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This figure of speech Jesus used with them [some Pharisees c. AD 30], but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “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. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10: 7-18 |
The Pharisees (see bold above) were members of a politico-religious body of people who were in positions of power and authority in AD 30 in Jerusalem and its surrounding area known as Judea. Like all those who are in authority and also believe in their God-given right to rule, they said, “We see”. Jesus tried to explain to them that the fact that they said that they saw meant that their “guilt remained.”
They had decided that the man born blind was an utter sinner and that Jesus was a sinner as well. Could it be that Jesus was referring to that "We see" of theirs which saw Jesus as a sinner and not as the restorer of sight to the man born blind? Was that the “We see” which meant that their “guilt remained”? Was it that they refused to see Jesus, seeing only themselves as of supreme importance?
Jesus tried to explain – using a “figure of speech” – a parallel. Still “they did not understand what he was saying to them” so (see bold above) “Jesus again” set out the position to them…. |
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‘Amazing grace! How sweet the sound/ That saved a wretch like me;/ I once was lost, but now am found,/ Was blind, but now I see.’ (John Newton, slave ship captain, 1725-1807)
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1. He, Jesus, is the door into the sheepfold – into eternal life and even heaven itself. There are no others. “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.”
2. Those who enter though him will be saved and will, wherever he or she may be, enjoy fellowship with Jesus and find pasture. “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
3. There are men and women who are amongst the flock but they are self-seeking and therefore highly destructive – in stark contract with Jesus himself who lays down his own life for his sheep. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
4. There are those who are paid to look after the flock. (At that time the Pharisees?) Such people are not heart-committed to the sheep. The sheep are left in disarray - to the "wolves". “He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
5. The sheep personally know the good shepherd and the good shepherd personally knows each of his sheep. They know each other just as the Father knows the Son and the Son knows the Father – very, very well indeed. “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” |
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'The Lord has promised good to me,/ His word my hope secures;/ He will my shield and portion be/ As long as life endures.(John Newton, slave ship captain, 1725-1807)
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6. Jesus came primarily to the Jews – God’s Old Testament chosen people. Others – non-Jews – are to be added so that there is only one single fold. “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.”
7. Jesus will willingly give his life for the sheep. “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.”
For them none of this was true. They said "We see." I'm worried about their flock. |
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