JESUS Takes Care of Us - John 10:1-21 - March 18, 2007

Sunday school Lesson – JESUS Takes Care of Us – March 18, 2007

This is lesson three (3) in our series “What Does JESUS Do for Us?”

Our scripture is John 10:1-21.

So far in our study of John, JESUS has referred to Himself as:

I AM the Bread.
I AM the Light.

This Sunday HE refers to Himself as – “I AM the Door.”

It is interesting that JESUS referred to Himself as a door. A door is an opening or entrance into another area. Let’s see where the door JESUS offers leads.

Let’s read John 10:1-6:
The Ideal Shepherd
1 “• I assure you: Anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The doorkeeper 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 recognize his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
This is a continuation of JESUS teaching the people in last week’s lesson. HE uses a familiar example to which they all could relate, tending sheep. JESUS uses the example of several shepherds combining their sheep in a large sheep pen. Usually such an enclosure had a moderately high stone or brush wall with only one (1) door or entrance. Sometimes they would use a cave. One of the shepherds or a trusted hired shepherd would agree to guard the sheep while the other shepherds would be free to rest, prepare food, get provisions or tend to their needs. The shepherds had the piece of mind to know that their sheep would be guarded by a reliable shepherd.
When the shepherd returned to gather his sheep all he had to do was enter the sheep pen and call the names of his sheep. His sheep would all come out of the sheep pen or fold and follow the shepherd.

There are several things that JESUS says which are key. The shepherd knows his sheep by name and the sheep know the shepherd’s voice and follow him. The shepherd does not drive the sheep instead he leads the sheep. The shepherd goes ahead of the sheep leading them.

I have been told of shepherds using another shepherds clothing in an effort to fool the sheep. The impostor shepherd dressed in the other shepherds clothing and called the sheep by name. Even though the impostor was wearing the clothes of the sheep’s shepherd, the sheep refused to follow him. The key is in knowing the voice of the true shepherd.

This is true for us today. We must know the voice of our SAVIOR and LORD JESUS CHRIST.

JESUS also refers to anyone who enters any other way as a thief or robber. There is some speculation that JESUS is referring to the religious leaders they had encountered after the blind man was healed in last week’s lesson. The people fail to understand what HE is talking about. So JESUS attempts to enlighten them.

Let’s read John 10:7-10:
The Good Shepherd
7 So Jesus said again, “I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me[1] Other mss omit before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the door. 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 to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.

JESUS uses the phrase “I AM the door.” This phrase is emphatic. It is uttered with great authority. JESUS is saying, ““I AM” and there is NO other!”

What is a door? A door is an entrance into another area. It is a passage.

1 Samuel 1:9:

9 Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh.[7] LXX adds and presented herself before the Lord Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s tabernacle.

In the Old Testament the Priest had to offer a sacrifice first for his sins and then he could offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people. The Priests would position themselves at the entrance to the Tabernacle so they could offer the sacrifice for the person wishing to enter the Tabernacle.

Let’s read Leviticus 1:1-5:

1 Then the Lord summoned Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting: 2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the Lord from the livestock, you[1] Or Lord, from the livestock you may bring your offering from the herd or the flock.

3 “If his gift is a • burnt offering from the herd, he is to bring an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting so that he[2] Or it may be accepted by the Lord.[3] Lv 22:18–22; Dt 15:21; Heb 9:14; 1 Pt 1:19 4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering so it can be accepted on his behalf to make • atonement for him.[4] Lv 4:4,20; 16:16–18,21; Nm 15:25 5 He is to slaughter the bull before the Lord; Aaron’s sons the priests are to present the blood and sprinkle it[5] Lv 16:14–15; Heb 9:19,21–22; 10:22; 12:24; 1 Pt 1:2 on all sides of the altar that is at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

In the Old Testament GOD came down form heaven and dwelt among the people of Israel at the Tabernacle and later at the temple. GOD gave Moses HIS requirements for those who sought forgiveness of their sins. They had to come to the entrance of the Tabernacle and offer a sacrifice for their sins. Then the Priest would present the blood of the animal sacrificed and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. This was to prove to GOD that a sacrifice for sin had been made. The presence of the cloud over the Tabernacle indicated the presence of GOD.

JESUS is drawing a parallel to this practice, particularly for the religious leaders, who are still in the crowd of people. HE is the door or the entrance to GOD. “I AM” has come to earth and “I AM” is the entrance to GOD. Once JESUS gives HIS life for the sins of mankind, JESUS has prepared the human body to be the Tabernacle for the HOLY SPIRIT to dwell. We no longer have to wait until we see the cloud over the Tabernacle to know that GOD is present. As a Christian, GOD is with us 24/7 through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.

JESUS says that HIS sheep can go in and out of the fold to find pasture. When we are in CHRIST, HE wants us to be nourished in the pasture of HIS Word and life itself as we build a relationship with HIM.

