John: The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Hinduism teaches that there are many paths to God, including the disciplines of action, devotion, and knowledge. Buddhists do not believe in a specific god. Their goal is to achieve enlightenment. Religious pluralism suggests that you can take a little from this religion and a little from others to customize your path to God. Pope Francis (1936-2025) stated that “all religions are paths to God.”[1] The statement was a shocker that contradicts a major tenet of Christianity.

Jesus emphasizes multiple times throughout John’s gospel that the only way to reach God the Father is through the Son. In today’s passage, Jesus uses a sheep analogy to illustrate this point. Sadly, many misunderstood the “figure of speech Jesus used” (John 10:6). 

The Door of the Sheep (John 10:1-10)
In the Middle East, it was common to compare a nation to a shepherd and his flock of sheep. The Bible also frequently uses this analogy (Ps. 23; Isa. 53:6; Luke 15:1-7).

When the shepherd didn’t have his sheep grazing in the pastures, they were kept in pens. These pens were often stone-walled enclosures with a gatekeeper guarding the entrance to keep predators and thieves out. Any person or animal climbing over the wall was considered suspicious. 

The shepherd always enters through the “door” of the enclosure, and his sheep recognize his voice. He “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3). Just as it is with sheep, so it is with people.

God knows our name (Isa. 43:1) and calls us to himself (John 10:16, 27). When he calls, we follow (John 1:43; 8:12; 12:26; 21:19, 22). However, the listeners missed the point. In their spiritual blindness, they were unable to see Jesus as the shepherd.^[2] So, Jesus made the analogy very relatable.

John 10:7-10
Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 

The thieves are like false shepherds who only look out for themselves to boost their status. They resemble religious leaders who often prioritized power and prestige over truth. The leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah for many reasons, but one reason stands out: Jesus threatened their authority. The religious leaders dominated the people; as a result, the people stopped listening to their message. Jesus states that their purpose was to “steal and kill and destroy,” to take away, but Jesus came to give life that is complete (See Gal. 1:4; Eph. 5:2, 25; Heb. 9:14). 

There are not many doors to find safety, comfort, and provisions in the sheep pen. Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep.” Entrance into abundant eternal life is only through him.

But how would Jesus be the “door of the sheep”?

The Good Shepherd (John 10:11-14)
Abundant life—life that is full and complete—comes through Jesus. Not only is he the “door of the sheep,” he is the good shepherd who “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11, 15, 17, 18). False shepherds will run from danger and put the sheep at risk because they care “nothing for the sheep” (John 10:13). But the good shepherd knows his sheep, and they know him (John 10:14).

In the Old Testament, God is often called the shepherd of his people (Ps. 23:1; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; Jer. 31:10). Now, Jesus takes on that role as he fulfills his mission on earth.

The Good Shepherd’s Mission (John 10:15-21)
In this section, Jesus emphasizes that he will lay down his life for his sheep. That’s his mission; that’s what the good shepherd does. He “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11, 15). Jesus also highlights three aspects of laying down his life.

• Voluntary Sacrifice. Jesus said, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down” (John 10:18). Jesus, of course, is talking about his death on the cross. He was not a victim of circumstance; he was not in the wrong place at the wrong time. Neither was he forced to die on the cross. He went on his own terms. Jesus had sovereign authority over his destiny. He said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life” (John 10:17).[3]
  
  
• The Resurrection. Death could not hold Jesus in the tomb. He said that he laid down his life “that I may take it up again” (John 10:17). Jesus repeats this in the next verse, stating that the Father gave him the authority to lay down his life, “and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:18). The apostle Paul says that, if there is no resurrection, our message is worthless, our faith is useless, we are still in our sins, and “we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:12-19). But here's the good news: Jesus took his life up again! 

1 Corinthians 15:20-22
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

• For all who believe. Jesus said, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16). God chose the nation of Israel through whom to send the Savior. By him, all nations and peoples on earth will be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) who trust in Jesus alone as the only way to have a relationship with the living God will be one flock and one family, led by the Good Shepherd, the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18-20).

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on John 10:1-21. Think about the sacrifice Jesus made to demonstrate how much he loves you. He willingly laid down his life for you.  

Talking to God:  Ask God to help you understand the depth of his love for you.

Have Questions?
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