I am the Door of the Sheep (Verses 1-9)

The start of John 10 is directly connected to the previous chapter. The Parable of the Good Shepherd addresses the misguided leaders of the Jewish community. The Scribes and Pharisees were the individuals our Lord referred to as the false shepherds. Those who had just claimed, “We see,” were identified by our Lord as “thieves and robbers.”

This parable provides a distinct illustration of what constitutes a false teacher. The Lord Jesus states that anyone who does not enter through the door into the sheepfold but instead climbs in another way is a thief and a robber. In this context, the “door” represents much more than just an external invitation. Being ordained to a position of authority and teaching in the local church does not guarantee that a person is suitable for the role. A person might occupy a position of respect yet never truly enter through the door, thus rendering them a thief and a robber.

The authentic meaning of the “door” should be grasped just as our Lord explained it. Christ Himself is “the door.” The genuine shepherd of souls is someone who engages in public ministry with Christ in mind, aiming to bring glory, honour, and praise to Him alone. This individual preaches Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, and His teachings, and follows Christ’s ways each day. In contrast, the false shepherd downplays Christ and approaches public ministry with self-serving intentions. A man who elevates Christ is a diligent worker after God’s own heart.

The Parable serves as a humbling message from our Lord, criticizing the Jewish teachers of that time. Their ministry lacked a true “door,” as they did not teach properly about the Messiah and rejected Christ. While Christ speaks directly to the Jewish leaders in this parable, its principles extend to false Christian teachers as well. Many self-proclaimed Christian teachers are unfamiliar with Christ beyond His name. They themselves have not passed through “the door,” and therefore cannot guide others to Christ. These unregenerate individuals contribute to the decline of the modern church, acting as the blind who lead the blind.

We also gain insight into the real essence of a Christian. Our Lord characterizes them as sheep that recognize the voice of their true Shepherd. If you were to visit a sheep farm and call out to the sheep, they wouldn’t respond because they do not recongnise a stranger’s voice. They have been conditioned to respond only to the call of their Master, the Shepherd. Similarly, Christians respond solely to the voice of Christ, our Shepherd. There exists a spiritual instinct in every true believer of the Gospel of Christ that allows them to discern between authentic and false teachings—between sound doctrine and misleading doctrine. When they hear the truth as revealed in Christ, there is an internal acknowledgment that resonates, saying, “This is right.” Conversely, when confronted with falsehoods, their hearts signal, “This is wrong.” While the average person may not distinguish between a faithful and an unfaithful preacher of God’s Word, even the least of Christ’s sheep can recognize the difference.

Let us commit to praying each and every day that we  grow in our understanding of the voice of Christ on a more intimate and personal level. It is our desire not merely to possess an intellectual understanding of Christ, but rather to cultivate a profound spiritual connection and deep-seated emotional awareness of our Saviour. Failing to discern the distinctions between law and grace, between truth and falsehood, and between sound doctrine and flawed teachings is indeed a sorrowful condition to find oneself in. It is crucial that we seek clarity and insight in our faith journey to avoid being misled or confused in matters of spiritual significance. Let us strive to develop a richer relationship with Christ, one that transcends mere knowledge and embraces the fullness of grace and truth.

Finally, in these introductory verses, we see a depiction of Christ Himself. Here, our Lord makes one of those profound statements found in Holy Scripture that every believer should cherish. He proclaimed, “I am the door: if anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out, and find pasture.” By our very nature, we are distanced from God and separated from Him. It is sin that has created this divide between humanity and God. The initial questions that need to be addressed are: “How can I draw closer to God?” “How can I have the salvation of Christ?” “How can I be reconciled with my Creator?”

The Lord Jesus Christ has addressed all these questions. Through His death on the cross, He paved the way past every obstacle and offered salvation and peace to everyone who calls upon His name. He endured suffering for sinners to reconcile us with God, providing us with hope, joy, and lasting peace that transcends death. He is “the door,” and no one can reach the Father except through Him. “The door” is available and accessible to all, even the most wretched of sinners. Anyone who enters “the door” will be saved. It is the only gateway through which we discover complete salvation and peace with God. A time will come when the door will be closed, and it will remain closed forever. May we choose to enter that door and find salvation before it is too late. Luke 13:25 says, “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:”

Christ came to give life more abundantly (Verses 10-18)

The verses before us in this portion of John 10 tell us why Christ came into the world. He came into the world to give life more abundantly. That word abundantly means “to the full”; completeness. Christ did not come to be merely a teacher or a good example. He left the realms of Heaven for a much greater purpose. He came to make eternal life available to all mankind, by the price of His own blood. By Moses came laws, rules and ceremonies. By Christ came grace, truth and life eternal.

