The Gospel of John | The Gate and the Good Shepherd – John 10:1-21
Jesus cares for the sheep by protecting them form evil and caring for their needs.
Sheep are remarkably unintelligent animals. They constantly need a shepherd to care for them or they will likely die. They have been known walk off cliffs, into fire, and otherwise find creative ways to end their lives. As Jesus makes the remark that He is the Good Shepherd, it comes with the connotation that we, as people, are represented by the sheep. The full character of Jesus Christ cannot be fully appreciated without the understand of our own character being on par with the level of sheep. While no one particularly wants to be associated with the intellect of the sheep, understanding the nature of ourselves makes the works of Jesus Christ that much better.
Jesus continues along his line of teaching after having healed the man. The Pharisees had challenged the authority of Jesus to be the divine Lord that Jesus claimed to be, yet Jesus defended His claim at every step and at every time the Pharisees sought to trap Him in his questioning. Now, Jesus takes the opportunity to teach an extended discourse to further His point and solidify His identity as the one who saves and redeems the people. He is the Good Shepherd in that He cares for the life of the sheep by providing for them and protecting them from attacks. Furthermore, Jesus is the door and the standard by which people enter into the safety and protection. For everything, the sheep must turn to the shepherd as the protector just as we must turn to Jesus for all provision and safety. While we may be the sheep, God does not leave us to our own devices to die, but intervenes to protect the sheep and bring us into the safety of the fold with Him.
The Door For The Sheep
Jesus describes Himself as the door for the sheep. During that day, the shepherd would lay at the gate for the sheep to pass through. Anyone who attempts to enter in through any way will quickly face the wrath of the shepherd. The Shepherd acts as the gate keeper who determines who belongs and who does not. He does this by calling out to His sheep. Thus, the sheep know the voice of the shepherd as He calls to them. The sheep understand the voice of the shepherd as He calls them home. They know the calling of the shepherd and respond to his voice, knowing that there is an intimacy between them having spent time with one another and having heard and experience the promises and blessings of the shepherd. One of the quintessential roles of a shepherd is to protect the sheep from outside attacks. This can only be effectively done within the protection of the fold. When the sheep go out on their own, there is danger and risk. But, the sheep can always approach the shepherd and enter through the gates, having been called home by the shepherd.
Just as it is the shepherd who calls the sheep and the sheep respond, God calls His people to Himself first and we respond to the call of God. It is only by the call of God that we can respond to approach the safety of the fold. Our eternal destiny rests on the Good Shepherd who calls us to Himself for our safety and our good. So much of the way Jesus presents Himself as the door by which the sheep enter, relates to our own ability to save ourselves. Everyone looks to enter through the fold, either by sneaking in or by way of the door. Those who sneak, though, will face the immediate consequences from the Shepherd who protects those called by God. At one point, mankind stood in the presence of God in the Garden of Eden, opting to rebel against Him. Now, the door calls out to His people to return to communion and relationship with Him. Our own works and ability, on par with being spiritual sheep, do not produce salvation. Jesus asserts, once again, that salvation will only come to those who come through Him. He is the protector and the voice of the one who calls out to the people for them to return.
- What does it imply about the nature of Jesus Christ that He describes himself as the door?
The Good Shepherd
Jesus continues describing Himself as the Good Shepherd. He contrasts the personality of the Shepherd with the personality with the hired hand. Ultimately, the hired hand will not be willing to lay down their life for the protection of the sheep. Caring for the sheep is merely a transactional event where they work for a fee that they personally benefit from. The shepherd, though is much different. The shepherd, as the one who own and cares for the sheep has a more intimate relationship with the sheep. They know one another and love one another. Furthermore, the shepherd rushes towards the dangers that attack the sheep in the same way that a father would run to protect their child. This is not transactional but simply love expressed for those who need to the help of the shepherd. Furthermore, Jesus is not simply a shepherd but a good shepherd. His character exudes the righteousness and goodness that comes from being fully divine. Jesus does not seek to dominate His people but rather to rescue them from the perils of the world which seeks to destroy them.
Jesus also clearly states that He has the authority to first put down His life and then to take it back up. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was not an accident or something that Jesus had been compelled to do. At any point, Jesus held the authority to reject the path of the cross and leave mankind to the consequences of their sin. Yet, Jesus Christ went willingly to the cross for the sake of the sheep in desperate need of a Shepherd. Then, just when everything looked darkest, Jesus held the authority to take His life back, even from death. Nothing can overpower the authority of Jesus Christ to care for the sheep. He is the Good Shepherd and desires to protect and provide for the lives of the sheep. For us who believe and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we daily grow closer to God, experiencing the truth and grace that comes from being with Jesus Christ. We can trust the shepherd for our own good and respond to the call of God to return us to Himself. He cares for us and provides for our every need to ensure that we can be with Him, forever.
- As the Pharisees questioned the man, what reasons and defense did he give for whether Jesus was sinful or not?
Discussion Questions
- How did the Pharisees respond to the teaching of Jesus in this section? Why do you think they responded in the way they did?
- What happens to those who seek to enter into the sheep pen in a way other than the gate? How does this relate with our attempt to earn our salvation by any way other than Jesus?
- When have you experienced the goodness of God as the good shepherd in your life? What characteristics do you see with Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd?
- What can we do to hear the voice of the shepherd better? How can we recognize the voice of God?
