John Lesson 29

Introduction

Very pleasant good day, and welcome to Let the Bible Speak. We hope you’ll have a New Testament handy and that you’ll open with us to the reading in the Gospel of John. We’ve come to John chapter ten in our verse by verse study of this grand book, which gives to us the proof that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God. We encourage you to take your Bibles and open and read right along with us and study together, verse by verse. We call the pilgrim, Let the Bible speak. And the reason for calling it is that our intentions are, just as the program is entitled, to take the word of God for what it says without addition and without subtraction, and to understand it in its context.

That is, understanding what comes before as well as as what follows after, because the Bible does not contradict itself. And when we take a passage in its context, we come to the better understanding, in fact, the correct understanding of what that verse says. In John chapter ten, we have an allegory or an illustration that Jesus gives that is a well known illustration. It’s the one in which he described himself as the good shepherd, and even as the door of the sheepfold. It’s an important study. You have your testaments open in John chapter ten, I’m reading now, verses one through six. Where Jesus said, 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.

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he put it forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them, but they understood not what things they were, which he spake unto them. It’s interesting that in verse 6, the scripture, the King James Version from which I’m reading, describes this as a parable that Jesus spake. But actually the word here is not the common word that is translated parable in the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

In those books, the Greek word is parabola and literally means to throw alongside of. But in this passage there is a different word. It’s the Greek word paroima. And is is translated in other modern versions. In fact, uh it is the New American Standard Version that translates this a figure of speech. And the King New King James Version just simply says an illustration. And that’s really what it is. Actually, the Gospel of John does not have a parable in the sense that we find in the book of Matthew, for example. In those parables of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus will say the kingdom of heaven is like unto. And you have some describe an extended simile, where you have an illustration, and thrown alongside of that illustration the truth.

And so you have a comparison, like or as.

1. The Sheep Know the Shepherd’s Voice

For example, we have to determine in this context who is the shepherd. What is he talking about, the sheepfold? And what is the door? And who is the flock? What is he talking about? Well, Jesus does give us some explanation, but he he doesn’t use it in the same sense that he has in the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John, really, the book of John contains no parables, as we have in the other books. But there is a significant illustration that Jesus does use here. It is something that the people of Palestine well understood. There are many of us who are not familiar with sheep and and a and a flock and and and even a sheepfold, but but to the people to whom Jesus was speaking, they understood the illustration.

He compared, of course, the his being the door of a sheep and his being the good shepherd to a time or an occasion where out in the open field there would be a sheepfold. Now, a sheepfold was simply a roofless enclosure. It was a place where there might be several flocks that would be gathered at nighttime, for example. Different shepherds would bring their different flocks, and and into this one fold or one sheepfold, one enclosure, they would all go for the night. And the porter or the gatekeeper, of course, would then be in charge. There would be an entrance, in and out, a gate. But then perhaps the next day, when the different shepherds would come, he would call to a sheep. Now, sheep follow a shepherd.

And they know the voice of their shepherd, and the shepherd know his own sheep. A sheep would not follow a strange voice. He would only follow that voice of his own shepherd. And you may notice there’s some parallels throughout the Bible, of course, that that uh that God is as our shepherd. And Jesus Christ is indeed the true shepherd. And we are the sheep, and we are as his flock, a combination of us, but we must follow his voice to be his sheep. We would not want to listen to voices that are strange. In fact, when you have some preachers today who come along and they began to think that if they’re going to be effective teachers, they’ve got to give something new and some unique message, and they give a message other than the words of Jesus Christ, then the true sheep of the Lord will not follow those men.

The true sheep of the Lord who believe in him will indeed reject those kind, the false shepherds. Indeed, it is important to notice also that the shepherds today, those who are elders of a local congregation, have a responsibility to know the flock, and they have a responsibility to lead that flock. And the flock will follow so long as they are sounding the words of the great shepherd or the good shepherd, Jesus Christ. There is indeed a significant warning here. What Jesus is doing is making a comparison to the religious leaders of his day. There were those who, as we close John chapter 9, you may recall, the Pharisees who had rejected the testimony of the man born blind. The man who had said that Jesus was a prophet of God and that indeed he must be of God because he had he had healed him of his blindness.

