The Shepherd, John 10

 Hanging around Jesus never gets boring. He just healed a man born blind (John 9). The religious leaders who should've rejoiced, instead rebuked, because He did it on a Sabbath.

Jesus let them know He came to open the eyes of the blind and show those who think they see, that they’re the ones that are blind. John 9:39-41.

He continued to speak straight into chapter ten. However, His topic changed to that of Shepherding. 

It’s possible, even likely, that Jesus was near the Sheep Gate on the north east side of the temple mount. If so, during the following discourse on shepherding, the bleat and smell of sheep would have permeated the atmosphere.

Why would He be there?

Remember the blind guy–who’s no longer blind? He got kicked out of church. The religious folks excommunicated him for speaking the Truth about Jesus. 

Lord help us to see and speak as clearly as the blind guy.

Then, Jesus found him at the end of chapter nine. Where else would the blind guy go except to some place familiar? Much of his life may have been spent by the Sheep Gate, at the pool of Bethesda, where blind and cripple folks would go. (John 5:2. Pool of Bethesda, Do You Want to Be Made Well? John 5:1-9).

So, Jesus, the Master of object lessons, may have heard the bleating, smelled the sheep, and launched into this sheep teaching. 

Jesus the True Shepherd

10:1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 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 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 

Those words from Jesus would have been common knowledge back then. 

The sheepfold within smelling distance was a strong fenced enclosure for holding sheep–many sheep. You might call it a Mutton Motel. 

A shepherd could “check-in” his sheep with the doorkeeper at the Mutton Motel, and then, go to town, hang out, have some lamb chops, get a good night’s rest at the Shepherd’s Inn, and then return to gather his sheep the next day. 

The doorkeeper would recognize the shepherd and open the door for him to go in and gather his sheep. Some sheep would flee, because they don’t know the shepherd. But the shepherd’s sheep know their shepherd’s voice, and they follow him out, to green pastures and still waters. 

Lord, help us know You, and hear as clearly as sheep.

The thief and robber refer to those who refuse to enter openly through the door; thinking they’re above the law, they jump the fence to get to the sheep for their own selfish desire. 

Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. John 10:6.

 Like the sheep that don’t know the Shepherd, they didn’t understand what Jesus was saying.

So, Jesus continues sheep training, with another illustration. This time, instead of speaking of a sheepfold in the city, a Mutton Motel, He depicts one in the country, we’ll call it a Country Corral.  

Jesus the Door of the Sheep

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:7-9.

Out in the countryside, where there’s no Mutton Motel, the shepherd would build a simple sheep pen, perhaps made of fieldstone. There would be an opening, but no door, no gate. The shepherd would lead his sheep in, and then, he’d lay across the opening, he’d be the door, the gate.

To protect and keep his sheep, he’d lay down his life, as bait.

To make it perfectly clear, Jesus came right out and said it—twice. I AM the door. He’s saying that there’s only One Door, I AM the only way to be saved.

The religious leaders of that day placed their oral law (their opinion and agenda) before, above, God’s law as written. Their God complex made them think no man could enter the Kingdom of God without going through them.

You know that same evil still exists. Just ask nine supreme court justices and seventy-million aborted babies.

Jesus says they, will go in and out and find pasture. 

Following the Good Shepherd leads to freedom, and provision.

Following the Good Shepherd, you have liberty to go in and out; you are not imprisoned.

Following the Good Shepherd, you find pasture. He leads to green pastures of provision, and still waters of satisfaction.

Next, Jesus sums it all up.

Jesus the Good Shepherd

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:10-11.

Jesus removes all sugar-coat, and exposes the real intent and purpose of your enemy; to steal, kill and destroy, you.

The battle is real and the enemy would win, except the Good Shepherd steps in. I’ve come so you can have Life, abundantly. I give My life for My sheep.

Notice, He mentioned, “life” twice; however, in the original text it was two different words.

The first one, is, zoe, meaning, the God kind of life. An abundant, eternal, life, fulfilling His Divine Eternal Purpose, walking in His presence, provision, and peace, forever.

The second one is psuché, this flesh and bone life and breath, the soul, the mind, will and emotion of this earthly life.

Jesus offered His earthly psuché life, to pay for our heavenly zoe life.   

Now, The Good Shepherd, rips off the mask and exposes the imposters for what they really are. Hirelings. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. Even worse, wolves in shepherd’s clothing.

12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

A shepherd stays. 

A hireling flees.

A shepherd prays, how can I feed the flock? 

The wolf preys, how can the flock feed me?

Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we pray that like good sheep, we'll be able to discern Your Voice from a stranger, and follow You, and no other. 

Prayer Requests:

Text or call: 612-554-2522

email: pray4measap@aol.com

Watch this sermon online: The Shepherd, John 10