Isaiah 53:5-64 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.6 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.

• They overgraze, creating a food shortage.

• They are highly vulnerable to predators.

• They wander off from the herd and get lost.

• They will walk straight off a cliff!

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - “First one sheep jumped to its death. Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as nearly 1,500 others followed, each leaping off the same cliff … In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of one another in a billowy white pile … Those who jumped later were saved as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned …”

- USA TODAY - July 8, 2005

Isaiah 53:5-64 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.6 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.

Mark 9:35-3835 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.38 "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.“

• Cheat and steal.• Say damaging hurtful things. Lie,

Gossip, etc.• Alcohol, Drugs, and other Addictions …• Materialism (struggle with prospective).• Consequences of sinful behavior.• Violence, destruction, and cruelty.

• Damage and destruction of families.

• Every sort of pain and anguish.

Luke 15:4-74 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?5 "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'7 "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.."

John 10:1-161. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.2. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.3. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.5. "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

John 10:1-166. Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.7. Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.8. "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.9. "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.10. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.11. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 10:1-1612. "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.13. "The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.14. "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.15. "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.16. "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock …”

• Our Shepherd cares about us wanting to provide purpose / focus for our lives.

• He wants us to know Him. (Know His Voice)• He wants us to recognize Him from others who would bring harm.

• He wants to protect us from danger.• He’s not a ‘hired hand.’ He has

committed Himself to us with His very life.

Psalm 23:1-61. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4. Yea, 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. 5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

John 10:27-28 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.