And these Pharisees who did not really want to acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus said, You are blind. And the man who was born blind but now was given sight is really able to see not only physically, but he’s also able to see spiritually, because he has accepted Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. There are some who, when they hear the gospel, are made blind by it, by their stubborn wills, by their prejudiced hearts, they will not receive it, and they are blinded. On the other hand, there are those whose hearts are open and honest, and when they hear the word of God, they’re willing to accept it and to believe it. But it is important not only to have honest hearts of those who would hear the gospel, it is important that there be honest shepherds.

There be leaders who will teach the truth and only the truth. Israel itself, as a physical nation, had gone into captivity. They had had some bad times as you look back in their history from the time of Moses to the time of Christ. And the reason is because they had some false shepherds who were leading them. Even today in the church, there are many who are not fulfilling their role as shepherds like they should be.

Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, you clothe you with wool. You kill them that are fed, but you feed not the flock. When men today have responsibility to feed God’s flock, and they are thinking only about themselves, their position and their prominence and preeminence, and they’re not concerned about the souls of the flock, then they are like the shepherds that the Lord is speaking of in Ezekiel 34. And he says, Woe be unto you. In verse 5 of Ezekiel 34, he says, They were scattered because there is no shepherd, and they became meat to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill. Yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

When people of the flock of God go astray, do the shepherds go looking for them? In Israel’s history there was a time when the shepherds were not doing as they should. They did not go searching for the sheep when they would go astray. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord, he said. As I live, said the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and fed not my flock. Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. Thus said 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.

2. I Am the Door of the Sheep

Neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more, or I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meet for them. There are times where we should turn back to the Old Testament and glean some lessons when they are parallel to our own times. And indeed, as we look to the history of Israel, as they went astray because shepherds did not do their work, then that can happen again. Let’s learn a lesson. Jesus is the good shepherd, but even then today need to feed the flock, and the flock need to know the shepherds and hear their voice and follow them as they instruct in the word of God. But now let’s continue reading in John chapter ten, after Jesus has given this illustration, in verse 7, then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. It’s one of the lovely verses of the book of John, where in verse 7 Jesus said, I am the door, the sheep. Literally he’s talking about this fold. And as the fold or the enclosure, the sheep fold, had a door, and all the sheep would go in and out that door, so it is that Jesus really says, I am the way. I am the door. If you want to enter into a place of security, if you want to enter into a place of peace and comfort, then come through Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of John has seven I am stated by Jesus. You may recall we’ve been in earlier lesson pointed out some of these. For example, in John chapter 6 and verse 35, Jesus said, I am the bread of life. If you want really food that last unto eternity, then come to Jesus Christ. He said in John chapter 8 and verse 12, I am the light of the world. He is the way to illuminate the truth, and only through him can the truth be known. Now in this passage in John 10 and 7, I am the door of the sheep. And in verse 11, we’ll read where he said, I am the good shepherd. In the next chapter, John 11, verse 25, at the resurrection of Lazarus, he said, I am the resurrection and the life.

But in John 14 and 6, one of the most significant ones, when he said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father except by me. He is the only way of salvation. And then in John 15 and verse 1, where he said, I am the true vine. Jesus Christ made some bold assertions. And as we pointed out in studying the gospel of John, either we must accept him for what he claimed to be, the Son of God, the only way, or else he he was a liar and he was a fraud. There is no in between. People who want to say Jesus was was simply a good man and he gave some moral values that are worth following, and yet they deny him to be God, the Son of God, deity and in nature and being, those kind of people really cannot accept Jesus for what he claimed.

3. Life, and That More Abundantly

He could not be a good man if he lied. And he made some bold assertions. He claimed, I am the door. I am the only way, the truth and the life. You want to come to the Father, then you must accept Jesus for what he for what he is. Now, reading further in verse 10, the thief cometh not but for to kick to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. Now in his illustration, he talked about how thieves and robbers do not go through the door. They may climb over that enclosure someplace where they might be unsuspected. And he said their interest is not for the sheep. They are interested only in themselves, and so they will steal, and they will kill and they will destroy in a selfish manner.

