This week’s post is late because real life trumps computers. Helping my son and his family took me away from the computer Thursday and Friday. All on the mend now with other family members there this weekend to support.
This week we read a familiar passage, in which Jesus declared he is our good shepherd.
Jesus continued speaking to the Pharisees and the others gathered after he healed a man born blind. To make his point the Jewish leaders were indeed spiritually blind, Jesus told them a parable. John didn’t identify Jesus’ words as a parable until verse 6, when he used a term that refers to a fictional story to illustrate reality.1 Jesus began with a phrase he used often during his earthly ministry, “very truly.” We’ve learned he spoke these two words to say, “I who am the Amen [Truth itself] tell you as a most certain and infallible truth.”2 Jesus’ description of his role as the good shepherd is absolutely true.
Read John 10:1-4.
- God approaches his sheep through Jesus.
- The sheep’s caretaker (shepherd) enters through the gate.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
- The thief, or enemy, tries to steal away the sheep, by some other way.
- John contrasted the shepherd with a thief and a robber. Two words, with contradictory meanings.
- A thief was a robber who “[stole] by fraud (deceit?) and in secret.”3
- A robber “[deprived] another of his property openly and by violence.”4
- Both apply to the enemy of our souls.
- The watchman opens the gate for the shepherd.
- The shepherd watches over and cares for his flock.5
- Zodhiates described the watchman as a “shepherd keeping watch at the door to the sheep fold.”6
- Whoever this watchman is, he stands between the flock and its enemies.7
- A possible interpretation is the Holy Spirit, which I favor since later in this chapter Jesus brought the Father into the conversation as well. Who knew we’d encounter the trinity in such a well-known passage?
- The shepherd calls us by name.
Agricultural Research Center, Booneville, AR (DBSFRC). Erin Wood (D4396-1)
“But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator … ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!’” (Isaiah 43:1, NASB).
- The shepherd leads his sheep out from the sheep fold.
- He “personally guides … his flock…. each sheep is named, heard, and safely ushered into pasture,” with an implied reference also to the Exodus journey.8
- He leads us out [from the sheep fold] to new and better places.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:1-2).
- The shepherd goes before the sheep, and they follow his lead and his example.9
- We know we are his sheep because we hear and recognize his voice, and we follow him.
- It’s implied also his sheep understand his voice, the words the shepherd says.10
- True sheep will follow only their shepherd.
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
*In what (other) ways does the enemy try to steal Jesus’ flock today?
*How do you interpret the watchman and his role?
*How have you experienced the good Shepherd leading you out from the sheep fold as you follow him?
Read John 10:5-10.
- We should run away from the “stranger” and never follow his voice.
- Jesus described this as fleeing quickly from danger because of fear.11
- The stranger is not our shepherd.
- Jesus repeated his reassurance he is the only way to pasture and rest.
- False prophets and messiahs came before to entice the sheep and lead them astray.
- Jeremiah and Ezekiel both recorded the Lord’s opinion of such false shepherds.
“‘Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!’ declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: ‘Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:1-2).
- In Israel’s history, the true sheep did not stray; they listened to God.
- God always preserves a remnant.
- Those who call on the shepherd and hear his voice will receive spiritual salvation.12
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
- We, true sheep, will find nourishment for our souls.
“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For the sake of His name” (Psalm 23:3, NASB).
- According to Zodhiates, we may interpret this to say we will find joy for our souls.13
- The thief seeks to steal with no thought for consequences morally wrong without question.14
- “Kill” in this verse can be used in the context of sacrifice,15 as one offered in the Old Testament system of sacrifices. Those who do not recognize the good shepherd see no need for a different system.
- Added to implied spiritual death, the thief brings the threat of real physical death.16
- In contrast, Jesus offers continuous life exceeding expectations, more abundant than we can imagine.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
*How might it look to run away from the stranger and not follow his voice?
*What does it mean to not stray and listen to God?
*How can we experience abundant life in and from Jesus even in the midst of difficult circumstances?
- Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (AMG Publishers, 1992), 1121.
- Zodhiates, 135.
- Zodhiates, 866.
- Zodhiates, 919.
- Zodhiates, 1191.
- Zodhiates, 746.
- Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/greek/2377.htm
- Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/greek/1806.htm
- Zodhiates, 112.
- Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/greek/1492.htm
- Zodhiates, 1440.
- Zodhiates, 1353.
- Zodhiates, 1014.
- Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steal
- Zodhiates, 750.
- Zodhiates, 230.