Studies in John's Gospel. Pt.55 "I Am the Door" & "I Am the Good Shepherd"

Good morning to all and I welcome each of you back to our blog as we resume our studies in the Gospel of John. 

John 10 opens with Jesus seeking to minister to the same group of people who were antagonistic when He healed the blind man on the sabbath.  Jesus exposed the Pharisees spiritual blindness at the end of John 9.

John 10 introduces Jesus as our Good Shepherd. It was a common motif used in ancient cultures to compare people to sheep and kings or priests to shepherds entrusted with the care of a flock. Well known men of faith like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David were shepherds but the ultimate shepherd is Jehovah (Psalm 23). 

Jesus gave a parable of thieves, sheep & shepherds.

John 10:1-6  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. 2) But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3) To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4) And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5) And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6) This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 

This part of Jesus' parable contains an early morning scene. The sheep fold is a place within a village with four walls of stone and a door built into one of the walls. Usually there were several flocks of sheep mixed together in the sheepfold. 

The porter guarded the flock.

The sheepfold was guarded all night by a doorkeeper called a porter. His responsibility was to guard all the sheep against thieves and predatory animals. He would only open the door to one of the shepherds. The porter had to be a reliable and trustworthy man.

Pharisees were like thieves.

The Pharisees were spiritually blind leaders and were compared to a thief or stranger attempting to enter by a different way. In spiritual terms, the Pharisees were trying to enter into the sheepfold of God by trusting their works instead of coming through the door in repentant faith.

Christ is Shepherd of the sheep.

In contrast to the false shepherds, Jesus, the Good Shepherd had the right to enter by the door of the sheepfold. The porter opened to the true shepherd of the sheep. The true shepherd called out to his flock and when his sheep heard his voice, they ran over to the shepherd. Likewise the other flocks responded to the voice of their shepherd. 

Shepherds knew their flocks very well and often gave them names. Each shepherd had a distinctive voice and method for calling the sheep and the sheep learned to come when he called them. When a shepherd called the sheep would form in a flock around that shepherd so that he could lead them out to pasture.

So it is with the true shepherd. They know his voice and they follow him. The sheep will not follow the voice of a stranger. Rather the stranger's voice frightens the sheep and they run from him. This is a picture of a believer hearing the voice of God from the scriptures and following the Good Shepherd. It is also a picture of how God's word protects us from error so that we will run from false teachers. 

The parable has false shepherds in contrast to a true shepherd. There is a porter who guards them by night and protects them. The porter opens the door of the sheepfold only to the legitimate shepherd of the sheep. 

Notice the actions of the shepherd. He comes, he calls, he gathers, he puts them forth and leads them out. He goes on ahead of them seeking the best pasture land and a source of clean water. 

John tells us that the people did not understand the meaning of the parable. This group included the Pharisees and religious leaders and probably His disciples. Jesus explained the parable and when He was done there would be no doubt as to the meaning of the parable.

Jesus declared "I Am the door of the sheep."

John 10:7-9  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8) All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 

Jesus again connected His name to the Divine Name Jehovah in another one of the "I Am" statements of Christ in the gospel of John. Jesus said "I am the door." Just as there is only one name given among men under heaven whereby men can be saved (Acts 4:10-12) so there is only one way to eternal life in heaven, one door. 

Jesus' name means Jehovah saves. Jesus as Jehovah in the flesh, offered salvation through faith in His name. All who enter through this door will be saved and be able to go in and out without fear. They will be sustained and find good pasture provided by God.

It is a picture of God calling the lost sheep of the world to salvation through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The right response to the calling of God is to obediently follow Christ. 

Many pastures contained a more open area for grazing but sometimes the sheep would be afraid to graze there. A shepherd usually had a small enclosed area where the fearful sheep could retreat. It pictures the loving care Jehovah our savior has for His sheep.

The Pharisees and Satan are like a robber.

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

A false shepherd steals the sheep in order to kill them and satisfy his lust. Jesus exposed the evil intentions of a thief who came to steal, kill and destroy. All those thieves and robbers who came before Christ refers to all the blind spiritual leaders who did not care about the spiritual well being of God's people. Rather, they were only concerned about their own desires and had no interest in building up or protecting the flock of God.

The devil also is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and Jesus' words seem to apply to Satan as well (1 Peter 5:8). The devil wants to kill and cripple the flock of God's people. 

Jesus declared "I Am the Good Shepherd."

John 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

Jesus gave us another "I Am" statement in John 10. Shortly after Jesus declared "I Am the door" that leads to eternal life, He stated "I Am the Good Shepherd" who is willing to give His life to save the sheep. 

In the land of ancient Israel when night came many predatory animals came out to hunt, including hyenas, lions, bears, wolves, jackals, panthers and leopards. 

The thief comes to take life but Jesus came to benefit the sheep by giving His life so that He can give abundant life to His sheep. It is a wonderful picture of Christ on the cross dying for the sins of humanity and paying the sin debt once for all. His resurrection opens the door to a right relationship with God through Christ and the gift of eternal life. 

The Pharisees are like self centered hirelings.

John 10:12-13  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who purchased His sheep with His blood. He cares, feeds and protects His sheep. The hireling is interested in making money and self preservation. He does not have the same level of care and commitment as the Good Shepherd. When a predator attacks he runs away and the flock is scattered because he does not care about the sheep. This is a picture of the many false prophets and idolatrous kings that caused Israel to sin through their history. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

This parable has so many things for us to think about. 

First, there are bad actors like the thief, robber or hireling. They represent people or movements that arise and end up leading people astray. Selfishness is their motivation as they seek money, prestige, power and control over others. False prophets lead people to erroneous beliefs instead of leading them to Christ for salvation.

Second, is the porter who faithfully keeps the door locked, guards against thieves and protects the sheep from predators. Although we cannot develop this thought here, it seems to be a picture of the ministry of God's Spirit guarding, protecting and watching over the child of God. 

Third is the door. The door to the sheepfold of God is Jesus Christ. It pictures the straight gate and the narrow way to eternal life. It shows us that there is only one name given under heaven for salvation, the name Jesus Christ. It demonstrates the exclusivity of the gospel even as it gives the call of salvation to all who will believe.

Fourth, is the Good Shepherd. In ancient Israel a shepherd had several areas of responsibility. If a sheep became ill, he had to help the animal recover. If a sheep broke a leg, he had to set the bone so that it could heal. A shepherd had to find pure water for the sheep to drink because they were susceptible to disease if they drank unclean water. He had to find them good pasture where the plant life was thriving and full of vitamins, minerals and nourishment. He had to battle the elements day and night to protect the sheep and he had to know his sheep so that they would know him and hear his voice when he called. 

This is a picture of the love of God poured out on us through Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. He loves us enough that He died to pay for our sins and He rose from the dead so that He could grant those who believe eternal life. When we are born again Jehovah becomes our shepherd and He faithfully discharges all the duties of a good shepherd that we noted above. 

Our hearts should be filled with thanksgiving, praise and gratitude for all that Christ, our Good Shepherd does for each one of His sheep.

Bob