HE wants us to have an intimate loving relationship with HIM and for us to be nourished through this relationship. HE wants us to study GOD’S Word, pray, fellowship with HIM, to really know HIM and to be obedient to HIM. HE is the way to the abundant life. HE is the way to life that overflows because we are no longer shackled by the unknown of sin, death and judgment. HE has set us free and we as Christians are free to live in fellowship with HIM here upon earth. When we escape this earth suit, called a body, life just keeps on going, except we are in the very presence of our SAVIOR and LORD JESUS and GOD THE FATHER for all eternity. WOW!!!

Then JESUS says all who came before HIM are thieves and robbers. Is HE talking about the early prophets? No. It is believed that HE is speaking about the religious leaders who are still in the group of people listening to JESUS. The religious leaders already had the opportunity to establish their leadership among the people. But the people have failed to follow them. Those who have recognized JESUS, as the true shepherd, have heard HIS voice and follow HIM.

The sheep are the prize possession. The religious leaders want the sheep. So the religious leaders are willing to try to get them any way they can. But those who know the truth are secure in the fold of the good shepherd.

Some religious people are so eager to have a following of people they will say and do any thing to get them to follow them. Recently one of the news magazines featured a story about an ex-convict who calls himself Jesus. He has a following of people.

There are good shepherds and bad shepherds. Discernment, which is a gift of the HOLY SPIRIT, will help Christians separate the good shepherds from the bad or misleading shepherds.

Let’s read John 10:11:

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

JESUS tells the people that HE is the good shepherd and HE gives HIS life to protect HIS sheep. No one takes HIS life from HIM. HE freely gives HIS life so that all who believe in HIM will have eternal life. The fact that the miracle HE just performed by giving sight to the eyes of the man who had been blind since birth is proof that HE is Who HE says HE is.

Let’s read John 10:12-15:

12 The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them[2] Lit leaves the sheep and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 [This happens]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep.

This entire discourse about sheep is an effort to connect the people with the scripture they already had and particularly the religious leaders knew. The people knew about the commitment of those hired to tend sheep. Some were very good and took their job seriously but there were others who could care less. JESUS is focusing on the hireling who was not committed to the job. All the people knew that a good shepherd was committed to his sheep.

I am told that some shepherds knew their sheep so intimately that some could be blindfolded and others would hand them sheep to touch. The blindfolded shepherds could identify their sheep by touch. OH!!! Does this warm your heart? JESUS knows each of HIS because HE has touched us. HE even knows the number of hairs we have on our heads. HE knows us intimately. Do we know HIM intimately? Do we know HIS voice?

JESUS gave HIS life that those who accept HIM as SAVIOR will have forgiveness of their sins and have eternal life. How secure is this? We will see in the next scripture.

Let’s read John 10:16:

16 But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.

JESUS says HE has sheep in another fold. Who are these sheep? That is where we as Gentiles come into the grace of GOD. JESUS came first to the House of Israel. JESUS already knows they will, for the most part, reject HIM. In early Christianity the converted Jews spread the Gospel of CHRIST. The Gentiles for the most part have followed HIM and spread the “Good News” of salvation through CHRIST to the entire world. I know there is a strong Messianic Jewish congregation in Virginia serving the Washington, DC and surrounding areas. We are all of the same fold because we have all placed our trust in JESUS the Messiah.

Let’s read John 10:17-21:

17 This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so 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.” 19 Again a division[3] Jn 7:43 took place among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and He’s crazy! Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These aren’t the words of someone demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

JESUS makes it very clear that HE is in control of HIS own life. HE and HE alone has the right to give up HIS life and to take it up again. HE has the full authority over HIS life because the FATHER has given HIM that authority. JESUS has complete and utter confidence in what the FATHER has told HIM.
JESUS is saying GOD, MY FATHER and I have discussed these things. JESUS is saying HE has spoken to GOD and GOD has spoken to HIM. On top of all that HE calls GOD HIS FATHER.

This is more than many of the people can tolerate. Keep in mind that the religious leaders are still among the people. They want to cause confusion among the people so they say that JESUS must be either crazy or demon-possessed. It is not clear but I think the statement “Why do you listen to HIM?” was likely made by some of the religious leaders. Confusion and doubt are always good things to insert when one wants to shape a direction of a movement.

I want to be very clear that we do need to be discerning when we follow any leader. Not all leaders have good intentions. When red flags go up or we feel uneasy, then pay attention. Check them out. Test religious leaders by using the scripture. Test what they say and do using scripture as the gauge.

The measure these people had, regarding the authenticity of JESUS, were the miracles HE had performed among them. HE had just given sight to a man who had been born blind. The religious leaders themselves had checked out and confirmed that the man had been born blind. No one in history had ever been healed of blindness when they had been born blind. Some of the people made the connection and likely found the truth that JESUS was the promised Messiah. Or it could have been after HE died, was buried and was resurrected that they made the connection. The seeds have been planted.

JESUS takes care of HIS sheep. The proof is that HE gave HIS life to protect all who believe in HIM from sin and death. Sin and death are thieves and robbers that no human can defend themselves against. We are all helpless. That is why the GOOD SHEPHERD is the door. HE says HE is the way to GOD. HE is the truth and the life.

A portion of our scripture states it best in verses 9 and 10:

9 I am the door. 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 to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.