It’s day 10 of our Countdown to Christmas! And today we are reading in John Chapter 10.
You guys, it’s less than two weeks until Christmas, and as much as I am looking forward to it, I have been feeling content. Focusing on God’s words every day and learning about Jesus has been the best thing for me this month. I hope you’re feeling the same way.
As always, the headings and verses below were all taken directly from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. Jesus’ words are in red, and my commentary is in blue.
If you missed yesterday’s reading, you can check it out here. I’ll have the recording of today’s chapter at the bottom of the page!
John Chapter 10
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper 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 the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Leaders of the day, religious or political, were often referred to as “shepherds”. Many at the time had gained their place through force or abuse of power, deceit, or connections. Jesus was indirectly calling the Pharisees out.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.
They 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.
A bad “shepherd” who forced his way in, comes for his own gain. Jesus comes as a shepherd for the protection and benefit of his sheep.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own 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.
Our Lord fully devotes himself to his followers. He gives himself away for our sake. We know no greater love.
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.”
Jesus was speaking to the Jewish people and their leaders. The Jews, God’s chosen people – knew God and his word, and had followed him from the beginning. Anyone who did not know God and followed other religious practices and worshipped other “gods” were called Gentiles. Jesus speaks of the gentiles as sheep from another pen that he “must bring also”.
He extended his love for all that would accept him, and people would no longer be divided as Jews and Gentiles, but as believers and non-believers of Jesus. He changed the game.
19 The Jews who heard these words 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?”
Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
The Jewish leaders aren’t genuinely curious that Jesus is the Messiah. They have made up their minds. At this point, all of their words are potential traps to catch Jesus and he knows that.
Jesus, once again, claims to be One with God. And we know that every time he makes a radical statement like this it sets the Pharisees off.
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
So they are up in arms because Jesus is claiming to be the son of God. He points out their hypocrisy again by reminding them that in the very scriptures they claim to follow, the title “gods” was given to earthly judges. And Jesus is a judge too, remember? In John chapter 5, we read that the Father gave Jesus authority as the judge of the world.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
The people who had known of John the Baptist recognized that Jesus fit into the prophecies of John. John did not perform miracles, but He spoke of the coming Savior, and Jesus fits the bill.
Alright, 10 days down, 11 to go!
I’ll see you all tomorrow for chapter 11.
~Ari