We must not think that eternal life was entirely unknown before Christ came. The way of life by faith in a Saviour was known to Old Testament prophets. Abraham, Moses, David and others knew very well what it meant to live by faith. A Redeemer and Sacrifice was the hope of God’s people in the Old Testament: but their vision was not fulfilled until Christ came. They saw it only in type and in shadow. Life and immortality were brought into full light by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When Christ came into the world those that had life had it “more abundantly.”

In the passage Christ emphatically says twice that He is “the Good Shepherd.” Like a good shepherd, Christ knows His believing people. He knows them by name. He knows their circumstances, their troubles, their temptations, their strengthens, their weakness, but most importantly He knows their hearts. There is not a thing about them that Christ is not acutely aware of. He knows who belongs to Him and He loves them and cherishes them.

Like a good shepherd, Christ cares for all those who believe in Him. He meets all their needs and leads them on the path of righteousness and holiness. He guards and protects them against the attacks and perils of the world. His loving care for His people is like that of a father for his son. He loves them and protects them more than any human father would do.

Like a good shepherd, Christ has laid down His life for the sheep. Nothing can deliver lost sinners from hell and the vexation of the devil, but the blood of Christ. He willing laid down His life as an offering for their sins. The sheep are saved for evermore, because the Good Shepherd died for them. This gives indeed a love and peace that passes all human knowledge, experience and understanding. Christ’s love for His sheep is so deep, so vast, so pure that He sacrificed even His own life for them. Many natural mothers and fathers will do almost anything to protect their children. They will go to extreme lengths to make sure that their child never comes to any danger. However, no matter how strong that love may be natural parents can never do what Christ did for each and every member of His flock; He laid down His life for the forgiveness of their sins and the pardon of their iniquity.

We read in John 15:13, “ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” We read in the history books of brave men and women laying down their lives for nations and causes they deeply believe in. We read about their noble sacrifice and celebrate the service given; their names live on in many memorials around the world. However, the many brave lives given in defence of a nation can never reconcile a soul to God. There is only one sacrifice that is acceptable in the sight of God; that of a sinless Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. It will profit us nothing at the closing of earthly life that Jesus Christ was a Shepherd, if during our lifetime, we never heard His voice, followed Him and applied His life-giving blood to our own souls. There is power in the blood of Christ; power to change, redeem and set souls free from the condemnation of sin.

These verses also shows us that when Christ died on the cross, He did so of His own free will. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 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” (Verses 17-18). We must never think for a single moment that Christ was powerless in the matter of His death on the cross. Christ was not delivered into the hands of His enemies and crucified because He could not do anything to prevent it. Nothing could be further from the truth. The betrayal of Judas, the enmity of the Scribes and Pharisees, the injustice of Pontius Pilate, the scourges, the nails and all that happened to Christ was all in the plan of God. What man intended for evil, God used for good. The wickedness and injustice of man was used by God to bring about the redemption of souls. The Jewish leaders, the Romans and all the enemies of Christ thought they were crucifying a man that posed a great danger to them, yet they were putting to death the Son of God; the one and only man that walked this world who never sinned in thought, word or deed. Not a hair of Christ’s head could have been harmed, unless He had allowed it.

The plain and remarkable truth is that Christ submitted to death of His own free will. He knew that His death was the only way that sinners could be reconciled to God. The Scriptures tell us, “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). He shed His blood because He desired to obey the will of the Father, to pay the debt of sin for every man and to redeem us from the penalty of sin and a destiny in hell. For the joy set before Him (Heb. 12:2) He willing endured the indignity and suffering of the cross, in order that we through His death, might have eternal life. His death was the death of death for all who believe in His name. His death was triumphant because in dying He won for His people a kingdom and a crown of glory.

Let us learn these great and mighty truths. Take them to heart and be thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for all that He accomplished for us by His death and shed blood. Let us praise Christ who is a willing Saviour, a loving Saviour, a Saviour who came into this world to laid down His life as a ransom for many. Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord will joy and thankfulness in our hearts.

Christ declares His deity (Verses 19-30)

One of the first things that this passage shows us is that many controversies took place during our Lord’s ministry. We read that there was a division “again” among the Jews because of what the Lord Jesus said. Many of them said that He had a devil while others said that He was mad. It may appear strange to us that so much strife was caused by the words of a man who came to bring reconciliation between God and man. However, by that  strife the words of Christ were fulfilled. Our Lord said that He came not to send peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). His message was going to cause debate, division and disagreement. Luke 12:53 states, “The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

However, the fault was not in Christ or His words, but in the unregenerate minds of those who heard Him. The carnal mind is at war with God. The natural man does not receive the things that are from God.

