John Chapter 10
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John 10: The Good ShepherdThe Shepherd and the Sheepfold“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1, ESV). The legitimate shepherd enters by the door. The doorkeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out (John 10:3). He goes before them; they follow because they know his voice. Strangers they will not follow; they flee (John 10:5).Jesus speaks this figure of speech; they do not understand.I Am the Door“Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7). Thieves and robbers came before; the sheep did not listen. “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus comes that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).I Am the Good Shepherd“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). The hireling sees the wolf, leaves the sheep, and flees; the wolf snatches and scatters. The hireling flees because he cares nothing for the sheep (John 10:12-13).“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15). He has other sheep not of this fold; He must bring them also. They will listen to His voice. One flock, one shepherd (John 10:16).“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 of 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” (John 10:17-18).Division AgainDivision arises among the Jews. Many say, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others counter, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” (John 10:19-21).The Feast of DedicationIt is winter; Jesus walks in the temple in the colonnade of Solomon. The Jews gather around and say, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly” (John 10:24).My Sheep Hear My VoiceJesus answers, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep” (John 10:25-26). His sheep hear His voice; He knows them; they follow Him. He gives them eternal life; they will never perish; no one will snatch them out of His hand (John 10:27-28). The Father, who gave them, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand (John 10:29).“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).Stones for BlasphemyThe Jews pick up stones to stone Him. Jesus answers, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” (John 10:32). They reply, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God” (John 10:33).Jesus cites Psalm 82:6: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came; and Scripture cannot be broken; do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (John 10:34-36). If He does the works of the Father, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Him and He in the Father (John 10:38).They seek again to arrest Him, but He escapes.Beyond the JordanJesus goes away across the Jordan where John first baptized. Many come and say, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” Many believe in Him there (John 10:41-42).