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The Good Shepherd Discourse: John 10
The Good Shepherd Discourse: John 10
The tenth chapter of the Gospel of John presents one of the most profound and comforting self-revelations of Jesus Christ: the discourse of the Good Shepherd. Following the miraculous healing of the man born blind in chapter 9, Jesus uses a vivid, agrarian metaphor familiar to His audience to illustrate His unique relationship with His followers and His divine mission. This discourse reveals Jesus as the exclusive way to salvation, the sacrificial caregiver of His people, and the eternal protector of His sheep.
Jesus: The Door of the Sheep
Jesus begins His teaching with a parable about a sheepfold, distinguishing between those who enter legitimately and those who do not. He declares, "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." (John 10:1). The true shepherd, however, enters by the door, and the porter opens for him. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
This initial imagery sets the stage for Jesus' first explicit identification: He is the Door. The Jews listening did not immediately grasp the spiritual meaning (John 10:6), prompting Jesus to clarify.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
As the Door, Jesus signifies the sole means of access to salvation and eternal life. All who came before Him claiming to be the way, without Him, were thieves and robbers. He alone provides the legitimate entrance into the safety and provision of God's fold.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
This verse highlights the security, freedom ("go in and out"), and abundant provision ("find pasture") that come through Him. It contrasts sharply with the destructive intent of the "thief," who "cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." (John 10:10). In stark opposition, Jesus declares His purpose: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10). This abundant life is not merely extended existence but a full, rich, spiritual life in fellowship with God.
Jesus: The Good Shepherd
Having established Himself as the Door, Jesus then reveals His primary identity in this discourse: the Good Shepherd. This title encapsulates His character, His mission, and His relationship with His followers. The Old Testament frequently portrays God as a shepherd to His people (e.g., Psalms 23, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:11-16), making Jesus' claim a powerful assertion of His deity.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
This is the definitive characteristic of the Good Shepherd: His willingness to lay down His life. This selfless act distinguishes Him from the "hireling," who works for wages and has no personal investment in the sheep. When danger approaches, the hireling flees, abandoning the flock to the wolf (John 10:12, John 10:13). The hireling's lack of care highlights the profound, intimate love of the Good Shepherd, who is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for His sheep.
The relationship between the Good Shepherd and His sheep is one of mutual knowledge and intimacy:
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
This knowledge is not superficial but deep and personal, mirroring the relationship between Jesus and the Father: "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:15). This profound connection underscores the divine nature of Jesus and the intimate bond He shares with His own. He knows His sheep by name, leads them, and they recognize and follow His voice.
Furthermore, Jesus speaks of a broader flock, indicating the inclusion of Gentiles into God's fold:
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.
This verse anticipates the expansion of the gospel beyond Israel, creating a unified body of believers under His singular headship. The laying down of His life is not a forced act but a voluntary one, demonstrating His sovereign authority even over His own death:
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 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 statement powerfully asserts Jesus' unique authority over life and death, confirming His divine nature and the pre-ordained plan of salvation.
The Security of the Sheep and the Shepherd's Divinity
Later in the chapter, during the Feast of Dedication, the Jews confront Jesus, demanding a clear declaration of His identity. Jesus responds by pointing to His works, which testify of Him, and then reiterates the security of His sheep:
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
The characteristics of His sheep are clear: they hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him. For those who are truly His, Jesus offers unparalleled assurance:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
This verse is a cornerstone of the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer. Salvation is eternal life, a gift from Christ, and once given, it cannot be revoked or lost. The double assurance of His hand and the Father's hand underscores the impregnable security of those who belong to Him:
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
The climax of Jesus' claims, and the source of great controversy, comes in the very next verse:
I and my Father are one.
This declaration unequivocally asserts Jesus' co-equality and co-eternality with God the Father. It is a statement of divine unity, not merely of purpose or agreement, but of essence. The Jews understood this perfectly, immediately taking up stones to stone Him for blasphemy, believing He, being a man, made Himself God (John 10:31, John 10:33).
Rejection and Defense
The discourse created division among the Jews (John 10:19). Some believed He was demon-possessed; others recognized the divine power in His words and works. When accused of blasphemy, Jesus defended Himself by appealing to the Scriptures, citing Psalms 82:6, where judges were called "gods" because they represented God's authority. His argument was from the lesser to the greater:
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Jesus then challenged them to believe His works if they would not believe His words. His works, such as healing the blind man, were clear demonstrations of His divine power and origin.
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Despite attempts to seize Him, Jesus escaped their grasp (John 10:39) and went beyond Jordan, where many came to Him, remembering John the Baptist's testimony, and believed on Him there (John 10:42).
Conclusion: The Enduring Truth of the Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd discourse in John 10 is a foundational passage for understanding the person and work of Jesus Christ. It reveals Him as:
- The exclusive Door to salvation and abundant life.
- The Good Shepherd who sacrificially lays down His life for His sheep.
- The intimate Shepherd who knows His sheep and is known by them.
- The sovereign Shepherd who guarantees the eternal security of His flock.
- The divine Shepherd who is one with the Father.
For believers, this discourse offers profound comfort and assurance. We are not left to wander aimlessly or fall prey to spiritual thieves and hirelings. We belong to the Good Shepherd, who has purchased us with His own blood, knows us by name, and holds us securely in His and the Father's hand. Our call is to hear His voice, follow Him, and trust in His unfailing love and eternal power. The Good Shepherd lives, and because He lives, His sheep have life, and that more abundantly.
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