The
Good Shepherd
Book
of John Chapter 10
Before
we start Chapter 10, we need to look back to Chapter 9.
Joh
9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these
words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh
9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin:
but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Jesus
had just boldly said that He was the Son of God and some truly
believed, but the Pharisees and the High Priest and those close to
them rejected everything that Jesus had said.
These
are the same men who had all the Scriptures, who spent much time
studying the Scriptures and swore to abide by them.
These
men were not blind to what Jesus was saying, in fact some them
believed that Jesus could be who He said He was.
These
men just refused to give up their places of leadership and thought
that they could resist God.
These
same foolish men still exist today, and they will exist when Jesus
returns and then they will be no more, till in the end when they will
face the Lord again at the White Throne Judgment.
These
men were followers of Satan, even if they did not know this was true.
They
clung to their sin so tightly that no one could deprive them of it.
What
is said of Satan?
1Pe
5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe
5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Jesus
told these evil men that if they did not know the Word of God, they
would have believed but because they knew so much of the Scriptures
and had so many means of knowing the truth and rejected the truth,
then there was no hope for them and Jesus continues in Chapter 10.
*****Joh
10:1 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.
If
we look at the original Greek manuscripts, we will see that the word
used for "thief" is the same word used for "Judas"
and the same word used for "robber" is used to describe
"Barabbas".
Jesus
begins with a passage much like a parable and a parable is an earthly
story that has a Heavenly meaning.
This
lesson boldly states that it is Jesus Christ who is "the door"
of the sheepfold and we will see this soon.
The
sheep fold will one day include most all the Jews but at this time
the sheep fold is the Church.
Those
who try to enter the Church by some means other that Jesus Christ
become as a thief and a robber and as the trained servants of Satan!
Jesus
was probably looking straight into the eyes of these Temple leaders
as He said these words.
Most
of these men only thought of shepherds as the low-lives of society
and had nothing to do to them. A true shepherd was with his flock 7
days a week.
We
could say that Jesus was also pointing out what a true Church leader
should be. These who were before Him knew nothing of caring for God's
people!
We
should clearly understand that God does not deal with us a General
over a His great army, the Lord deals with us a Shepherd over his
valuable flock!
In
this parable the sheepfold is the place where the Lord keeps His
sheep.
This
parable will deal with the false shepherd and the true Shepherd.
The
true Shepherd is Jesus Christ and the false shepherds are all those
opposed to Jesus Christ!
Mat
7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad
is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go
in threat:
Mat
7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
No
one can get inside the pen where the sheep are kept unless they come
through the Door and that Door is the Lord Jesus Christ.
*****Joh
10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep.
Joh
10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he
calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
We
should understand that a flock of sheep are led by the shepherd and
the shepherd’s boy will bring up the rear.
When
there is a journey that shepherd's boy will lead the sheep while the
shepherd drives the sheep.
When
darkness comes the sheep are herded into enclosures to keep them safe
and the shepherd becomes the door to enter into that enclosure.
Nothing gets by the shepherd to cause harm to the sheep.
The
Shepherd knows each and every one of his sheep and the sheep know
him.
It
is sin for Christian people to suppose that they are just part of a
crowd. The Lords knows each child of God as a shepherd knows his
sheep!
In
fact the Lord knows each of us so well that He knows when one hair on
our head has fallen out or if we stumped our toe while walking.
God
also does not so much convert the masses as He deals with us one on
one.
The
Lord Jesus wants a personal relationship and we can have one with Him
if we just accept Him as the truth!
In
the short time the Lord spent upon this earth in the flesh, He
personally felt every infirmity that we deal with and so He knows
what we are going through in every situation.
Note:
Christ even felt what it like to be hated by other people even by
some His own family for a time!
Christ
does not just know something about us, He knows all about us and He
makes the effort to know more that He can help us through this life
until He takes us home to present us to His Father.
Note:
Christ does not watch over us as if we are in a prison. We are never
treated as slaves even though Christ purchased us from the
slave-market of sin. Christ treats us members of His own family and
He is our older Brother.
Note:
Christ is the true Shepherd of the Christian sheep and the Holy
Spirit is then the Porter or the Doorkeeper.
As
sheep, the Christian will listen for the call of the Shepherd and He
knows our name and we will follow and obey the Shepherd.
We
should understand that the Lord deals with us individually. The only
time the Lord will call us as a group is at the "Rapture"
of the Church.
The
truth of the Shepherd:
Psa
23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa
23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me
beside the still waters.