We must never think that it is strange if we experience a similar rejection and attitude from world because we follow Christ. We will often find our words, views and beliefs a matter of strife in our own family. We will endure mockery, harsh words and rejection from them for the sake of Christ. Matthew 10:36 tells us, “ a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” We may find that we are thought of as a fool or madman on the grounds of our Christianity. May we never be moved or discouraged by this unfair treatment; Christ Himself suffered the same. Luke 6:26 says, “ Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Whatever men may say, it is human nature, not Christianity, which is to blame.

A second thing we should notice from the passage is the name that Christ gives to His believing people. He uses figurative language, but with a deep meaning. He calls His people, “My sheep.” The word “sheep” points to the dependence on Him that marks His people. Sheep are completely dependent on their shepherd for everything. Just as sheep hear the call of their own shepherd, and follow him, so do believers follow Christ.

Christians have an open ear to the voice of Christ. The Lord Jesus speaks to the believer through Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit and through prayer. By faith the believer listens to His call. By faith the believer submits to His loving care and protection. By faith the believer obeys the voice of the Good Shepherd.  

The expression, “My sheep” points to the close relationship between Christ and believers. They are His by the gift of the Father. They are His purchase, His beloved bride. He who knows he belongs to Christ has nothing to fear and nothing to be ashamed of.

Our attention is also drawn to the great privileges and blessings that the Lord Jesus bestows on His believing people. The Lord Jesus said them that they shall have eternal life and shall never perish. The Lord Jesus knows who are His. He knows them with a special knowledge of love. They may not be known by the world and when they pass from this life they may even be forgotten. They are never forgotten by Christ.

He bestows on them a gift that the world can never give. He bestows on them the gift of eternal life. He pardons their many sins and clothes them in a robe of righteousness. He washes their hearts clean and presents them before the throne of God as a blood bought child of grace. Money, health, position or family ties can never give the eternal inheritance that Christ gives to those who believe on Him.

This world likes to give great titles to men and women who the world sees as worthy of honour. But here can be no greater title, position or honour than that of a child of God. Our Lord gives sinners an eternal hope that the world can never take away. Christ declares that His people shall never perish. Weak and helpless as they maybe they shall never perish. Prone to wander, sin and stumble, still they shall not perish. Not one of them shall be lost and miss heaven. If they stumble, they shall be brought back. If they fall, they shall be raised. The great enemy of souls may be strong and mighty, but the Saviour of souls is stronger and mightier. None shall be plucked out of the hand of the Saviour of sinners.

Once converted to the truth of the gospel a soul shall never be cut off. Just as it was in the days of Noah; once inside the ark they were safe from the judgement of the flood. Once you are in Christ you shall be saved from the judgement of God. Christ cannot lie, you shall never perish, nothing shall separate a believing heart from the saving love and grace of Christ. So, let us hear and follow the voice of Christ. Let us walk in obedience and faith to the truth of Scripture. Let us serve our great and faithful master. Let us trust in the Lord Jesus and praise Him for the gift of life eternal.

Jesus accused of blasphemy (Verses 31-42)

The extreme wickedness of human nature is one of the first things that the text draws to our attention. Nothing would move the hearts of the unbelieving Jews at Jerusalem, not the miracles, preaching nor the kindness of the Lord Jesus. They were stubborn in their unbelief. This stubbornness turned to hatred as the text tells us that “they took up stones to stone Him.”

Our Lord had no ill feelings nor malicious intent towards the Jews. In fact He came to the Jew first, they are the chosen people of God. The Lord Jesus had nothing but good intentions towards the children of Israel. His life and testimony was one of love who went about doing good among them. There was no fault in his character. Yet, the Jews with a blood thirsty anger hated the perfect Son of God. It was not only the Jews that wanted to cause great injury to the Lord Jesus. The Romans ultimately sought to remove Jesus and persecuted His followers.

We ought to keep in mind, that we are living in what the Bible calls “the last days”, a time of spiritual decline. The world promotes and celebrates lifestyles and behaviours that Scripture utterly condemns. It was the same in Christ’s day as it is today. Unconverted men and women conduct their lives in a way that is repugnant to Holy Scripture. The world in which we live is against God and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, we find Christian men and women seeking approval, validation and acceptance from a world that crucified a perfect man. Unconverted men would kill God Himself if they could only get at Him.

The child of God has no right to expect acceptance from this world. Scripture is very clear on the matter. You are either for or against God. There is no “sitting on the fence” when it comes to spiritual matters. You are either with the Lord or against Him. You are either on the side of the Lord or the side of the devil.

