I AM "The Door" & "The Good Shepherd"

We are a worshipful people by nature. it is an attribute that God made us to exhibit and exercise. Don’t believe me? Let me explain.

It matters who we worship.

This is not the door-Fairlawn Pic

We are a people who worship Jesus Christ. Let that sink in, for there are places in the world where that will get you killed. We don’t just admire him, or follow him, or swear allegiance to him. We worship Jesus.

We worship him as the eternal, uncreated, omnipotent, all-wise, Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of the universe.

He is God, one with the Father and the Spirit. And we worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit — one God, in three divine persons. We worship Jesus.

This is the context of , and this is what Jesus intends for us to do in response to what he says.

As Chapter 9 ends, Jesus has healed a blind man on the sabbath. It unfolds this way.

As chapter 9 unfolded, the sight of the blind man, whom Jesus had healed, became clearer and clearer. And the blindness of the Pharisees became darker and darker.

In , the Pharisees tell the healed man, “Give glory to God. We know that this man [Jesus] is a sinner.” But then look at :

John 9:16 ESV

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

John 9:24 ESV

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”

John 9:37–38 ESV

Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

John 9:38 ESV

He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

The division could not be deeper: blasphemy or worship.

That’s what it all comes down to. There is no fence-sitting in the end — not there, not where you sit.

That’s where Jesus was taking the blind man — from blindness to the blazing deity of Jesus.

And that is where he is taking us again in chapter 10. Jesus is either insane in what he is saying here, or he is God. Look at the conclusion in :

John 10:19–21 ESV

There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Today, we face a very similar division in the world around us. Even in the church, we face opposition to who Christ really is.

There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Divine or Deranged

That’s what it all comes down to — again.

He is insane or he is God.

And the reason I say Jesus brought it down to his insanity or his deity again is because of the way he describes his power in verses 17 and 18.

C.S. Lewis said Jesus was either Liar, Lunatic or Lord. Sayings such as these are why he said that.

This is either insane or divine.

There is no middle way here. Not then. Not now.

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. ()

John 10:17–18 ESV

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.”

Now a normal man might be able to say, “I have authority to lay down my life.”

I can choose to commit a capital crime.

I can choose to jump off a cliff.

I can choose to step between you and the bullet.

But nobody can say, “I have authority to take it up again.”

If you are dead, you don’t have any authority to be undead. -John Piper

You can’t undead yourself. But Jesus said he could. So he’s either insane, or he is not a mere mortal man.

So let’s follow him there and listen with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, because everything in your life depends on where you end up after listening to him.

falls into three parts: verses 1–6, 7–10, and 11–18.

verses 1–6, 7–10, and 11–18.

Verses 1–6 put the Pharisees to the test again

with what John calls (verse 6) a “figure of speech” — a kind of parable, or word picture. It’s very general with a sheepfold, sheep, a door, a shepherd, a gatekeeper, and a stranger. Jesus does not identify himself with any of them explicitly. He leaves that to the Pharisees, and to us.

One way to sum up these three parts would be to say that in verses 1–6, Jesus is gathering a flock — a people for himself from the Jewish fold.

Then in verses 7–10, he says, “I am the door”

(verses 7 and 9), and he unpacks what that means for us.

In verses 7–10, he is explaining why he is gathering this flock — that they might have life and have it abundantly (verse 10).

Then in verses 11–18, he says, “I am the good shepherd”

(verses 11 and 14), and he unpacks for us what that means for us.

verses 11–18 he is explaining how he is gathering and giving Life to this flock — by laying down his life for them, and taking it up again.

That’s the summary, but oh, so much more is going on. Let’s follow him and listen carefully.

One True Shepherd

Remember, he is talking to the Pharisees. Others are listening too (we know from ), but he is speaking directly to the Pharisees. Look at the bridge between chapter 9 and 10.

No wait, you can’t, because there isn’t one. You don’t need a bridge where there’s no break. Look at 9:40–41 into chapter 10.

John 9:40–10:3 ESV

Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. “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. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 9:40-10Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. 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.”

There’s no break here. It is unmistakable. The Pharisees are the thieves and robbers. They got to their positions of shepherd-like leadership without the blessing of the Gatekeeper.

