John 10
John chapter 10 begins with Jesus describing himself as a good shepherd. Through the parable of the relationship between sheep and shepherd, this chapter shows the deep affection and responsibility Jesus has for his people. Connected to the events of the earlier chapter 9, these words continue in the context of revealing that, after the man born blind is cast out, Jesus is the true shepherd of the world.
1verse“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2verseBut one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3verseThe gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4verseWhenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5verseThey will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.”
6verseJesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.
7verseJesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door.
8verseAll who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.
9verseI am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture.
10verseThe thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
11verse“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12verseHe who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.
13verseThe hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care for the sheep.
14verseI am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own;
15verseeven as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
16verseI have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.
17verseTherefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
18verseNo one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”
19verseTherefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words.
20verseMany of them said, “He has a demon and is insane! Why do you listen to him?”
21verseOthers said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”
22verseIt was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.
23verseIt was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
24verseThe Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25verseJesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.
26verseBut you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.
27verseMy sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28verseI give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29verseMy Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30verseI and the Father are one.”
31verseTherefore the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32verseJesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
33verseThe Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
34verseJesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?
35verseIf he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken),
36versedo you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
37verseIf I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.
38verseBut if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
39verseThey sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.
40verseHe went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there.
41verseMany came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.”
42verseMany believed in him there.
The Flow of the Main Content
- The Parable of the Sheepfold Door (vv. 1-6): Jesus declares that he is the only door through which one enters the sheepfold. He said that anyone who comes in by another way is a thief and a robber.
- The Parable of the Good Shepherd (vv. 7-18): He makes clear that he is the shepherd, emphasizing the love and responsibility in that the shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. It is explained in contrast to the hired hand. He also says that he will lead other sheep outside this sheepfold, hinting that all the sheep will be under one shepherd.
- The Response of the People (vv. 19-21): After hearing Jesus’ words, people begin to argue among themselves, though some wonder who he is based on his miracles and teachings.
- Oneness with God (vv. 22-39): Jesus says that he and the Father are one, clearly affirming his divinity and the authority of his mission. As a result, an even greater dispute arises, but Jesus confirms the safety of those who belong to his authority and to God (the sheep).
- Jesus’ Ministry Beyond Galilee at the Jordan River (vv. 40-42): The chapter ends with a picture of many people coming to believe in Jesus.
The Meaning and Message of the Whole Chapter
The central message of this chapter is that Jesus is the true shepherd for the sheep, and the assurance that those under his guidance are secure. It is also a chapter where Jesus’ declaration of his identity (his divinity and mission) is clearly revealed. Just as sheep hear the shepherd’s voice and follow, the chapter emphasizes that those who hear Jesus’ words and believe receive the Lord’s protection and guidance.
Points for Reflection
- Whose voice am I listening to today?
- Do I trust in and follow Jesus as the shepherd of my life?
- Who are the “other sheep” the Lord has prepared—those neighbors or people in a community whom I have not yet cared for?
- Do I also look at whether I am learning and practicing Jesus’ “love that gives even his life”?
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Living with an awareness of the guidance of the “good shepherd” in life: Even in confusing circumstances, I should keep my heart attentive to the Lord’s voice.
- Love I can practice for people who feel excluded around me: Like Jesus’ sheep, let’s begin with small acts of serving and helping the neighbor beside me.