But he said, I am the one who brings true peace. I am the door, and I am the good shepherd. It is through Jesus Christ that there is life. And notice he says that more abundantly. Jesus Christ came to give eternal life. As John 3 and verse 16 says, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. So it is Christ came to give us real life, eternal life. But notice it is not only in the world to come. I believe that when he says, I came to give life and that more abundantly, that even in this world, there is the real meaning of living for those who have the joy and the peace that is in Christ Jesus.

Life in this world takes on new meaning. And you know, in Jesus in the Beatitudes we call them in Matthew 5 and verse 5, said, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Those who follow the characteristics of the kingdom, who indeed incorporate into their lives the attitudes and the lifestyle of a Christian. They are the ones who learn to live on this earth to the fullest. They’re the ones who understand the real meaning of this world. We know where we came from, and we know where we’re going, and therefore we understand how to live now, with a view of eternity. Like in Ecclesiastes chapter 12, verses 13 and 14, the writer said that the conclusion of the whole matter, the way to really live, is to fear God and to keep his commandments.

For this is the whole of man. God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be bad. We understand there’s a judgment day coming. And preparing for death and preparing for eternity, we understand how to live this life. But you know, when you live with death in view, and prepared for judgment and death, prepared for eternity, then there comes a different sense of how to live this life. You know, Paul in Philippians chapter 4, verses 6 and 7 spoke about don’t be worried. In nothing, be anxious. But he said, in everything, by prayer and thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. And he talked about the peace of God that surpasseth all understanding. Paul was writing that from a prison cell, and yet he could speak about joy and could speak about peace.

4. The Good Shepherd and the Hireling

He understood the abundant life, how to live life to the fullest. On over in chapter 4 of Philippians, verses 11 through thirteen. He could say, I have learned in whatever state I am therewith to be content. I am in control of my life. In verse thirteen, he said, I’ve learned that through Christ, who strengtheneth me I can do all things. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. I’ll tell you the Christian. He not only has the promise of life everlasting, but he understands that with that promise that he also has the fullest and the best life even here. He has life and that more abundantly. But now continuing in John chapter ten, verses eleven through fourteen. Jesus said, I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is in hireling and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth, and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth because he is in hiring and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. There are some hirelings. Hirlings are those who are concerned only about lining their own pockets. They’re not really concerned about the truth and and defending God’s way. They’re not really concerned about the sheep and eternal life. They’re hirelings. The religious leaders to whom Jesus was speaking really were hirelings. They claimed to be the religious leaders. They claimed to be shepherds of God’s flock, but they were not really concerned about God’s flock like a shepherd ought to be.

Jesus, in contrast, proved his love because he died for them. Even today, there are men who who prey on unsuspecting sheep. They talk about love and with a smile they preach and and they are popular, and the multitudes follow them, and they line their pockets with the with the people who would send to help support their ministry. But those same men do not have the courage of conviction to defend the truth. Whenever false doctrine is preached, they’ll just simply say, Well, it doesn’t matter what you believe. Or they will go around it and and skirt facing those false issues and and just simply say, Well, you know, it it doesn’t matter. They speak about love. But one who really loves God’s people, one who really loves God’s people will love the truth because he’ll love God.

In fact, Jesus uh warned through the word of God that that there will be false prophets, and beware of them. In first John chapter 4 and verse 1, the apostle said, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God, for many false prophets are gone in the world. There are some hirelings out there. Beware of them. You test what they preach by the book. You take the word of God, let it speak, and you test them. Just because they smile and talk about love does not mean they are a true true shepherd. In 2 John verse 9, he said, Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God. A man must abide in the doctrine of Christ to have the Father and the Son.

5. Other Sheep: One Fold and One Shepherd

In Galatians 1, verses 6 through 8, he said, Beware, if any man preach any other gospel than that which we preach, let him be accursed. Jesus therefore not only contrasted the false teachers of his day, but he left us an illustration, even for our own day, throughout ages to come. Hirlings will leave the sheep whenever there is any kind of of test or danger approaching. But now look in verses 14, uh verses 15 through sixteen, where he said, As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

Other sheep I have that are not of this flock. It is interesting that in this passage there are many who come with a new and unique gospel or a different message, and they like to latch on to this verse. Whenever they have some message that is not common to the first century Christians, they like to use this one because as though Jesus was talking about other sheep, as though there’s something else than what you read here. For example, our Jehovah’s Witnesses, friend, I can tell us there are two classes of God’s people. They talk about the kingdom class. They say there are only a hundred and forty-four thousand in that class, and that’s really pretty much taken up. They’re the only ones who are going to go to heaven.

