , okay . But then these contrasts verse 12 is interesting , hired hand and as I thought about that , you know , as I would sum it up , one of the major differences between the shepherd and a hired hand is relationship , because he , the shepherd , loved the , knew the sheep by name . We talked about that . He protects them , he gives them security , he gives them food and he takes them to pastures , et cetera . And a shepherd knows a sheep and he's known by his sheep Hired hand . That's simply what he is .
Speaker 2I got a job and you know why I'm doing this . It's not because relationship with sheep is , don't that I ? I don't own them , I don't really care for them . It's a job . I'm doing this because you know what I get paid and at the end of the day , they're going to give me this much money and I'm out of here . But he says also you can see , there's no relationship because verse 12 , he's not willing to take a risk . You know , it's like . He says also you can see , there's no relationship because verse 12 , he's not willing to take a risk . You know , it's like he says he leaves a sheep . If a wolf come , he leaves a sheep and flees . He's like Si he gone .
Speaker 3He gone .
Speaker 2He's out of here . There's danger .
Speaker 1I'm out of here , man .
Speaker 2You think I'm going to risk my life for what we might say ? You know , you've been enlightened to me how smart sheep are , but he's not going to say that and say let's see my life possibly . Or sheep you gone , sheep I'm not going to . Why Doesn't mean anything to me ? There's no relationship , I'm simply doing this as a job . So when there's an attack , when there's a risk , he's not going to give his life because lack of relationship and a lack of desire to protect them and give them what's best .
Speaker 3You were talking about right there in verse 17 , where he says I lay down my life on my own account , on my own accord , I'm deciding to do this . So he's willing to take a responsibility that I mean . Think about what he's accepting to do . He's accepting to care for the sheep , take them around . You know what is the job of that shepherd ? I mean , you could potentially lose sheep , you could potentially have an attack on the sheep . You know like , and I'm saying I'm going to hang with it all the way through , but he doesn't even have to do that , like he doesn't even have to do it . I think that may be one of the most amazing things for me is he doesn't even have to do this , but he wants to do it . And not only does he . Just , you know , some people say , yeah , I'll take that job on . And then they get in there and they're like , oh , I really didn't want to do this , right , he , not only does he step into it , he excels in it and we kind of know the attitude of a hired servant .
Speaker 2You know , sometimes we hear somebody say on a job where they ask me to do this and I say you don't pay me enough to do that , don't expect me to do that . That's right , you know . And that's kind of like the hired hand here . You don't pay me enough to risk my life .
Speaker 3I mean , I don't care about them sheep and would say it , yeah , would make that like these aren't my sheep , this isn't my pasture . I mean I'm just here because I'm getting a check , exactly . I mean there's no vested interest in those sheep . And jesus is saying not only am I the shepherd , but I'm the good shepherd .
Speaker 2That he is vested Yep Because he did his own accord .
Speaker 1Well , and right before that , in verse 10 , and we talked last episode he's giving the sheep
The Perks of Middle Age
Speaker 1an abundant life . Exactly . And now he's outlining how he's going to do it Exactly .
Speaker 2Yeah , and he does . He not only outlines , but then he do it Exactly . Yeah , and he and he does . You know , I don't outline , but then he does it , yeah , and he continues to do it for us today , you know .
Speaker 1Right . So , matt , there , there's two other parts of this passage that I want you to touch on , so talk . First talk to us about verse 14 and what it means for Jesus to know his sheep and to know his sheep , and then talk to us about verse 16 , when Jesus talks about these other sheep that need to be joined to create one flock .
Speaker 3Yeah , I I think that what we're talking about , I think , still kind of carries over into this conversation , because he knows the sheep , he I can't help but think about David when I think about this , and it's not ironic that that's his kinfolk you know like david is that type of that shepherd and you know , me and wayne were just kind of getting tickled about this .
Speaker 3But when we're talking about david and goliath , and david goes up to saul and I'm paraphrasing this , but he's saying don't worry about it , you know , I got this , I'm gonna , I'm gonna help you out with this and saul's he grabbed the lion's goatee . I mean , he grabs the lion's goatee . That is unbelievable to me . A hired hand ain't doing that . That hired hand is out of here . Even if I wasn't a hired hand I'm not exactly that's what I'm saying like why would you want to take that job on for the potential of what's coming ? But not only does he do it . I always use these illustrations because it's just my world and I can relate to this .
