Good Shepherd- Pt. I

A continued teaching

Previously:

Man born blind (9:10-12)

Whose sin?

None, the works of God may seen in him.

Questioned and excommunicated (9:13-34)

Questioned by leadership, both he and parents

Man thrown out, excommunicated because of his belief

True blindness (9:35-41)

Jesus teaches about true blindness is spiritual blindness

So, this teaching tonight starting chapter-10 grows out of what transpired in chapter-9.

Jesus had previously, briefly spoken on light and darkness, now He will change to another illustration, a parable about a shepherd and the sheep. This is something very common, and would be well known to the people.

People of that time looked at kings, prophets as shepherds.

Israel was the flock of the Lord

Psalm 100:3 NASB95

3 Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

So, tonight the plan is

Read, discuss the passage

Contrast Good Shepherd and false shepherds of Israel (10:1-2)

The sheep and their shepherd (10:3-6)

The true shepherds job (10:7-10)

John 10:1–2 NASB95

1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 “But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.

John 10:3–4 NASB95

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 “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

John 10:5–6 NASB95

5 “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

John 10:7–8 NASB95

7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

John 10:9–10 NASB95

9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Gleaning from the text

Who is talking and to whom (v.1)?

Who is the thief (v.1)?

Who is the shepherd (v.2)?

What can you learn about the shepherd (vv.3-4)?

What will “they” not do (v.5)?

Did the “them” (v.6) understand? Oh, who is the them?

Who is the door of the sheep (v.7)?

Pay close attention, what tense is (v.8)?

Who will be saved and how (v.9)?

What does the thief do, and what does the Jesus do (v.10)?

Contrast Good and false Shepherds

The contrast that Jesus uses here is something that would be common to people of that time, in that location. It may not mean much to us, but it did to them.

Shepherd protecting sheep picture here

Let me give you a little set up, some understanding, paint you a picture.

A shepherd (maybe your passage says a porter) guards, protects the sheep, the flock, or many flock. They do it by putting the sheep together in a sheep fold and then lying across the opening.

The enclosure could be one of stone, or bram-bushes (thorny hedge) if in the fields.

Part of the year the sheep are kept close and are just outside the city and the shepherds would take turns guarding the sheep while the others went home to their families. When taken out in the Spring to other fields to feed on, then the other kind of enclosure was used.

Most assuredly I say to you (v.1)

Some say verily, verily or truly, truly.

Remember this is following the conflict with the Jewish leaders regarding the man born blind. Not only him but the parents (9:18-23)

Jesus wanted their attention to what He was about to say on the heals of the conflict.

“Most assuredly - this phrase peculiar to the fourth gospel, ad it generally introduces a solemn asseveration about Jesus or His mission.” (Tenney)

A thief and a robber (v.1)

Anyone who tries to come in any other way but the door

A thief implies deception and trickery (steals, v.10)

A robber implies violence and destruction (kills, destroys, v.10)

Not all who try to enter, enter the proper way, through the door (Shepherd/porter)

True shepherd enters by the door.

“Comes by legitimate and design way; through love, calling, are and sacrificial service” - D Guzig

God’s good and perfect will has always been to provide, protect and lead his people by those who come the proper way.

B.J. Clarke, whom I have used before said this, bear with me a minute for it is a little longer than most quotes I use.

“Whoever, therefore, enters not by Jesus Christ into the pastoral office, is no other than a thief and a robber in the sheepforld. Ad he enters not by Jesus Christ who enters with a prospect of any other interest besides that of CHrist and His people. Ambition, avarice, love of ease, a desire to enjoy the conveniences of life, to be distinguished from the crowd, to promote the interests of one’s family and even the sole design of providing against want— these are all ways by which thieves and robbers enter into the Church. And whoever enters by any of these ways, or by simony, craft, solicitation deserves no better name.”

Sheep and their shepherd

The doorkeeper noted here is the one that watches over the door, who comes in and who goes out.

The doorkeeper knows the true shepherd and grants him access.

The thief and the robber would not get by the doorkeeper, and even if they did the sheep would not follow for they know not their voice.

Sheep following Shepherd picture inserted here

True shepherd leads sheep; false shepherd forces sheep.

The true shepherd has a personal connection with their sheep. He leads them, provides direction and protection for them, without driving them.

(Dods) “As we have names for horses, dogs, cow, so the Eastern shepherds for their sheep.”

Jesus would call some of His sheep by name too; some by sheep such as Philip, Mary of Magdala, Thomas and Simon Peter. An interesting fact is that if you look them up, you will find that when Jesus did that to each, it was a significant turning point for them.

(Clark) describes six points of the work of Jesus and the under-shepherds the true ministers of God.

He has proper entrance to ministry

Sees Holy Spirit as the door keeper

Sees the sheep respond to his voice in teaching and leadership.

He is well acquainted with the flock

He leads and does not drive, or lord, over the sheep entrusted to him.

He goes before the sheep as an example.

True Shepherds job

Maybe better look at the last part of the scripture again, it has been awhile.

John 10:7–8 HCSB

7 So Jesus said again, “I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.

John 10:9–10 HCSB

9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Jesus is the door picture inserted here.

Jesus tells them He is the door

The way in (Jn14:6); He is the way of salvation (Jn3:16, etc.)

Here is something to think about. Remember this is all taking part just after the blind man was excommunicated because of his connection to Jesus. Just because he was an outcast did not keep him from entrance to the fellowship of God through Jesus (paraphrase from Dodds)

All who came before are thieves and robbers

Very important to look at the tense “are” this is not speaking of Moses and the prophets, this is speaking of those in that day, in the days of Jesus and the apostles who were trying another way, law, traditions, works, etc.

As were then, there are now men who are con men and muggers of the spiritual world, who are false shepherds , who are agents of the devil disguising themselves as servants of light.

The sheep will not hear them

His sheep know His voice, and will not hear the false shepherds, will not follow them.

How can we know we are hearing the true shepherds voice today?

Dodds said:

“They no doubt assumed authority over the people of God and compelled obedience, but the true children of God did not find in their voice that which attracted and let them to pasture.”

They go in and go out

What do you think this phrase means?

Again from Dodds he explains simply and better than I can.

“To ‘go out and in’ is a common O.T. expression to denote the free actiity of life (re: Jer37:4; Ps128:8 and Deu28:6”

Jeremiah 37:4 NASB95

4 Now Jeremiah was still coming in and going out among the people, for they had not yet put him in the prison.

Finally, lastly. I have come to. . .

Here we have another contrast between the false shepherds/leaders and the true, the Good shepherd and His purposes.

They come to steal, kill, destroy.

Jesus came to give life, and not just life but abundant life, or full life depending on version.

When it comes to abundant life, before we close here are some things to consider:

Not necessarily long life in years

Not always easy and comfortable

It is finding satisfaction, contentment in Jesus

Life can be measured by degrees, some flicker like a dying candle, others are indistinct as the fire, while others are full of lie and are bright and vehement (paraphrase; Spurgeon).

Those who are true sheep, who follow the Good Shepherd give all glory and honor to Him.

Honor for the stamina, persistence they have regardless of situation

Honor for the energy and strength given

Honor the the ability to share Him in the circle of influence, the world, we live in.

Honor in the abilities and talents He has blessed us with, and the calling He has equipped us with.

Honor by recognizing the true joy, inner joy in us because of our contentment in Him.

What are you doing today as a sheep of the Good Shepherd?

(Prayer) (Close)