Psa
23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name's sake.
Psa
23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
Psa
23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa
23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
If
we do not know these things, then we are subject to be led by a false
shepherd.
*****Joh
10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them,
and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh
10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him:
for they know not the voice of strangers.
Once
we know the Lord as our Redeemer, we will know His voice and we will
never forget the sound of His voice.
We
must trust the voice of the Lord. He will speak to us through the
Holy Spirit just as we speak to Him through the Holy Spirit.
Joh
8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he
shall never see death.
Our
true Shepherd does not just go before us as some man, but He goes
before us with all the power of God.
1Jn_5:10
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he
that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not
the record that God gave of his Son.
When
the Lord puts forth His sheep none are ever left behind, and He will
feed them with the truth.
When
a false shepherd puts forth his sheep it is to rid himself of
trouble, making merchandise of them.
2Pe_2:3
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make
merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not,
and their damnation slumbereth not.
The
true Christian will never follow a stranger whom they do not know as
a Christian.
Joh
8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he
shall never see death.
Those
who do not put forth the truth of the Scriptures are all strangers
and have nothing of God within them!
What
is the path of the stranger? Humanism, materialism, worldliness,
fame, false religion, false science, false philosophy.
We
are to flee from these things!
Again
we see a parable that these Pharisees could not understand so Jesus
explains this parable to them.
*****Joh
10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not
what things they were which he spake unto them.
Without
the Holy Spirit who abides in each believer, these things cannot be
understood.
Pro
28:5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD
understand all things.
If
we can see the truth, then we can see that these things are a
fulfillment of prophecy.
Isa
6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but
understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Isa
6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy,
and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be
healed.
Jesus
continues to teach the truth that these men would not accept.
*****Joh
10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh
10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the
sheep did not hear them.
Jesus
begins with "Listen to Me, these things are very
important"(verily,verily)
Jesus
explains that He is not only the Shepherd, but He is also the Door.
Maybe
the most important thing in this parable, (some say proverb) is that
we must understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Door to the
sheepfold or we could say "The Church"!
The
fact of this is that the sheep cannot leave without confronting the
Door and enemies could not enter without going through the Door which
is impossible.
Joh
14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Notice
in verse 8 the "I Am". When the Lord says "I Am"
we know He is Jehovah or Yahweh!
Who
are those thieves and robbers?
Mat
7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat
7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat
7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat
7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat
7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and
cast into the fire.
Mat
7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
By
knowing these about these things, we should never be fooled by them!
All
those who disagree with what the Lord is saying here need to get a
true Bible and study and believe!
The
Lord's sheep will never be sheared again but those who follow a false
prophet or priest, or false pastor will be sheared over and over
again!
All
those who reject the Lord as the Messiah, as Lord, as the True
Shepherd, as our Redeemer cannot come through the Door where the
sheep of the Lord are located.
Their
message is a message of plunder and murder, they will not have a
message from Heaven and God the Father because they cannot know Him!
1Co
2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God.
1Co
2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual.
1Co
2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of
God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
*****Joh
10:9 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
Lord Jesus Christ is the only Door to salvation.
Act
4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
He
Lord is the "Door":
1Ti
2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti
2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth.
1Ti
2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus;
1Ti
2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
He
is also the Shepherd:
Isa
40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm
shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work
before him.
Isa
40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the
lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently
lead those that are with young.
He
is also the Pasture.
Jer
3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which
shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
His
Pasture contains not only the "Bread of Life" but also the
"Water of Life"!
Joh_4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall
never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a
well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Joh_6:35
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to
me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst.
Notice
again, no one enters except by the Lord. (by Me).
*****Joh
10:10 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.
Again
Jesus is blunt when He says all those who say there is another way
get to Heaven are just "thieves" and "robbers".
The only thing that they know to do is to kill and destroy.
Some
just want the wool which is all the things of value.
Next,
they will want the life of each sheep.
Life
is the power behind our being!
Even
as Christians we cling to life not willing to let go and there is
nothing particularly wrong with this, as long as we know that true
life comes after the death of our flesh.
True
life is the deliverance from condemnation and death!
True
life is forever.
True
life is satisfaction.
True
life is security.
True
life is enjoyment.
True
life is found only in God!
True
life comes only by Jesus Christ!
True
life begins when we are filled and sealed by the Holy Spirit!
Gal
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal
5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal
5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.
Gal
5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal
5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another,
envying one another.
