Scripture: John 10:1-18
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
Men, as creatures depending on their Creator, are called the sheep of his pasture. The church of God in the world is as a sheep-fold, exposed to deceivers and persecutors. The great Shepherd of the sheep knows all that are his, guards them by his providence, guides them by his Spirit and word, and goes before them, as the Eastern shepherds went before their sheep, to set them in the way of his steps. Ministers must serve the sheep in their spiritual concerns. The Spirit of Christ will set before them an open door. The sheep of Christ will observe their Shepherd, and be cautious and shy of strangers, who would draw them from faith in him to fancies about him.
1 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber;
They were not sent of God, but came in another way, to assert authority over believers.
Christ is the true and only shepherd of the sheepfold ( the church of God)There is none other. There are those who would have us believe otherwise.
Q.1 How can one take a position of authority over a believer without a call from God?
Q.2 Who are those who would have us believe otherwise.?
2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Jesus is not only our Shepherd who leads us into the “sheepfold,” but He is the only door by which we may enter it and be saved (John 10:9). Jesus is the only means we have of receiving eternal life (John 3:16). There is no other way.
Q.1 How do we relate that to our present day?
Q.2 Jesus is the only Shepherd, What of our Pastors, Priests, Elders and deacons?
1. John 21:16 - Jesus told Peter: "Shepherd My sheep"
2. Acts 20:17 - the Apostle Paul summons the elders or presbyters of the church in Ephesus to give a last discourse to them; in the process, in Acts 20:28, he tells them that the Holy Spirit has made them bishops, and that their job is to shepherd the flock of God among them.
3. 1 Corinthians 9:7 - Paul says, of himself and the apostles: "who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?"
4. Ephesians 4:11 - Paul wrote "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers"
5. 1 Peter 5:1-2 - Peter tells the elders among his readers that they are to, "shepherd the flock of God among you"
Pg.2
The word "Pastor" derives from the Latin noun pastor which means "shepherd" and relates to the Latin verb pascere - "to lead to pasture, set to grazing, cause to eat".[1] The term "pastor" also relates to the role of elder within the New Testament, but is not synonymous with the biblical understanding of minister. Many Protestant churches call their ministers "pastors".
3 To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
God the Father, from whom Christ, as man and Mediator, derives his authority, and by whom he is invested with his office, as the shepherd of the sheep, to lead them out.
Q.1 Who is the gatekeeper?( Reflect on the crucifixion) Opens the gate for whom?
Q.2 Who is calling the sheep? ( Matt. 11:28) Mat 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
Christ, the great shepherd, goes before his flock, not only to provide for them, but by way of example to lead and protect them;
Q.1 He leads with authority, Why do we follow? ( John. 12:26) Joh 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Q.2 The voice of strangers, Why do we not follow? ( 1John. 4: 5-6) 1Jn 4:5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 1Jn 4:6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
6 John 10:6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Because of their prejudices in favor of themselves, and against Christ, they did not understand what were meant by what Jesus was teaching them.
Q.1 Is there any chance that those conditions have changed today? ( Isaiah 56: 11) Isa 56:11 They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain.
Q.2 They did not understand Jesus’ teaching, Have we a better understanding now?( Pro_28:5) Pro 28:5 Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
Questions for reflection
1. What would one want by falsely entering into a church fellowship? Money? Power? Political position? Can this be compared to any of life’s situations today?
2. Does a good shepherd bring peace and security to his fold? Will he also answer their spiritual need? Is there an example that we might recall to illustrate this?
3. Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd watching over his flock, and he calls himself the door through which all must enter. And there is reference to the gatekeeper. Who is that?
4. There are also the words thief, robber, and stranger mentioned. Who are they? Do we know any of them today?
….. Pg.3
Meditation
At the end of each day the shepherd brought his sheep into shelter. They knew the voice of their shepherd and came at his beckoning. In the winter the sheep were brought to a communal village shelter which was locked and kept secure by a guardian. In the summer the sheep were kept out in the fields and gathered into a fold at night. The fold was guarded by a shepherd throughout the night. He was literally the door through which the sheep had to pass. The scriptures describe God as a shepherd who brings security and peace to his people. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore (Psalm 120:8).Even the leaders of God's people are called shepherds: they shall lead them out and bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep which have no shepherd (Numbers 27:17). Just as a shepherd kept watch over his sheep and protected them from danger, so Jesus stands watch over his people as the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25). The first duty laid on us is to use our worldly goods in mercy for the needs of his sheep, and then, if necessary, give even our lives for them. He that will not give of his substance for his sheep, how shall he lay down his life for them?”
We will resume the study of The Parable of The Good Shepherd next week
Beginning at vs 6
Closing Prayer
Almighty God, The Father of our Great Good shepherd, help us we pray to better understand that Through the life death and resurrection of your Son Jesus we are yours and yours alone. Jesus is the keeper of our souls, the Good Shepherd who looks after the well being of every facet of our life. Over our waking and our sleeping, our coming and going both now and forevermore. He guards against all who would lead us astray. You have given the life of Your Son Jesus to protect us from him who would destroy us. Forgive our transgressions and keep us safe in the loving arms of our Good Shepherd Jesus, through whom we offer our prayer. Amen
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