John Chapter 10 - Christ, The Good Shepherd
Introduction: The gospel of John was written to show that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and that through FAITH in Him, we can have eternal life.
We have seen from previous chapters that he is shown to be thus by many different testimonies!
Today we consider Him as THE GOOD SHEPHERD ‑‑ affirming that He is the one promised, expected, and is able to SAVE: Being the rightful, legal leader!
Some think that this is a continuation of the 9th chapter thus discussion of who is the rightful leader.
Two parables ‑‑ not in the ordinary sense ‑‑(PARABOLE), but PAROIMIA ‑‑ "denotes a wayside saying." Vine, page 158
1. Parable # 1, Vs 1‑6
A. Main teaching: Jesus is the shepherd entering into the fold and calling his sheep! Based on practice of the shepherd in the east! Flock gathered at night into a common fold, door closed, porter keeps door. Morning shepherd comes, porter opens, calls sheep by name, they know his voice and follow him. He who does not enter by door, is thief! Porter opens for the shepherd! Teachings: Christ is the good shepherd ‑‑ entered by. Door pointed to by prophets. Porter John the Baptist ‑‑ opened the door, knowing him, Jn. 1:29.True children hear his voice. Jewish leaders: thieves, climbing over ‑‑ Jesus is the rightful Leader!
B. Strangers: who speak not God's word, true...will not follow!
II. Parable # 2, Vs 7‑18
A. Main teaching: Jesus is door by which enter; different meanings of terms in second parable!
1. Plainly: "I am the door of the sheep" v. 7. All enter by Him, Gal.3:27. As sheep: enter night protection, morning pasture; we enter Christ, have all the blessings of God. All others coming claiming to be CHRIST, are thieves and robbers: steal from souls. True sheep didn't hear them. Waiting for master. I am the door; if enter, shall be saved! V. 9
B. Contrast of GOOD SHEPHERD AND THIEVES, V. 10. False Christ, false teachers, come for selfish purposes‑‑ steal and destroy. Good shepherd came to: Give life for sheep! Christ laid down his life, being the GOOD SHEPHERD. Hireling ‑‑ when danger approaches flees, leaving sheep to be devoured by wolves! Motive ‑‑ because hireling! Christ knows; is known, V. 14. As father knows Christ and He knows the Father. Love exhibited: sacrifice. lays down voluntarily V.18. Commission by Father
III. Division of Hearers Vs. 17‑21
A. Teachings of Jesus always produce division!1. Willing to hear and others. 2. Is true today ( Cf.Acts 2:41)
B. Reaction of some: "He has a demon," mad; why hear Him? v.20. Those Reject state bases for. Use cruel language, charging. Reasonable people:"These are not the saying of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
IV. Vs. 22‑42
A. Asked to tell them "plainly." He tells them as plain as one can, that His words have been rejected and the evidence the Father presented. If they were of His sheep, they would hear and follow. He and His Father are united. They take up stones to stone Him, V.31. They charge Him with “blasphemy.” When they attemp to take Him, He escaped (vs. 39-42) and goes to where John had “first baptized” and many believe on Him
Questions
1. Who doesn’t enter by the door (Jn. 10:1)?
2. Why do the sheep follow the shepherd (vs. 2-4)
3. How is Jesus’ teaching characterized (Jn. 10:1-6)
4. Acts of good shepherd and hireling (Jn. 10:7-15)?
5. Who do you believe are the “other sheep” (v. 16)
6. Who really are His (Jesus) sheep (vs. 25-30)
7. Why did the Jews stone Jesus (Vs. 32-38)?
8. Where Jesus went/ what happened (vs. 39-42)
9. Who is the DOOR?