JOHN LESSON 29
We will begin this lesson in John 10:1.
V-1, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the
door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a
thief and a robber."
V-2, "But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep."
We see here, the Shepherd is Jesus and his sheep are the
believers in Christ Jesus. This seems to be speaking about these
religious leaders (those who do not come in by the door). Jesus is
the Door. These Pharisees and Jewish rulers did not believe in Him,
so they are trying to get in some other way. Those who know the voice
of the Shepherd (Jesus Christ) come in by the door which is, also,
Jesus.
V-3, "To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice;
and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out."
V-4, "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before
them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice."
The way is open to Jesus since He is the Way, the Door, also.
The followers of Jesus will not follow another. The followers of
Jesus know the voice of their Master. They are not deceived into
following another. The great Shepherd is Jesus. There are shepherds
under Jesus who tend to a specific flock until the great Shepherd
calls. This would be speaking of ministers who Jesus has set over a
portion of His flock, to care for them. The great Shepherd is Jesus.
He is the one the sheep are really following.
V-5, "And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from
him: for they know not the voice of strangers."
A true Christian will not be deceived and follow after a false
prophet, because they will be well trained by the Word of God. They
will be well versed in the Scriptures and will not listen to sermons
that please the flesh.
V-6, "This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood
not what things they were which he spake unto them."
These Pharisees could not understand a parable and that is why
Jesus spoke in a parable. He knew they would not understand what He
was saying. They looked only at the literal message. They did not
understand the deeper meanings that could only be understood by the
spirit.
V-7, "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, I am the door of the sheep."
Jesus is giving the interpretation of what He had said before,
but they will not understand this either. He explains, here, that He
is the door that leads to eternal life. His sheep will go through
this door to heaven.
V-8, "All that ever come before me are thieves and robbers: but
the sheep did not hear them."
Jesus is speaking of those who came on their own without being
called. During this time, there had been many false prophets and
false gods. I believe that is what is referred to here.
V-9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
The only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ. He is the
Door. This is speaking of that great pasture or resting place in
heaven. Jesus is still speaking in a way that the Pharisees and
Jewish leaders will not understand.
V-10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly."
The thief, mentioned here, is the devil. Satan's mission is to
steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus' mission is to bring everlasting life
to those who will accept it. His wish is that His followers will be
in good health and prosper as their soul prospers. Jesus' plan for us
to have life more abundantly is for us to put Him first, and then all
these good things will be added to us.
V-11, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep."
Many ministers of the gospels are shepherds; but there is only
one good Shepherd, and His name is Jesus. We know that Jesus gave His
life on Calvary to save those who will follow Him (be His sheep). The
concern of the good Shepherd is the care and feeding of the sheep.
Jesus alone is the good Shepherd.
V-12, "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose
own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep,
and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep."
In Ezekiel chapter 34, we read about these hireling shepherds
(ministers). Ezekiel 34:1, "And the word of the Lord came unto me
saying," V-2, "Son of man prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,
prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the
shepherds: Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves!
should not the shepherds feed the flocks?" Go on and read all of
chapter 34 of Ezekiel, and you will see just what happens to shepherds
who do not take care of God's sheep but are only interested in taking
care of their own needs. In this Scripture that says Israel, it means
all who are God's, whether they are of the physical house of Israel or
the spiritual house of Israel (Christian). Look especially at
Ezekiel 34:10, "Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the
shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them
to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed
themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth,
that they may not be meat for them." We see here, that God will
remove these ministers who are not giving the true Word of God. This
type of minister will lose his job and won't be able to make a living
from the ministry. Worse than that, God will hold them responsible
for the sheep they deceived. Read the whole chapter over and over,
and you will see the churches in our day in this.
V-13, "The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth
not for the sheep."
Some ministers in our day fall into this category (thank the
precious Lord, not many). Some one who is a minister because of the
salary he or she gets has no business being a minister. Of course,
everyone knows they have to live, but their first an d primary reason
should be to help the sheep (members). Someone who is just working
for money will quit and go home when problems arise, but someone
dedicated to their people and their God will stay in there and protect
the flock.
V-14, "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of
mine."
Just as any good shepherd knows each of his sheep, Jesus knows
each of His. His sheep know His voice and will follow Jesus wherever
He goes. That is the best way to tell if they belong to Jesus, do
they hear His Word and follow Him?
V-15, "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and
I lay down my life for the sheep."
Jesus is explaining, here, His relationship to the Father. The
Father knows and approves of everything Jesus is doing. Jesus has
lived His life in the will of the Father. Just before Jesus was
carried away to die for our sins on the cross, He said to the Father,
"Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Jesus was totally
committed to the will of the Father even unto death.
V-16, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be
one fold, and one shepherd."
We see here, that Jesus is speaking of the Gentiles who will
believe and follow Him along with the Jews who follow Him. A Gentile
who follows Jesus is grafted into the tree of Jesus Christ. They are
adopted, if you will. The Jews are the natural b ranches. Jew or
Gentile, who follows Jesus are Christians of Israel. Jesus is one, so
Jew and Gentile believers are one in Christ. Jesus is the Shepherd
of both.
V-17, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my
life, that I might take it again."
V-18, "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I
have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father."
This Scripture above renounces the teaching that is prevalent in
our day that Jesus was subject to the devil. Jesus, at no time (even
hanging on the cross), was subject to anyone. Jesus, of His own free
will, hung on the cross for you and me. He n ever was out of control
of the situation. He, also, of His own free will brought His body out
of the grave on resurrection morning. He lay His life down, and He
took it up again with His own will. No one took Jesus' life, He gave
it. He went into hell (not to suffer) but to victoriously take the
keys from Satan and to preach and bring captivity captive out of hell.
Jesus was in control of the situation all the way through. They could
not have even taken Him, had He not been willing. He could have
blinded them, as He had done before, and walked right past them.
V-19, "There was a division therefore again among the Jews for
these sayings."
V-20, "And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why
hear ye him?"
V-21, "Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a
devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?"
Jesus stirred them up. He told them of things that they knew
none of them could do. As we said before, if they did not understand,
some of them just said He has a devil. Others were convinced, not
only by the fact that He gave sight to the blind, but by what He said,
as well.
Notes
John 29 Questions
1. What two things are the ones who climb up some other way, and do
not come by the door called?
2. Who enters in at the door?
3. Who is this Shepherd?
4. Why do the sheep follow Him?
5. Who are known as shepherds, also?
6. Why will the sheep run from anyone besides the Shepherd?
7. In what way did Jesus speak to them that they would not
understand?
8. Who is the door?
9. Who did Jesus say, the others who had come were?
10. Jesus said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall
be __________________________________."
11. What does the thief come to do? (three things)
12. Jesus said, "...I am come that they might have ________________."
13. Jesus is the good Shepherd, what did He do for His sheep?
14. What is the one who leaves the sheep when troubles come called?
15. What Book of the Old Testament explains about these shepherds who
abandon their sheep?
16. Why does the hireling flee?
17. Who lays down His life for the sheep?
18. What was meant in verse 16 about other sheep?
19. Who took Jesus' life?
20. Jesus had power to ____________________________________________
and ____________________________________________________________.
21. How did the Jews accept this message from Jesus?
22. Can a ______________________________ open the eyes of the blind?
Notes
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