Please read John 10 and answer the following questions:
What difference did Jesus describe between a shepherd and a thief (vv 1,2)? (Think: Why would thieves act differently from shepherds in this manner?)
Shepherd
A thief has to sneak over the gate in order to access the sheep (illegal, violation, without permission), but a shepherd gains access to sheep via the gatekeeper (righteously, with permission, legitimately).
The thief knows he would be denied access by the gatekeeper, because he is not the true shepherd. So, he gains access, the wrong way, to steal the sheep. The true shepherd is the only one that could get passed the gatekeeper..
In this illustration, what is represented by the sheep, the shepherd, and the thieves? (Think: Why would this be an effective illustration for these people?)
Thief = false prophets/teachers that carry out satan's intentions
Sheep = those who follow Jesus
Shepherd/Gate = Jesus
Gatekeeper = God
Thief's purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. False prophets and teachers come to rob the truth from those who want to follow Jesus; they claim to offer a way to salvation, but their intentions are not good. The thief bypasses the gate as the false prophets and teachers try to bypass Jesus.
Jesus said He is the GOOD shepherd. He sacrificed His life for His sheep. He protects His sheep; when the wolves come He does not run.
What happens when the shepherd calls his sheep (vv 3,4)? (Think: What can we learn from this about the nature of sheep and their relationship to the shepherd?)
The sheep recognize the shepherd's voice and will not follow the influence of perpetrators. They only follow the shepherd (Jesus).
The sheep trust in the shepherd, because He is faithful.
In order for us to follow Jesus, we have to know Him, trust Him, grow in Him, and follow Him.
What happens when a stranger calls the sheep?
The sheep do not listen nor answer when a stranger calls.
List at least 2 other passages that use shepherds and/or sheep to illustrate spiritual lessons.
Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.3 He renews my strength.He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley,[a]I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Matthew 18: 12
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.
What illustration is used for Jesus in vv 7-9, and what is the point?
Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
The point is that Jesus (the gate) is our way/access to salvation, life, protection, peace, and freedom.
How do thieves differ from Jesus according to v10? (Think: What is the “abundant life” Jesus gives people?)
The thief destroys life, but Jesus is the life-giver. Abundant life is eternal life beyond death.
Who did Jesus say He was in v11, and what would He do for the sheep?
Jesus said He is the Good Shepherd and He will lay down His life for His sheep.
What is a hireling, and how would one act differently from the good shepherd? (Think: What do the hirelings represent?)
A hireling is a hired hand. He will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
What two things in this illustration both represent Jesus?
The Gate and Good Shepherd
Who knows one another according to vv 14,15? (Think: What is the point of the statement?)
“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.
The point of this statement: Jesus is validating his relationship with God, the Father. This relationship is intimate just like Shepherd's relationship with the sheep.
Who else did Jesus say must become part of His flock, and how many flocks and shepherds would there be?
In vs. 16, Jesus said, "I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also". I think he is referring to non-jews/Gentiles that choose to follow Him. He said, "they will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
Special Assignment: Explain the reference to the sheep who are not of this fold. Does this teach that all the denominations are acceptable to Jesus? Explain.
In this moment, Jesus was ministering to Jews. In my opinion, Jesus was referring to those who were not Jews. Moreover, this reveals the truth: no one has a monopoly on salvation. Everyone has an opportunity/access to Jesus. As long as the doctrine, being taught, points the way to Jesus, via the word of God, and those teaching actually lead by example, I think Jesus will be pleased.
What power did Jesus have, and therefore what could no one else do to Him? (Think: Why does this make Jesus more worthy of love? Where else did Jesus teach this?)
Jesus said He has the power to lay down his life, when He wants, and take it up again. He has authority over life and death.
This makes Jesus more worthy of love, because He chose to die for sins of the world. He didn't have to give up His life, but He did.
Jesus made reference to this teaching in Matthew 26.
What 2 viewpoints again created division between people (vv 19-21)?
When he said these things, the people[c] were again divided in their opinions about him.20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
What feast did Jesus attend (v22), when was it, and where was He walking? (Think: What was the purpose of this feast? What was Solomon’s porch?)
It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Feast/Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade
The Feast of Dedication, which was once also called the Feast of the Maccabees, was an eight-day winter festival celebrated by the Jews in the month of December or sometimes late November, depending on when it fell in the lunisolar Jewish calendar. Today, this festival is called Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights.
The Feast of Dedication commemorates the re-dedication of the Second Temple following the Maccabean Revolt. According to Wright in "The New Testament and the People of God", the revolt, while successful in some of its aims, left the nation anticipating a Messiah who would overthrow at last the (Seleucid or) Roman rule and establish Israel again as an independent kingdom.
Solomon's Porch/Colonnade
What demand did the Jews make, and how did Jesus respond (vv 24,25)?
The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.
According to Jesus, why did the Jews not believe in Him (v26)?
But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.
What must Jesus’ sheep do, and what does He give them?
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.
Describe the protection Jesus and His Father give the sheep (vv 28,29). (Think: What does this mean?)
No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.[d] No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
Once you come into the Kingdom of God, you are under God's protection (He is more powerful than anything).
Case Study: These verses are a major proof text for “once saved, always saved” (the doctrine that a person who has been forgiven cannot be lost). How would you respond to someone who believes this?
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." Hebrews 6:4-6.
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." Hebrews 10:26
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal 5:19-21.
"Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Luke 8:12, 13.
What is Jesus’ relationship to the Father according to v30, and where else did He make a similar claim? (Think: In what sense is this true? Are Jesus and His Father the same person or being?)
"The Father and I are one.”
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him. 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Jesus claimed to be one with the Father as part of a larger argument to note that He had existed from eternity past, lived in perfect oneness with the Father, held the same power as God, and was sent by God the Father’s authority.
What did the Jews want to do to Jesus, and how did He respond (vv 31,32)?
Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”
What accusation did the Jews make as the grounds for their act? (Think: In what way was their charge invalid?)
They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”
Blasphemy was a crime punishable by death according to the Jewish Law. If Jesus had been lying or deceived, His statement would have been blasphemous. In fact, the only way His words were not blasphemy is if Jesus was telling the truth about His equality with God.
What Old Testament passage did Jesus quote in response, and what did it say? (Think: In what sense were men called “gods” in this passage?)
Psalm 82:6 - I say, ‘You are gods; you are all children of the Most High.
This passage is saying that God has appointed men to positions of authority in which they are considered as gods among the people. They are to remember that, even though they are representing God in this world, they are mortal and must eventually give an account to God for how they used that authority.
What argument did Jesus make from the passage (vv 35,36)? (Think: Is Jesus saying He is a “god” like these other men? What is His point?)
Jesus reminded the Jews that the Law refers to mere men—men of authority and prestige—as “gods.” Jesus’ point is this: they charged Him with blasphemy based on His use of the title “Son of God”; yet their own Scriptures apply the same term to magistrates in general. If those who hold a divinely appointed office can be considered “gods,” how much more can the One whom God has chosen and sent.
Explain Jesus’ attitude toward the Scriptures (v35). What lessons could we learn?
Jesus knew the scriptures very well; He used the scriptures to point people to the truth. It was a tool and a reference.
We should learn the scripture so we can point people to the truth.
What proof did Jesus give for His claims in vv 37,38?
Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
What was Jesus’ relationship with the Father (v38)? Where else did He make such claim? (Think: What is meant by this expression?)
Father is in me, and I am in the Father
vs. 30 "The Father and I are one"
John 14: 9 - Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
Where did Jesus go (v40)?
Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile.
What attitude did people there have toward Him?
And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.”42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.