And then they’ll try to tell us there’s another group of people called a multitude, no man can number, and they’re going to be on a perfected earth. Now the other sheep they say Jesus was talking about was that kingdom class, and most of us won’t make that. So they’ve got a new doctrine, really one far into the scripture, but this is their verse to prove it. Likewise the Mormons come along, and our Mormon friends like to tell us, well, the other sheep Jesus meant were the American Indians. And that uh they said the book of Mormon gives us the history about those American Indians, and here’s a passage they like to use, the other sheep. Jesus didn’t have in mind either the 144,000 class of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, nor was he talking about the American Indians.

But rather Jesus Christ was talking to a people who were Israelites in the flesh. And the Israelites thought they were the only ones who were in the fold of God. Because they were direct descendants of Abraham, they considered themselves to be the only ones. But Jesus is saying, Look, there are some other sheep besides just Israelites, and I’ll bring them into this fold. And and they will come into this fold, and there’ll be one flock, and there’ll be one shepherd. There’s not going to be a Jew church and a church for others. These other sheep I have, really he was talking about Gentiles. Gentiles are those who who later obeyed the gospel were the ones who came into this one fold. For example, in Ephesians chapter 2, in verses 11 through 16, the apostle there spoke about how that in Christ Jesus both Jew and Gentile are made one.

He said, Wherefore remember that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision, but that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands, that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who have made both one, and have broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances for to make himself a plain or two, one new man, so making peace.

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. What he says in this passage of Ephesians chapter 2 is that that Jew and Gentile who were separated as two through through the generations of time from Moses, now in Christ Jesus the two will be made as one. There will be peace. And when Jesus in John 10 alluded to this fact, he said, There are other sheep. And he speaks in terms that he you there would be those who would obey, and as though it was a matter already assured, these other sheep I will bring. There’s not going to be a Jew church and a Gentile church, but these two will be brought together in one. Now there’s another lesson we ought to glean from John 10 and verse 16.

You may notice that Jesus says that they will be of this fold. Jesus has already said, I am the door. There is one fold, and there is one door, Jesus Christ. But then he says they should be made one flock. Just as there is the one shepherd, Jesus Christ, the good shepherd, there is one flock. The Bible doesn’t talk about, or Jesus did not here talk about two different flocks, 144,000 class, etc., and an earthly class. He said there’s one, and I am the door to that fold. There is one flock, and I am the shepherd of that flock. Only one. Neither did he talk about several different churches. Take your pick. He did not preach that either. In fact, the Bible in Ephesians chapter 1, verses 22 and 23 speak about the church as being the body of Jesus Christ.

And just as Jesus Christ does not have several bodies, neither does he have several churches. In Ephesians 1, I’m reading now, verses 22 and 3, where the scripture says that God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. The church is his body. Does he have several bodies? Surely not. There’s unity in the church that you read about in the Bible. In Ephesians chapter 4, verses 4 to 7, he says, There is one body and one spirit, even as you’re called and one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.

6. I Lay Down My Life

Jesus Christ desired there to be unity. He did not preach a doctrine, several different churches or several different flocks, but there is one shepherd, and there should be one flock. And the Bible confirms that. In New Testament times, there was but one. There should be unity today. If shepherds were preaching the gospel, they’d preach that there’d be unity in the religious world. Well let’s continue in verses 17 and 18, where in John 10 he said, Therefore doth my father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down on myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Oh, what a significant statement when Jesus could say that my Father loves me because I laid it down. Now I could take it again. What that says is that Jesus willingly gave himself. The Father so loved us that he gave his only begotten Son. But Jesus Christ Himself could have taken it back. Jesus Christ Himself willingly died. You remember Matthew 26 and verse 53, where he said, even he could have called twelve legions of angels who would have come and delivered him from the cross. He died because he loved us too. And also he taught us a lesson of obedience, as Hebrews 5 verses 8 and 9 says, Though we were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. Being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.

Conclusion

He was willing to obey the commandment of God that he might be a savior for you. Are you willing to obey the commandment of God like Christ that you might be saved? May God bless us that we will. May He keep you until our study again.