Here are a few verses that are not in your notes to show how He/God feels about liars and thieves.

Revelation 22:15 ESV

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Revelation 22:15

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5 ESV

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

1 Timothy 1:9 ESV

understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

They are not faithful shepherds. They are the “stranger” in verse 5:

John 10:5 ESV

A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

“A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The sheep that belong to the true Shepherd (“his own,” verse 3) will not be controlled by the Pharisees.

The legitimate shepherd comes into the fold with the blessing of the Gatekeeper, and when he speaks he knows his own sheep and calls them by name, and they recognize his voice and they follow him out.

John 10:2–4 ESV

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

John Verses 2–4:

Verses 2–4:

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him, the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Even though Jesus never says in these verses that he is the shepherd, it is plain from the context of what just happened in chapter 9. Jesus just called the blind man to himself and made a worshiper out of him. But the Pharisees are heartless toward the man.

They claim authority, but have no care for this sheep. is a word picture of what has happened in chapter 9.

It is kind of like Jesus is saying, “you don’t get it! You don’t see! You are the blind one! Let me paint you a picture and see if you can get it!”

Chapter 10 is that picture.

Gathering a Flock

So the point of verses 1–6 is that Jesus is gathering a flock, a people, out from the fold of Israel. “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (verse 3). That’s what Jesus was doing then. That is what Jesus is doing today. That is what is happening in the room where you sit — listening. You either hear the voice of an insane man or the voice of God.

In verse 6, John calls this word picture in verses 1–5 a “figure of speech.” Why did Jesus tell this to the Pharisees? He was testing them. Giving them another chance to show if they were really blind or not.

Chapter 9 ended with Jesus saying to the Pharisees, “You say, ‘We see.’ Do you? Here, I’ll draw you a picture with words. Tell me what you see.”

Do they see? Are they blind?

John 10:6 ESV

This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

John Verse 6: “This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.” They did not know what he was saying. This picture carried no meaning for them, because they were blind and guilty. Are you, right now? What do you see?

They did not know what he was saying. This picture carried no meaning for them, because they were blind and guilty.

Are you, right now? What do you see?

How does Jesus respond to this blindness? Looked at one way, you could say, he keeps explaining. Looked at another way, he makes himself sound foolish (insane).

He’s done this before in chapter 6. When he called himself the bread of life () and they murmured: How can he be bread from heaven?

His words meant nothing to them, as here. He went on and made himself look utterly grotesque:

John 6:56 ESV

Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

John 6:60–61 ESV

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?

John 6:60-61“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me” (). And when they gagged on this saying () he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” ().

John 6:65 ESV

And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me” (). And when they gagged on this saying () he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” ().

“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me” (). And when they gagged on this saying () he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” ().

In one sense, Jesus was making things clearer, and in another sense, he was making things more offensive. And that’s what he does here.

You don’t grasp my figure of speech about the sheep and door and shepherd and strangers and thieves?

Well, try this: I am the door and I am the shepherd. And the crowd divides.

They have always divided. They are dividing where you sit.

One group says, “That’s foolish. You can’t be a door and a shepherd.”

And another group says, “Oh Jesus tell us, tell us how you are a door and what it means for us. And tell us, tell us how you are a shepherd and what it means for us.”

To the willfully blind, he offers foolishness. To those who are desperate to see, he offers hope.

I AM “The Door”

So what does he say about his doorness and his shepherdness? First, his doorness. Tell us, Jesus, what does it mean for us that you are a door for us?

John 10:7–10 ESV

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Verses 7–10:

Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers [there have been many who claimed to give what only I can give], but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jesus is saying the same thing he will say in

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The door was often in reference to the fact that the shepherd would find a small valley to house his sheep in, especially at night. He would then lay down to block the entrance. He became the door. But here, Jesus means more than just that.

If you believe in me, and trust me to be the only path to God, I promise you two things (): You will be saved; and you will go in and out and find pasture.

The door was often in reference to the fact that the shepherd would find a small valley to house his sheep in, especially at night. He would then lay down to block the entrance. He became the door. But here, Jesus means more than just that.