*****Joh
10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for
the sheep.
Jesus
Christ is our Perfect Shepherd and He knows we cannot be left alone
so He will care for us all our days.
Jesus
is the good Shepherd because He gave His life for His sheep!
Jesus
is the Great Shepherd!
Heb
13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our
Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of
the everlasting covenant,
Heb
13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in
you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to
whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus
Christ is the "Ideal" Shepherd
Isa
49:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that
are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and
their pastures shall be in all high places.
Isa
49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor
sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even
by the springs of water shall he guide them.
Jesus
Christ is the Shepherd of our souls:
1Pe
2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed.
1Pe
2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto
the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Who
are those that are false leaders of God's people?
*****Joh
10:12 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.
Joh
10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not
for the sheep.
There
are many of these "hirelings" behind the pulpits today.
They
are men and women who are hired who care not for the children of God
but they are more like the mercenary who will leave when things look
bad because they serve only their own interest!
These
men and women who are wolves in sheep's clothing who spend their time
attacking the Christian faith.
They
attack Christian liberty.
They
attack the Christian life.
A
wolf will capture some and scatter the rest intentionally destroying
the flock of God and those that follow them are just as bad!
The
hireling will never defend the cause of Jesus Christ!
*****Joh
10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of
mine.
Joh
10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay
down my life for the sheep.
Jesus
Christ is the owner of all the Christian sheep.
They
were "given" to Him by His Father.
He
is the Creator of all things and He "created" the Church
and His flock.
Jesus
laid down His life for His sheep and the Christian sheep are "paid
for with His own blood".
In
a day that is close by, Jesus will "Redeem" His sheep and
take them home to a New Heaven.
This
is why His sheep know Him. He knows my name and your name if you love
Him.
What
is on the mind of Jesus Christ today? His sheep.
Every
thought of the Lord is always on His sheep every day.
He
is concerned about our joy and our happiness.
He
is concerned about our trials and our sorrows.
He
is there to pick us up when we stumble or if we stray from the path.
He
is concerned about or needs and our wants.
Jesus
keeps His mind on His sheep every moment we live and is waiting with
open arms when He takes us home.
This
is why the Rapture is guaranteed, so the world will know that Lord
has redeemed His sheep and then proof that those left behind chose
wrong.
Because
those left behind all got an opportunity to know the Savior!
*****Joh
10:16 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.
As
the Lord was speaking to the Jews of course, these other sheep would
be of the Gentiles, that includes us who here today.
This
included all other nations and every generation until Jesus returns!
Rom
10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for
the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved.
In
the end there will be only one church!
There
will be only one flock of sheep because there is only one Savior who
is also the true Shepherd!
That
word "must", is very important. It means Christ Jesus is
compelled by His Father to reach out to the Gentile sheep!
There
are not Jews nor Gentiles, there are only Believers!
*****Joh
10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life,
that I might take it again.
Joh
10:18 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.
Had
Jesus not died we would all still have our sin.
Had
Jesus not arose from the dead we would still have our sin!
Our
Good Shepherd sacrificed His life for our sin to become the Perfect
Shepherd!
The
Fathers infinite love for His Son would not allow for Him to stay
dead.
It
is because of the Son's infinite love for His sheep that He arose
from that death.
We
must realize that Jesus as the Son of God could not die.
This
passage means, it was Christ's human life that died, and Christ had
to take on that human life again in order that we be saved.
Christ
was still in that human life when He ascended even though it was
glorified to teach that we will certainly be like Him when we meet
Him!
Jesus
Christ will free us from death by providing eternal life to each and
every believer!
If
Jesus had not taken up that human life again, then we would still be
lost in this dying world.
1Co
15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in
your sins.
1Co
15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1Co
15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men
most miserable.
So
we see that our Father in Heaven not only sent His Son to die but to
also rise from that death.
Joh
17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and
said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also
may glorify thee:
Joh
17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh
17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
We
know that our Father in Heaven has given us the choice to follow Him
or not and Jesus had this same choice. Jesus could have said no and
just went back to Heaven, but had He done so then as far as truth
goes there would be no God at all.
The
Scriptures must be fulfilled just as they are written, or we would
have nothing to to put our "Faith" because remember this
plan was conceived before creation week began.
So,
all these things being true it should increase our "faith".
1Jn
3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in
him is no sin.
1Pe
2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed.
Jesus
did all these things to glorify His Father another example for us to
do the same!
Amen
Let's
Pray!
