John 10:1-18
The Good Shepherd
1 “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
John 10:1-18 CSB
Prayer: Dear God, who made the Heavens and the earth and all the good things on the earth. Who created the sheep, the pen, and the pasture. Who intimately knows each and every one of us down o the number of hairs on our head. We confess to you, Father, that we have been deceived by the thieves and robbers of this world. We have been led astray by the promises of life offered by those who's only aim is to steal, kill, and destroy. We have indulged in things that we thought might fulfill us, but, in the end, left us emptier than before. We thank you, Father, for giving Jesus authority over his life. A life that he would lay down and take up again so that, for those who believe, for those who know and follow his voice, can be brought up with him. We thank you for being the gate, the true and only pathway to salvation. We thank you for being the good shepherd who did not abandon us, but laid down his life for us. We pray that we would continue to follow your voice, that we would not be led astray by thieves and robbers, and that we would share the good news of the Gospel so that others may join this flock. Amen.
OVERTIME
What is "the good life?"
Here's a non-exhaustive list of things the world might tell you means you're living the "good life":
- Being rich/wealthy
- Eating good
- Nice home/car/boat
- Owning a lot of things
- Your political party is in power
- Good relationships
- Ability to travel
- Being famous/popular
- No stress or anxiety
- Quiet
- No rush or hurry
- No restrictions/obligations
- More freedom
- “Live, laugh, love”
- No sickness/disease
- Everyone being like you
Any of those hit close to home? Maybe there's something on this list that you've deemed to be your life goal. Maybe there's MULTIPLE things on this list that you're chasing after.
John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Company, amassed a personal fortune of $1.4 BILLION in 1937. That would be equal to about $190 BILLION IN 2022, making him the 2nd richest person in the world today. When he was asked “How much money is enough?” he said “Just a little bit more.”
Do you ever feel that way? "If I just had a little bit more _______, then I’ll be happy."
- Just a little bit more money.
- Just a few more Likes.
- Just one more drink.
Why do we think one more of this or that will make us happy?
Canadian-American philosopher James K.A. Smith said this:
“We are the sorts of animals whose love is aimed at different ends or goals. Love always has a target, something that it intends or aims at. What we love is a specific vision of the good life, an implicit picture of what we think human flourishing looks like. Our ultimate love is oriented by and to a picture of what we think it looks like for us to live well, and that picture governs, shapes, and motivates our decisions and actions.”
To paraphrase - We're always going to chase or attach ourselves to the thing that we think will get us where we want to go.
So what does all this have to do with Jesus? Looking back at the passage, in v.1-5 Jesus is using an object metaphor which is simply a metaphor that should be relevant to the audience. It would be no different than using sports or a movie to get a point across. The Pharisees (who are supposed to be shepherding the people of Israel) confess in v.6 that this metaphor doesn't resonate with them so Jesus, in v.7-10, clears things up. Here is v.7-10 again:
7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
Jesus makes it very clear that:
- He is "the gate" for the sheep.
- He is the only gate.
- Anyone who suggests/offers anything different are "thieves and robbers".
Since we live in the 21st century and not the 1st century, there may be one other thing that needs to be cleared up. Jesus as the good shepherd (as stated in v.11) makes sense. Jesus is a person. A shepherd is a person. That adds up. Jesus as the gate, however, that one is a little harder to comprehend. How can Jesus be the gate AND the good shepherd?
Take a look at this sheepfold. Notice anything odd?
If you thought, "Where's the gate?" Congratulations! You've got a keen eye. Ready for a bombshell? The shepherd IS the gate! Pretty cool right? Let's press on.
Jesus calls himself "the gate". What is the role of a gate?
- A gate will separate the inside (protection) from outside (pasture).
- A gate is typically a narrow and specific threshold on a structure designed to be passed through.
- A gate not only keeps things in, but also keeps things out.
Jesus is like a gate because when we live THROUGH him he provides protection and provision.
What makes Jesus different than other "gates"? What are the other "gates"?
Other gates are any alternative to the life that Jesus offers. They're usually a means to an end aimed at getting you closer to where you want to go. In this story, the alternatives to the "gate" and the "good shepherd are thieves and robbers (v8), hired hands (v12-13), and the wolf (v12)
- Thieves/Robbers – anything that steals/robs you of contentment
- comparison
- "what ifs"
- Hired hand – anything that pretends to care/false sense of security
- politicians
- validation in relationships
- job security
- Wolf – anything that causes actual harm
- drug abuse
- alcohol abuse
- pornography
- addiction
Every one of these "gates", whether positive or negative, are trying to sell you their version of "the good life".
- “Vote for THIS candidate and society will flourish!”
- "Buy THIS thing and life will be easier!”
- "As soon as you make THIS much money, then you'll be truly happy."
- "This week was tough, you deserve to blow off some steam, THIS will help you relax."
- "Feeling lonely? Just watch some of THIS. You're just a few clicks away!"
OK, so maybe the voices in your head aren't so obvious, but you get it, right?
Jesus wants us to “have life and have it in abundance.” All other gates may promise some semblance of life, but they will ultimately come up short/leave you wanting more. Living a life of faithful obedience to Jesus is the ONLY thing that truly provides fulfilling pasture and complete protection. Jesus is offering an abundance that is completely untethered from circumstance.
What's the secret to following Jesus? It can be found right there in v.4.
"The sheep follow him because they know his voice."
How do we know someone's voice? (This is not a trick question) We spend time with them!
How do we spend time with Jesus? We practice spiritual disciplines which include (but are not limited to):
- Prayer - Talking directly to God
- In Scripture - hear, read, study, memorize, meditate
- Worship - praising God for his greatness and goodness
- Service - loving God by loving others
- Solitude - taking time to truly be alone with God
- Fasting - Not eating food for a set amount of time
- Sabbath - Doing no work for a day and resting in God's provision
Do you know the voice of the shepherd?