John 10:1-10 “The Good Shepherd and His Sheep”
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
Bible Study Guide
(Verses 1-2) Jesus begins this passage with emphasis, “Very truly I tell you” (NIV). Obviously, Jesus never lied and everything He spoke was truth. This statement of emphasis is to point to the importance of the message He is about to speak. In other words, pay particular attention to what I’m about to say.
Jesus, the good shepherd is pointing this teaching directly at the Pharisees. Why? Because He’s teaching them what it looks like to be a truly good shepherd that leads it’s flock of believers.
This was a lesson by the Good Shepherd teaching the Pharisee’s to be good shepherds.
Robbers and thieves do not use the gate to enter where the sheep are. They enter by other means. These are false shepherds (false teachers) whose intention is to steal the sheep away from their secure position with Christ. Their only desire is to point sheep (people) in the opposite direction of Christ.
Only a true shepherd (Christian leader) uses the gate to get his sheep (followers of Christ).
A Brand of the Good Shepherd
(Verses 3-5) Notice in these three verses, Jesus refers to the voice of the shepherd three times and alludes to the sheep following the shepherd three times.
Early Puritan theologians gave rise to the notion that the ear and the foot of the followers (sheep) of Christ bared a branding “mark.” This mark was a symbol of the character traits of a true Christian.
The “mark on the ear” matches only the voice of Jesus. And the “mark on the foot” matches only Jesus’ lead to follow Him. Christians are prone to wander. But this symbolic mark on the ear and foot assures us of Christ’ presence to lead us in our trials, tribulations and times when we stumble.
Those who are not true believers (sheep) are easily led astray by the robbers and thieves (false teachers) who come to lead them away from Christ and into the realm of the dead (second death).
I AM the Gate for the Sheep
(Verses 6-10) In this passage we come upon the third of the seven great I Am declarations that Christ makes of Himself. The Good Shepherd tells the Pharisee’s, “I AM the gate for the sheep.
As Jesus spoke these words, we can clearly see Him demonstrate to the Pharisee’s that they were not among His sheep because they didn’t understand His message.
Christ is the gate for believers to pass thorough. Jesus is the one and only Savior, who fulfilled the law perfectly. He is the only one who made the perfect “once and done” sacrifice on behalf of all sinners. His are the one and only “works of atonement” for our sins. He is the one and only way (gate) to salvation through our justification, sanctification and glorification. He is the one and only savior that can reunite us with our heavenly Father.
There is no religion, sacrifice, sacrament, good works that can be added to, or replace what Christ has already done for us. Anything else is nothing but sinking sand.
Being a leader of a Christian church takes great responsibility. Jesus adds that He’s not only the gate for the sheep. He’s also the gate for the shepherds leading His sheep. The Pharisee’s must shepherd Jesus’ flock in the name of Jesus and in accordance with His ways. They must resemble Jesus.
In other words, there is no other way to salvation for the believers. There is also no other way for Christian leaders to lead the believers in Christ, except through Him. False teachers will attempt to lead Christians in a different path not through the gate. Steer well clear of these leaders and their churches.
Jesus provides a good example of leading His flock of believers in the passage where He reinstates Peter and teaches Him to lead and feed his followers (John 21:15-17).
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