John 10:7~21
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
19At these words the Jews were again divided. 20Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"
21But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
I. Message:
Content:
- Lord Jesus is the gate for the sheep (v. 7~10)
- Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd that lays down His life for the sheep (v. 11~13)
- The Good Shepherd, Lord Jesus knows His sheep (v. 14~15)
- The Good Shepherd, Lord Jesus bring in sheep outside of this pen (v. 16)
- The Good Shepherd, Lord Jesus obeys the Father’s command (v. 17~18)
- The Jews were divided following Jesus’ words (v. 19~21)
Themes:
- Lord Jesus is the gate for sheep
- Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd
II. Who is God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit?
- Jesus Christ, the gate for the sheep (v. 7~8)
- Jesus Christ, giver of life, a life to its full (v. 9~10)
- Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd (v. 11)
- Jesus Christ gave His life for sheep (v. 11, 15)
- Jesus Christ knows His sheep (v. 14)
- Jesus Christ knows Father God (v. 15)
- Father God knows Jesus Christ (v. 15)
- Jesus Christ brings sheep in the pen (saves) (v. 16)
- Jesus Christ, the Master Shepherd (v. 16)
- Jesus Christ, loved by Father God (v. 17)
- Jesus Christ sacrificed His life (v. 17)
- Jesus Christ resurrected (v. 17)
- Jesus Christ, the Lord of life (v. 18)
- Jesus Christ obeys Father God’s command (v. 18)
III. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations and warnings)?
- Jesus is the gate to salvation
7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
Sheep enters in and exits from a pen by the gate, which can be opened or closed. Jesus compares Himself to a gate for sheep shows us that whoever enters through Him will be saved. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Conclusion: Jesus is the gate for salvation: no one can enter the sheep pen unless he enters through this gate; whoever wishing to get in the pen must enter through this gate. In other words, no one can be saved unless the salvation comes from Jesus Christ, for He is the only Saviour!
Reflections: do I believe in Jesus Christ and hope in His saving grace?
- True Christ and false Christ
8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Jesus revealed more than His identity and mission in this passage; He warns against the rise of false Christ. He says that all who ever came before Him were false and calls them thieves and robbers. From Jesus’ parable, we can notice how different the motives of the true Christ and the false Christ are.
- true Christ: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full;
- false Christ: the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy
We must ask for wisdom in discernment so that we won’t be lost.
Reflections: do I have the wisdom to discern the true Christ from the false one?
- The difference between a hired hand and a shepherd – different motivation
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
According to Jesus’ description, a hired hand and a shepherd share the same task of taking care of the flock but not the same motivation.
- Hired hand: since he is not the owner, he does not care for the sheep that much but rather the wage he earns; when wolf attacks, he runs away and leaves the flock at the mercy of the predator.
- Good shepherd: since he is the owner, he cares for the flock out of love; he is ready to lay down his life in the face of an attack from wolf to save his flock.
Reflections: what are my motivations in joining church services, for love or other purpose? Do I act more like a shepherd or a hired hand?
- Criteria for a good shepherd
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Jesus talks about three criteria for a good shepherd: first, he knows his sheep; second, his sheep know him; third, he is willing to lay down his life for the sheep.
Reflections: do I possess the quality of a good shepherd in church ministries?
- Mission to gather all sheep
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Jesus talks about other sheep outside of the pen but nonetheless His sheep. They will listen to Jesus and come into the pen becoming one flock and following Jesus alone.
Reflections: in the routines of church ministries, can I sense the need that “there shall be one flock and one shepherd”? Being Jesus’ good coworkers, we have to invite the sheep outside of the pen to come in and be one flock under the guidance of one shepherd, Jesus Christ.
- He is the Lord of life
17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
Jesus says “the reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."” Clearly, Jesus is the Lord of life. Not only He can lay down His life on the cross, He can pick up His life again in His resurrection.
Reflections: since He is the Lord of life, do I completely believe in Him and rely on Him wholeheartedly?
- Dispute between the believers and unbelievers
19 At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?" 21 But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
We notice here that there were disputes between the believers and the unbelievers. This reminds me of the teaching of “believers and unbelievers must not be yoked together.” Believers and unbelievers can hardly get along, cooperate and walk hand in hand. This applies to both marriages and church ministries.
Reflections: is my own marital life or my children’s marital life falling into a dispute between believers and unbelievers? Do I pay attention to coworkers’ faith in church ministries? How could believers and unbelievers work in one accord?
- Principle in establishing a church
In Jesus’ parable and teaching, He gave instructions on the principles in establishing a church today. These include pastor’s role and attitude, relationship between the pastor and the congregation, the calling to evangelize, etc. Therefore we ought to understand, to treasure and to execute these principles. Then our church will grow and be healthy.
Translated by 顏偉哲
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