The more Christ-like you become the more the world will have cause against you. The world hates to see anything of the image of God. The children of the world are vexed and pricked in their conscience when they see others living a holy and God-fearing life. Why did the Jews hate the Lord Jesus? Because He exposed their sins, their lies, their false doctrines and their hypocrisy. They knew that He was right and they were wrong, and they could not bear to admit it. The world hates Christ because He testified that their works were evil (John 7:7).

There is One in Heaven who said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). May we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ remember this. Time is short and passing by swiftly. We are travelling on towards a day when all shall be set right, and every man shall receive according to his works.

We should also take to heart the high place that the Lord Jesus gives to Holy Scripture. We find Him using a text from the Psalms as an argument against His accusers. Having quoted the text He lays down the great principle, “the Scripture cannot be broken.” Whenever the Scriptures speaks plainly on any matter there can be no question or doubt about it. The Holy Bible is the only reliable data we have about God, His character, His standards, His message and His purpose. God says what He means and He means what He says. God does not change His Holy Word to suit the ideas, plans and desires of His creation. What is true in Scripture is true today. What God has written in His Word is as true today as it was when it was first written. The case is settled and decided. Every jot and tittle of Scripture is true. Only a foolish man will try to alter and change Scripture. There have been attempts in the past by wicked men to tamper with Holy Scripture. A case in point was made public in 1961. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society disseminated a flawed translation of the Holy Scriptures known as the New World Translation. This distortion, utilized globally by Jehovah’s Witnesses, aims to promote a misleading portrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ by undermining the doctrine of Christ’s divine nature.

The principle here laid down by our Lord, “that the Scripture cannot be broken” is of great importance. Let us grasp it firmly and hold boldly the complete inspiration of every word of the original Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. We believe that not only every book of the Bible, but every chapter, verse and word is given by the inspiration of God. We thank God for giving us His Word, so that we can know Him and draw near. We bless God for the relentless work of gifted men down the ages that has translated the Bible into the common everyday languages of men and women. For centuries the Scriptures were not readily available in the common tongue of the people. It has been reported that the whole Bible is now available in over 700 languages. We also give thanks to God for the chapter and verse division of Scripture, making it easier to navigate and reference. The chapters in the Bible were created by Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the early 13th century, while the verse numbers were added by Robert Estienne (Stephanus) in the mid-16th century.

There are difficulties in Scripture; passages that are not easy to grasp and need much study and wisdom. We need not shrink from these hard to understand verses. We must realise that when faced with hard sayings and difficult passages that the fault is not with Scriptures, but with our own lack of knowledge and weakness of mind to grasp the deeper things of God. In such cases we ought to pray and study for light to be shone on the text and for our heart and mind to be opened to the truth. I cannot give up a single word of my Bible. All Scripture is inspired by God. The Scripture cannot be broken.

Lastly, we should observe the importance which our Lord gives to His miracles. He appeals to them as the strongest proof of His divine mission. The Lord Jesus Christ said (verses 37-38), “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 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.”

The Lord Jesus did performed many miracles during His three years of earthly ministry. All of them demonstrate His divine nature and are proof that He was sent by the Father. We read over forty times in the Gospels of the Lord Jesus doing things that are outside of the laws of nature and are extra-ordinary. He healed the sick of illness, He raised the dead, He calmed a violent storm with a few words, He cast out demons, He turned water into wine and walked on water as on solid ground. These miracles were not all done in private among friends and close followers many were done in full public view. All could see that the One who performed them must be nothing less than very God. Only God who created all things in the beginning could suspend the laws of creation. To reject the One who performed these miracles is an act of folly and deeply sad.

Thousands of unbelieving men and women in every age and culture have tried to pour contempt on the great miracles of Christ and deny that they even took place. They labour in vain because proof upon proof exists that the Lord Jesus did indeed perform the many miracles that we read about in Holy Scripture. Those who deny the miracles of Christ ought to consider the greatest miracle of all namely His glorious resurrection from the dead. If they cannot disprove this miracle then they ought, as honest men to confess that miracles are indeed possible and that Christ performed the miracles that are recorded in Scripture.

We thank God that our Christian faith has an abundance of evidence to demonstrate it is true and from God. We believe the Word of God that Christ is the one and only way to the Father. We have a Saviour and a Gospel to proclaim, a salvation to testify of and an eternal hope to speak of. Whether we turn to the internal evidence in the Bible, its prophecies and miracles, or to the lives of the first Christians who were willing to die for their faith, we have a sure foundation. All the evidence proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God.