Vs 1. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Speaking is Jesus. Thief is Satan.
Vs. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
The shepherd uses the door and a thief does not.
Vs. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Shepherd knows our name. The shepherd is Jesus. A little known fact is that shepherds have certain calling sounds that only their sheep knows. So, when someone tries to steal their sheep the sheep don’t respond. It’s a distinct calling.
Same with Jesus only those who know and hear His voice.
Vs. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. Vs. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
By knowing Jesus’ voice we will respond by any other vocie we would flee from it.
Vs. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
For when Jesus spoke the Pharisees didn’t understand. So, he goes on to repeat himself.
Vs. 7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. Vs. 8. All that enter came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Remember He said this in vs. 4 and vs. 5 previously and had to restate it. When you don’t know the Lord you will not understand. Once you are a child of God you will understand His word and know His voice.
Vs. 9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Jesus is saying He is the door and through Him we are saved.
The next verse I went into more in depth study. It was my focus point for this chapter.
Vs. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Let’s begin by the word thief. Who is the thief? The thief is Satan. If we back up to John 10: 1 & 10:8 He (Satan) comes for his own selfish purposes and to ruin the flock.
I am come that they might have life the one speaking is God. As oppose to the thief who comes to steal, kill, & destroy.
In vs. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Do you see the vast differences between the thief and the shepherd? One comes to kill the other to save.
See Luke 19 vs. 9 & 10 and John 6 vs 50 & 51
That they may have life eternal. The word eternal speaks of forever. See John 10: 28.
Last line in vs. 10 And that they may have life more abundantly. The abundance of life which results in Chirst’s coming is contrusted with the spiritual wants and death which He came to remove. Reminds us of Psalm 23. This is through Him given to men abundantly, overflowingly.
Vs. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. Vs. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
The word hireling is a lower position than the household servant. Thought follows that of the good shepherd who in time of danger will give his own life for the sheep. The hireling has no interest in the sheep and care only as far as to the secure his own hire.
Vs 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Vs. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. Vs 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Vs 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. Vs 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
I lay down my life, that I might take it up again. This speaks of Jesus going to the cross and then rising three days later. Death has no hold on Him as He gave His life freely for us. God gave Jesus the power to lay down His life and take it up again scriptures foretold of this and while He said these things they didn’t understand nor believe.
Vs 19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. Vs 20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Vs 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? Vs 22 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? Vs. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Vs 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. Vs 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. Vs 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Vs 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Vs 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. Vs 30 I and my Father are one.
He told them and they didn’t believe. Why could they not believe? They were not His sheep.
Their response was vs 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Took up stones to stone Him. Why? Jesus spoke truth. They could not understand nor believe.
Jesus reply in verse 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
The Jews respondses back calling it blasphemy in verse 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
They were told of His coming and yet still did not believe. They have seenwhat He has done and still not getting it.
Vs 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? Vs 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; vs 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? Vs 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. Vs 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
He reminds them of the scriptures and to believe the works done by that of the Father. The Father is in me and I in him.
Vs 39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, vs 40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. Vs 41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. Vs 42 And many believed on him there.
The Jews would not believe and sought to capture and stone him. He left to go to those who would believe in him.
Kirsten's Christian Corner 