1 “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.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.
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.
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. 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. 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.”
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?”
There's no gap between the end of chapter 9 and this chapter, so it's obvious that the thieves and robbers are the Pharisees. And Jesus is the shepherd of the sheep and also the gate itself. No one comes to the Father but through Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life. Not a way, the way.
Something I learned from Ray Vander Laan's lectures (see the Follow the Rabbi links in sidebar)....
The sheep truly know the voice of their shepherd. And they will listen to no one else. In fact, if the shepherd (and usually, actually, it's a shepherdess) dies, the slaughter the flock, because they won't follow or obey anyone else.
This is so meaningful to me in so many ways....
First of all - that's how we need to be, as sheep. We need to be so in tune to the voice of our Shepherd that we listen to no other voice. No other voice should be enticing to us, no other voice should lead us astray. No other voice should deceive or mislead us because we will recognize it for the cheap imitation and false impersonation that it is.
Also, the fact that Jesus lay down His life and took it up again is important. First because it was another of His many claims to be God. Anyone can lay down His life - but no one can make himself un-dead. Except God.
But it's also important because of the fact about sheep and their shepherd. If Jesus died, His sheep would be scattered and useless with their Shepherd. He needed to be raised to life so that we could continue to follow Him.
Isn't that an even more beautiful analogy, with that cultural understanding? I love it!
Tomorrow's scripture focus: John 10:22-42
2 comments:
I have always loved the analogy of the sheep, but even more so now. Thanks!
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.
I loved that because I think he was thinking of us non ethnic Jews.
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