John 10:1-21 can be broken into three parts:
i) 10:7-1-6 – A parable/allegory about shepherding.
ii) 10:7-18 – Jesus applies the picture to Himself and the false
shepherds.
iii) 10:19-21 – Two responses: rejection and questioning faith
Jesus uses an allegory/parable to teach in order make the contrast
between Himself as the ‘good shepherd’ (who will ultimately die to save His
sheep) juxtaposed to these religious teachers who are not! (They are ‘thieves
and robbers’; their terrible treatment of the man born blind in the previous
chapter has illustrated this.)
Using imagery around shepherding would have spoken clearly and powerfully
to the culture of Jesus’ day, but this does not mean that they ‘got it’!
John labels this as a
‘Figure of speech’ – which, although being a simple story, required some investigation and reflection. Only those who ‘have ears to hear’
will listen and hear. Jesus chooses his use of language carefully; He is easily
understood on the human level but there is deeper understanding; those who are
His sheep will look for and respond to Jesus’ deeper message.
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Surface level understanding
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Jesus’ deeper message that His ‘sheep’ understand
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The shepherd rules over the sheep
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Jesus is Lord and my Lord
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The shepherd protects the sheep
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Jesus is my protector
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The sheep listen to the shepherd’s voice
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I obey Jesus my shepherd
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The shepherd lays his life down for the
sheep
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Jesus has died for my salvation
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A Shepherd provides a place of protection
that only His sheep can or will enter
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Jesus is my, and is the only ‘door’, to
salvation
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One of the points that comes out of this is the immense value that He places on his 'sheep'- Christians. This love is ultimately shown as the shepherd will lay His life down for us, for our sin, on the cross. Christians are to live everyday knowing that God prizes them and cares for them. Like David who protected the sheep from the lion and the bear (see 1 Samuel 17:34-37).
‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.'
God is defending us every day. Let this truth fill us with joy and confidence each day.
A great way to apply this message is to spend some time meditating on Psalm 23
You can listen to this message at,
Going deeper
– Personal daily study notes on John 10:1-21
Monday: read John 10:1-2
There are ‘thieves and
robbers’ – false teachers and deceivers – in the kingdom; there are wolves in
sheep’s clothing & wolves in shepherd’s clothing! These people are self-serving
even though they may be very appealing.
The ‘gate’ is Jesus.
True shepherds enter by Jesus; they are faithful to teach on the uniqueness of
Jesus and salvation that is only found in Him.
Tuesday: read John 10:3-5
Eastern shepherds had
an individual call for each of the sheep. For a sheep to leave the sheep pen
without the shepherd’s voice would have been dangerous; His voice is
protective.
Have we listened, have
we become Christians? Are we listening, responding to His voice each day?
One cannot listen to
two voices; following Jesus involves a rejection of all other voices. We only
obey Jesus!
Wednesday: read John 10:6-10
Jesus is marking out
these religious teachers as ‘thieves a robbers’ – self-centred leaders.
Jesus is both the good
shepherd and the gate through which all shepherds and sheep enter into
salvation and a restored relationship with God the Father. Such a person finds security and grace for
life. They have ‘living water’ they have the ‘bread of heaven’- all the good
things of being in Christ.
Read and meditate on
Psalm 23.
Thursday: read John 10:11-15
Jesus is not primarily
setting Himself up as a great example of what good shepherds (church leaders,
politicians etc.) are to be like; rather, we are being taught about how He is
the unique good shepherd whose death will save the sheep and whose devotion
will finish the work He begins.
Friday: read John 10:16
What does this verse say about Jesus’ mission? Spend some time praying
that God would lead you to His ‘lost sheep’.
Saturday: read John 10:17-21, Isaiah 53:6 and Acts
4:27-29
Jesus announces His
predestined death and resurrection for the sheep and how this is the Father’s
will (Isaiah 53:6).
Jesus chose to die; His
life was not taken. He is not a martyr; He is a sacrifice and saviour!
Read Acts 4:27-29,
what does this say about God’s rule (sovereignty)?
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