The Door of the Sheep and the Good Shepherd     John 10:7,11

The theme verse emphasized that our relations with Christ must be a personal one, and that it does not matter what the rest of the world thinks.

Lesson context –

John 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

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

The Lord’s statement is that His concern is for the people, not to use them, but to protect them and provide for them.

Introduction – context:

John 9:13-10:30  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day.

No care about or rejoicing with the man that received his sight!

Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

Instead of glorifying God, they were insistent in proving Jesus to be a false prophet.  Notice that the most prideful and arrogant strongly rebuked those that wanted to know more about the man who performed this miracle.

John 9:18-23

But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

They could not prove that the man who had been blind was lying about receiving his sight.  Now knowing that this blind man had received his sight through the miracle worked by Jesus, the Jews still refused to admit that Jesus of Nazareth was sent from God.

The disciples were witnesses to the revelation of the heartlessness of the Pharisees, who only cared about keeping their power!

John 9:24-29

Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

The man then turned their anger and words back on them.  These religious leaders, these teachers, were the ones who were supposed to recognize God’s working among men, and yet, they would not admit this truth – God worked a miracle through this man, Jesus.

John 9:30-34

The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

(The healed man was telling them that they had no excuse for not knowing who He was and where He came from.  As a matter of fact, they already had admitted that they knew, but they rejected Him because He would not support them in their leadership.  John 3)

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.  They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

They were not able to prove that the man was lying, and instead of accepting the truth, their anger led them to cast him out of their presence.  They should have been praising God with him!

John 9:35-38

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

The man did not submit in fear to the wrath of the Pharisees, but put his faith in the One who had shown compassion and care on him, the Lord Jesus Christ!  He would not allow unbelievers to control his life!

At this time, and upon this discussion between Jesus and the man who had received his sight, the account is given of –

I.  The Confrontation   John 9:39-41

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

  A.  The Light of the world would expose the darkness of sin.

  B.  The Lost, in the presence of the Light would have a choice to make.

    1.  To repent of their sin and turn to God, the Light.

    2.  To refuse to repent and remain in darkness, sin.

II.  The Connection between the Shepherd and the sheep.  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. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

  A.  The Proof of love

        The desire to submit and serve God according to His will.

  B.  The Pride of the unbelieving.  “…a stranger will they not follow…”

        They wanted power and prestige without humility and submission.

        They were spiritually blind and could have had sight, but refused to

        apply the truth to themselves.  The people submitted to them

        because they were afraid of them, not out of respect and love!

III.  The Commitment of the Good Shepherd to 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. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

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

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. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

John 10:19-30

There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

  A.  He gave His love to them. 

        “For God so loved the world that He gave…”

“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more

abundantly….”

  B.  He gave His life for them.

“…I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

  C.  He gives His Promise to them.

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

What do you think that the disciples learn from this interaction with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem?

They learned what to expect as they continued to serve the Lord and preach the Gospel!

John 21:17

Acts 20:7-8

Are you blind to the love of God today? 

Are you as these men who are trusting in themselves and their works to get them into Heaven?

Will you come to the Good Shepherd to give you spiritual sight?