I am the good shepherd

John 10:1-21

Key Verse 10:11

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

This passage teaches us "the way of shepherding". 

1. Read vs. 1-2. Jesus says that the one who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate is a thief and a robber. What is it for one to enter the sheep pen "by the gate" (7; Mark 9:37; Gal 2:20; Isa 43:4)? What does this passage teach us about the first condition a good shepherd must satisfy?

** It means to die to oneself, and live to Jesus Christ, so that one would render oneself as Jesus' servant. 

** He must first be a good Christian. [Christian = a man belonging to Christ]

Notice that anyone who is not born of Jesus and does not live for the name's sake of Jesus is already a thief and a robber, for everyone is born selfish, and therefore even without himself knowing it, ends up serving one's own interests at the sacrifice of the interests of others. 

2. Read vs. 3-5. What do the following expressions tell us about the way of shepherding?: 

1) The watchman opens the gate for him; 

2) The sheep listen to his voice;

3) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out; 

4) He goes on ahead of them; 

5) His sheep follow him; 

6) They know his voice; and

7) They never follow a stranger.

** He enters only upon the door being opened for him. Notice that it is the watchman (someone other than himself desiring to get in) who opens the door for him. This reminds us of Jesus who stands at the door "knocking". Rev 3:20.

** The shepherd must have God's word, for it is the message (of God) that saves man's life. 

** The shepherd must understand sheep's character. 

** The shepherd must set an example. Sheep is not to be "pushed" from behind but "led" by an example. 

** The word "him" suggests the "totality" of shepherding -- totality in the sense of a shepherd putting his total person out on a pedestal for a sheep to take a look at and copy from. 

** The word "voice" tells us the importance of "communication" (or conversation) between a shepherd and a sheep, until an intimate 'knowing' relationship is built up.

** The word "never" or "stranger" indicates that a shepherd must be a good "friend" to his sheep. 

3. Read vs. 6-10. What do the following words show us about the purpose of shepherding?:

1) Whoever enters through me will be saved;

2) He will come in and go out and find pasture; and

3) I have come that they have life and have it to the full. 

How is this purpose contrasted with the purpose for which the thief comes? 

** The purpose is salvation via a personal relationship with the Christ. 

The expression "enters 'through'" indicates the importance of knowing Jesus thoroughly, and thereby committing oneself fully to Christ, to the point of forming a unity with Him. 

The word "saved" embraces the idea of "perfect redemption" of all fallen men and the world. 

** The means to build one's relationship with Christ and thereby secure salvation is via the word of God. A shepherd teaches the word, sheep accepts the word, and thereby the knowledge of God through the word of God is secured. Read Psalms 119:25,37,107. 

** The ultimate purpose is to secure an abundant life. 

Notice the difference between "have life" and "have it to the full". The former refers to having a new life in the Lord while on this side of the grave, whereas the latter refers to the resurrected life in the Lord which we will receive as Jesus comes again. 

** This work of Jesus stands in contrast with what the devil does: steal, kill, and destroy. "Steal" indicates the means by which the devil ruins man's life, that is, via deception. "Kill" means spiritual death followed by physical death. "Destroy" means the destruction of man's soul in eternal condemnation after the physical death. 

4. Read vs. 11-13. How is the hired hand different from the good shepherd? The word "wolf" is repeated twice. What do the words like "wolf", "attacks", or "scatters" show us about the practical aspects of shepherding? 

** The difference is love. The shepherd loves sheep, but the hired hand does not. [Love in a godly sense, that is, the love that desires the highest good of the one whom you love]

** It is to go through a series of battles after battles against all kinds of enemies. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. 

5. Read v. 14. This passage describes two relationships. What puts the relationships together? How are the two relationships related to one another? What does this passage teach us about the way for a shepherd to keep his relationship with his sheep "right"? 

** Intimate knowledge even as in the case of a husband and a wife.

** One's relationship with God the Father is the key to maintaining the knowing relationship with one's sheep. Without the former the latter is not going to be possible, for after all it is God the Father who created everyone, so that it is through knowing the Creator that one can know the creation. 

** The word "know" is repeated four times, indicating that mutual knowledge is the key to keeping the relationship right. 

6. Read v. 15. Who are the "other" sheep? What does the expression "there shall be one flock under one shepherd" show us about Jesus' vision? 

** Gentiles. 

** His purpose is to build one big family under one Father.

7. Read vs. 16-21. This passage indicates that laying down one’s life for sheep is never a losing proposition. Why? 

** God rewards that person with a resurrected body plus a glorious, rich welcome into God's kingdom. Read 2 Peter 1:11 And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The end. 

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