Interact with the Sermon John 10:1-21 for March 8, 2009
This week's passage is a very familiar one. Remember the context as you read through this scripture. The blind man just got through confronting the religious leaders with "his story" about what Jesus did for him. In this passage Jesus is probably talking with the same group of people. Religious leaders, disciples, blind man, and the crowd following him
As you read through this passage:
Jesus uses a metaphor or a picture that "everyone" in his day would understand very clearly. What is today's modern equivalent to shepherding that all of us would understand to show his care and love for us?
What does "life" mean in the famous verse (10)? What does "more abundantly" mean?
Let the comments and questions fly!
See you on Sunday!
John 10:1-21
John 10
Parable of the Good Shepherd
1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
2"But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
3"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4"When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5"A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."
6This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
7So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8"All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
12"He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13"He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.
14"I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
15even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
17"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.
18"No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again This commandment I received from My Father."
19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words.
20 Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?"
21Others were saying, "These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?"
As you read through this passage:
Jesus uses a metaphor or a picture that "everyone" in his day would understand very clearly. What is today's modern equivalent to shepherding that all of us would understand to show his care and love for us?
What does "life" mean in the famous verse (10)? What does "more abundantly" mean?
Let the comments and questions fly!
See you on Sunday!
John 10:1-21
John 10
Parable of the Good Shepherd
1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
2"But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
3"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4"When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5"A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."
6This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
7So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8"All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
12"He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13"He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.
14"I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
15even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
17"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.
18"No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again This commandment I received from My Father."
19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words.
20 Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?"
21Others were saying, "These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?"
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Teri Purcell on -
This passage reminds me of all of the false prophets that have been common throughout the ages--even today (think Jim Jones and the many others that are in the news now). People are fooled by those who seem to have nice voices and say nice things, at least at the beginning. We must not blindly follow, as sheep in a flock follow one another. We must be sure that we are part of the right flock, following the true shepherd.
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Permalink Reply by Josh Friesema on -
and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
From this I take the idea that time must be spent with the good shepherd to learn and understand him so that we will not easily be fooled. We must learn his voice so that when the thief comes we will recognize him for what he is and not easily be lead astray. Time is critical to learning the shepherd's voice. Too much today we hear of talk about people who don't spend much time with God but when they do they make sure it is quality time. I personally don't believe you can have quality without quantity.
He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
Here He also speaks of the hired hand who has the intention of caring for us, but is not nearly as invested or committed as the good shepherd. Is this a warning that we need to be careful not to follow the leaders God has given us (i.e. the pastor of the church, or a charismatic speaker, or a captivating author) without recognizing that they themselves are fallible humans accountable to God? It's an interesting addition to the warning against the thief.
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Morton on -
Regarding vs. 10, having abundant life comes from having complete faith in the Shepherd. My brother asked me today why so many people of faith have so little faith in our government. I wrote back and said that my faith had NEVER been in our government, regardless of who is leading our government. In a world which cries out for a reason to have faith in something, it's obvious that many have faith in the wrong things...such as hired help (vs. 12). As believers we strive to put our complete faith in the true Shepherd, the one who gave up His life for His sheep.
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Permalink Reply by Donna McMurtry on -
Random things that jumped out at me and the thoughts that followed...
Vs 1. Jesus entered this world thru our human portal. Birth.
Satan "climbs in other ways".
Chronologically speaks of satan's entry first, then Jesus'.
Vs 3. We have a watchman!
We tend to act like sheep. Why?
It removes responsibility from our actions and decisions. We can just follow the crowd and believe/do what they do. We don't have to think for ourselves. It's acceptable to act lazy and dumb because we are in the "safety" of the flock. Jesus doesnt condone or condemn our sheep tendancies. It just is.
When you act like a sheep you give over control of your destiny, surroundings, and leadership. Sheep don't understand anything except how to be a really good sheep. Their world is small and simple and they think this is the entirety of the world. That their reality is THE reality. It is beyond their mental capacity to think about the sorts of "Beings" who will come to interact with them. These beings are clearly not sheep. Like us. So Jesus states very strongly.
There is a thief . You will recognize which being he is b/c he leaves behind death and destruction.
There is a hired hand being. Or several. Hired by your owner. You'll recognize them b/c they mean good, are good and do lots of good for you, but in dire danger they will not/can not rescue you, defend you, love you enough to stick around. Because they don't own you.
I, Jesus, am the good Shepherd. You will recognize me because I will lay down my life to defend, rescue, care for you. Because I own you and understand the world in a way you are incapable of.
Just as sheep don't understand things outside their limited animal abilities and instincts. There's a whole universe/dimension out there you don't know about and may never experience.
Vs 4 & 5. A promise. "Even tho you act like dumb sheep, I guarantee you that you will recognize my voice". It's not something we choose or control. This recognition of the voice of the One who loves us. Nor the dismissal and turning away from the stranger's voice. This happens with no effort or decision on our part. Sheep don't decide whether the voice is the right one or not. There's no dithering. It simply is or isnt. It's an automatic instinct. This is something we can rest in and trust. We don't have to understand it. We can just claim it.
Reality check. Sheep are a commodity. They are useful for many things. They exist to be useful. Forces beyond their control determine when and how they are used.
The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. Uses us destructively. Takes from us.
The Good Shepherd gives us life. Abundantly. Uses us constuctively. Gives to us.
Vs 16. A beautiful reminder that God accepts, owns, pursues many "flocks". Religions, People groups, worlds?
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Permalink Reply by Todd Zeller on -
Donna,
Wow, impressive! You spent some time! Love the perspective that the Shepherd knows and sees and understands a huge world that the sheep don't get at all. Makes me wonder how much we think we get about God and really have no ability to see the world as God would see it.
Not sure I agree that the sheep instinctively know the shepherds voice outside of any choice, time, experience. Seems to me a sheep would not know the Shepherds voice without some time together. Maybe I missed your point!
Lots to chew on here!
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Permalink Reply by Rich Stanbery on -
Here is my take on the sheep knowing the shepherd's voice. I believe that trust is a factor tied in with this. The way the sheep respond to the shepherd's voice indicates that they put their trust in him. Likewise, anyone with whom we build our relationships, whether within the family, fellowship, workplace, neighborhood, because WE KNOW the person through the relationship and have built our trust in that person, when we recognize that person's voice, our brain automatically tunes in and listens to what he/she has to say.
As we grow in our relationship with Christ, when ever He speaks (through scripture), it is automatic that we want to tune in. When we first accepted Jesus in our lives, we placed our trust in Him. As that trust continues to build, the deeper our relationship grows in Him.
The sheep's relationship with the shepherd grows with their limited knowledge that he cares, feeds, guides and protects them. They tune in with the shepherd's voice and trust it. Baa-aa?
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