Particularly, you are saved from wolves and thieves that come to kill and destroy (). Safe from every enemy that would destroy you.

Enter by me and you will be forever safe. Forever Saved.

But none of us wants to be merely safe. We were not created merely to be safe. The human heart wants infinitely more than safety. Oh yes, safety is basic and necessary. We want to be protected from what can destroy us. We want life. Life.

But we want more than just life. We want abundant life. Overflowing life. Deep life. Weighty life. Joyful life. We don’t just want to survive. We want to thrive at every level of our human being. We were made for this.

And so Jesus says more: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved [yes, and more, so much more] and will go in and out and find pasture.”

The point of saying this is that the sheepfold itself represents safety and protection. But it also offers green pastures and still waters. If offers comfort, peace and freedom. Remember that Jesus also said in

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

And I think that when Jesus says in verse 10, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” he means, “I came that they might be saved and go out and come and find pasture” — protection and plenty, solid safety and deep soul satisfaction.

Abundant life is not about having stuff. It’s about having peace, having joy, having God.

So thank you, Jesus, for being a door for us.

We believe you are the only door to eternal safety.

The only door to soul-satisfying pastures. The only door to God.

We enter and we Thank you. I thank you for the life you have given me!

I AM “The Good Shepherd”

That’s what the doorness of Jesus means. Now, what about his shepherdness? That’s the why? Now, what about the how? How are you gathering a flock of sinful sheep who have eternal, abundant life? Tell us, Jesus, tell us how you are a shepherd and what it means for us.

There is too much here in verses 11–18 to cover in the time that remains. So I planned to focus next week on these verses again. What I want to do in the few minutes that remain is simply to follow Jesus quickly to the end. We will leave some of the steps for next time, especially verse 16, which is the verse that is written on the tombstone of the famous explorer and missionary, David Livingstone, in Westminster Abbey (in the KJV): “Other sheep I have, which are not of this Fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice.” The verse is enormously important for world missions and the sovereignty of God. It deserves a sermon to itself.

But the short answer to the question what it means for Jesus to be our shepherd — and the answer to the question, How is he gathering a people who have abundant life? — is that he lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:14–15 ESV

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.

: “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.”

He is bound to his sheep, as he is bound to his Father. He can no more lose them than he can lose the Father. And to save them he lays down his life. But God knows, and Jesus knows, and you know that if a shepherd dies, the sheep are at the mercy of the wolves. They will be scattered and they will die.

This is why Jesus says in verse 18:

John 10:18 ESV

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.”

The Father sent him to die for his sheep. And the Father commanded that he not abandon his sheep, but rise from the dead. And he did. He does not leave His sheep at the mercy of the wolves or the world.

You know, it is important here to take a second and develop this picture he is painting.

Close your eyes for me for just a second.

Now, picture a bright green pasture.

Picture some sheep in it.

Now picture a shepherd coming over a small hill with a small sheep over his shoulders. Carrying it lovingly. Maybe even petting it slightly.

That is what a Good Shepherd looks like. He cares for his flock. He goes after those that wander off. He seeks the lost.

Open your eyes.

However, it is important to remember that this not the only picture we have of Jesus. We also have the picture form

Revelation 19:1–16 ESV

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

I would much rather face the “Good Shepherd” than the warrior from these verses.

Make no mistake though, we do face Him. We will face Him. Either as the shepherd or as the warrior.

That will largely depend of how you see the picture He paints in John chapter 10.

This is why we can go in and out with him. He died for our sins, so that we are forgiven and have access to God. And he was raised to be the great Shepherd of the sheep ().

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:Today. Alive. Leading us again and again to protection and pasture — life and abundant life.

Today. Alive. Leading us again and again to protection and pasture — and abundant life.

And the apex of that abundant life is the worship of Jesus Christ.

That’s where he has been taking us.

When he says I am the door; I am the Shepherd; I have authority to lay my life down, and as a dead man, I have the authority to take it up again, he is either insane or he is God.

And these things are written you may believe. I pray that you will. Come to him as your Door, your Shepherd, your Life.

John 20:31 ESV

but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 10:24–30 ESV

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “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. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

I pray that you will.

pray that you will.

Come to him as your Door, your Shepherd, your Life.