Speaker 3I got four calves right now . Every one of them have a different personality . I got one . She comes from a cow we call 45 , and she's an older cow . She's a good cow , but her baby was the littlest one and I was worried about her and we made this calf feeder for them and she goes in there and she will push everybody out of the way and she's just growing and growing , and growing . I'm learning her .
Speaker 3I'm getting to the point where , as soon as I come in there , I say , all right , that's enough . She turns and looks at me and makes sure that I'm serious . Then if she sees I'm really standing there , she turns and then she exits out . Well , I'm not really going to go lay with them and hang out with them , I'm just doing that quickly . And then she exits out . Well , I'm not really going to go lay with them and hang out with them , and I mean I'm just doing that quickly and then I'm out .
Speaker 3This guy is not only going to say , hey , come on , we need to go out this way , he's going to be out there with them . That's unbelievable to me . Just the beauty of that . And you know , talking about that second part , we know that this is like a beginning thought of what the church is going to look like . And back to the door , whosoever will can be a part of this fold , whoever wants to be a part of this . And I think that that's a shocker for even the Pharisees , because , you know , right there in verse 19 , it says and there was division again amongst the Jews because of this saying , and they said this guy's got a demon , he's talking crazy . Like what is he talking about ? They just couldn't see it , they couldn't hear it or even visualize the power and the status that he's putting himself on in that moment .
Speaker 2And you know and you said whosoever will that he talked , putting himself on in that moment , and you know , and you said whosoever will that he talked about earlier in john 7 . But you should see it materializing , see it coming effect in acts 2 .
Speaker 3Yeah , oh yeah , you know in acts 2 , 38 through 47 .
Speaker 2You know when he says it's for you and for all those where far off . That's right , jew and gentile . That's right , every blood and every language .
Speaker 1I think about the parables , of the Good Samaritan , and then the lost sheep that . Jesus is using to set up , and it's like I'm going to go out and find the ones that are lost , whether they're of the tribe already or whether they're ones that have to be brought in . Or you show love when you do it to the least of these or to the one that's injured .
Speaker 1And so I think that's just a lot of foreshadowing of what is to come and really encouraging for us who obviously were not Jews and have never been part of that either family line or tradition or faith but for us that we get to be part of Christ because he came for all .
Speaker 3I think one of the coolest things for me in that verse is there there will be one flock and one shepherd . That that For them to even , I mean of course , because there's one door Exactly .
Speaker 3But the thing about these guys in this and I got to give it to them , I got to be able to give them a little bit of sympathy in the fact that they have no idea that he's talking about this culmination of Gentile Jew into this family and they don't get that . Yet they're just hearing him talking about him being the good shepherd and this door , and you know he just healed this blind man because you know , they say in verse 21 others said there are not . These are not the words of one who has a demon . Can a demon open the eyes of the blind ? Like there is something about this guy , like he's not just talking to talk , he's walking the walk . And so I think that one of the most encouraging things to me , like 2020 vision , looking into that is there's one flock and it's his it's his flock and he is the one who's going to ultimately take care of you in and out , past your protection .
Speaker 3I mean , we've talked about it and we've we've , you know , kind of went down these different angles on who the shepherd is and what he represents , what the door is , what the bread of life is . You know , you start talking about and compiling all this information about who Jesus says he is . Now , all of a sudden , it's like I want you to hear about this guy , like you need to hear about this Jesus .
Speaker 2When I think about Jesus shepherd , you know you go back and study in the Old Testament and the book of Ezekiel and you know David and all the shepherds . There's some qualities that a shepherd really needed and I'm grateful that the good shepherd , Jesus , has these qualities because I , as a sheep , I need him to have these qualities in my life and I've just thought about qualities like I think a shepherd would have to be really patient and I think they're going to have to be courageous . Jesus demonstrated that . I'm giving my life on record . That's pretty courageous guys . It takes a lot of courage to say you know what ? I've got the power to do something different here and he did right . He had the power to do something different , but he chose for our benefit and for our salvation and security that he did that . I think he has to be compassionate Because you know you pointed out at the beginning , matt that the sheep have different personalities , have different emotions .
Speaker 2All of us as sheep of God in the one flock of Christ , we all have all different emotions and different , and you know what that requires . I need God , I need Jesus to be patient with me and understanding , and I need him to have compassion toward me and I needed him to be courageous . And the amazing thing about a shepherd not Christ the shepherd , but a shepherd they had care for each sheep individually . And you know what ? It is so encouraging and it's so enriching to life and such a blessing to know that Jesus Christ cares for each one of his sheep personally , individually , with all their flaws and all their faults and all their mistakes . He just continues to demonstrate that . So when I think about a shepherd in jesus being the good shepherd , what a blessing it is for us individually . This is like a a side shift .
Speaker 3but you think about first peter five and you know peter says as a fellow elder , I want you guys to understand that you need to elder or shepherd , like the great shepherd and every quality that we see , here is Jesus in as you move on into the development of the church .
Speaker 3and how is it going to be successful to have shepherds keep the flock where it needs to be at , and all of the qualities that we just talked about compassion , patient . I mean , you think about first Timothy three , and I'm not trying to get off in that , but , but I am saying that there is this establishment of an understanding of what a shepherd truly looks like and the care that they should have for the sheep . Well then , as you take it the step further , they're they're qualified men that have this responsibility . But remember , don't lord over because you're not taking care of your personal sheep . You're taking care of the shepherd sheep and he's giving you the responsibility to be able to do it . No doubt that you do have some ownership in that . But when we think about the big picture one flock , one shepherd man there is layers to this .
Speaker 1A beautiful thought . So I know a lot of this touches on the identity of the good shepherd , but what other pieces do we want to add to that to kind of round out this image of the good shepherd ?
Speaker 1I know what I've been thinking , as you all have been talking , is when Jesus says greater love has no one than this than to lay down his life for his sheep and we know that's what he does and I just think that is a powerful love for us that it's easy for us to forget or become used to in a way , especially for Christians who are at church all the time and just around church , it's a great gift , but it's one that's easy to overlook sometimes and one I think it's important for us to remember .
Speaker 3For me , just thinking about the shepherd that he knows his sheep Wayne was kind of hitting on that . I mean he personally knows my struggles . He personally knows the temptations that I'm faced with , and it's no wonder that he's my great high priest who knows all of those things and lives to make intercession for me . Who does that ? I mean I love y'all brothers , but I don't really want to know all your business and fix all your problems and listen to all your things all the time . I mean it's exhausting , right , that's just the way that we do Not , that I don't try or I want to , but Jesus says no , I want to listen to it all as many times as you want to talk about it . I care enough about you to listen to all that the 24-7 .
Speaker 224-7 .
Speaker 3Yeah , I mean , he never grows tired of it . He lives to make intercession .
Speaker 1Well , and something else I think about going to the Sermon on the Mount when he says says if I will clothe the flowers of the field I'll take care of you . That's right and and one thing that I really like , um are wildflowers . Um , don't know why , but but I do , and like being able to identify them , and you can tell what month it is or what season you're in by the wildflowers that are available . Um , and I know my wife .
Speaker 1She had a big flower garden this year , and so flowers are a big part of our life and they are beautiful in so many ways and I mean , I know you can't compare a flower to a person , but like , flowers are really , really pretty and there's such variety and they're so beautiful and it's like if God will take care of a flower that a deer is going to come by and eat . He's going to take care of you .
Speaker 2And each one of those flowers are unique .
Speaker 1Yeah , he knows the number of hairs on your head . Zero . I'll take the joke for you there .
Speaker 3Yeah , but , what about beard ? No , just hair there , just it . Okay , yeah , not in his safe place . Sorry about that , sorry about that .
Speaker 1But if he knows the number of hairs that we have if he will take care of the birds . If he'll take care of the flowers , he will take care of his sheep .
Speaker 2He's got us , hasn't he ? Yeah , what did we say in the last episode ? The sheep of his hand .
Speaker 1Oh man , His hand All right . So , guys , let's work on wrapping it up . Wayne , make it real for us .
Speaker 2Oh , I was just looking here as you guys were talking there about Hebrews 2 , that it was fitting for him . For whom are all things ? Talking about Christ , through whom are all things and bring many sons to glory , to perfect , as the captain of our salvation .
Speaker 3Yeah , the captain Just kind of tagging with that Ephesians 3 , 19, . To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God the captain the leader is trying to fill you up abundantly , to the point where it overflows . You don't want in on that . What , what yeah .
Speaker 1Well , and I think for me is and we've been talking about this some , but we're more than just another person to Jesus .
Speaker 2That's right and so .
Speaker 1I think when the world forgets you , when there's threats on every side , it's the shepherd that calls us home . And if we're too far away to hear the shepherd or too hard of hearing to listen , he's going to come find you . And so when he says he's the good shepherd , he's saying that we are his , that he knows us and that he will take care of us .
Speaker 2That's a blessing . Beautiful stuff , guys , always is .
Speaker 1I enjoy doing it with both of you and hopefully , everyone who listens will benefit to your faith and we'll do it again in a couple of weeks . You