JOHN 10:1-21
Lesson # 21
DEFINING WHO THE TRUE SHEPHERD IS
I.? Introduction:
Q? What are some common misconceptions about who Jesus Christ really is?
Q? Who is Jesus Christ to you?? What does He mean to you?
An = It is our goal tonight to look at what He says about Himself.? So often people have their own ideas as to who Jesus is, people often “make Jesus in their own image”.?
Q? What does the Bible call such activity?
An = Idolatry!? We want to hear John’s Gospel tonight so that we can hear what Jesus says about Himself….
II.? Setting Up the Metaphor and Two Types of Leaders:? John 10:1-5
>>>>? Have someone read John 10:1-2
Q? What is the metaphor Jesus is going to use to talk about leadership?
An = The metaphor of sheep and the sheepfold.
Q? What defines a poor leader (a thief and robber)?
An = Some one who does not enter by the door.
Q? Why are poor leaders called “thieves and robbers”?
An = Perhaps, it could be their orientation towards the flock.? They come to take, not help.? We will watch this aspect as our passage unfolds tonight.
Q? What defines a true leader?
An = One who enters by the door.
Q? What does it mean to not enter by the door or to enter by the door?
>>>>? Have someone read John 10:3-4.
Q? What is being described here by Jesus?
An = These are the results of obtained by the True Shepherd.
Q? What are the results gained by the True Shepherd?
An = 1) The doorkeeper opens to Him.
2) Sheep hear His voice.
3) Sheep follow Him.
Q? Why do the sheep hear His voice in verse?
An = Because1) He calls them.
2) He leads out.
3) He goes before them.
Q? What does it mean to hear the voice of the True Shepherd?? What does it mean He calls us?
Q? Can someone describe being “called by the Shepherd”?? What happened to you?
An = Let one or two share.
Q? What does it mean the True Shepherd leads us out and goes before us?? What does that mean today?
Q? In verse four, why do the sheep follow Him?
An = They know His voice?
Q? How do we know His voice, what is His voice like?
>>>>? Have someone read John 10:5.
Q? Why will they not follow a stranger and instead flee?
An = they do not know the voice of a stranger.
Q? How do you know when the True Shepherd is calling or when it is the voice of a stranger?
III.? Response to Jesus’ Metaphor About Sheep, Shepherds and Sheepfolds:? John 10:6
>>>>? Have someone read John 10:6
Q? Do they understand Jesus?
RQ? Is it not frustrating to be not be understood?? Watch was Jesus does though, He is not a mere dispenser of knowledge….
IV.? Jesus Explains the Metaphor:? in Two Stages, the Door and the Shepherd.? John 10:7-18.
A.? Jesus Is the Door of the Sheep:? John 10:7-10.
>>>> Have someone read John 10:7-10.
Q? Who does Jesus say He is?
An = He is the door.? Notice though, He does not explain this, but instead stresses something else by way of contrast.
Q? What is contrasted in these two verses?
An = Good and bad leadership:? thieves and robbers and the true door.
Q? What are the contrasting results of each type?
An = the thieves and robbers:? steal, kill and destroy.
Jesus, saves (9), gives pasture (9), enable life (10), and life abundantly (10).
Q? What are the distinguishing aspects of good and bad leadership?
An = How the sheep are treated!
Q? So Who is the real Jesus??
An = He is a savior, an enabler of life, abundant life and one who allows folks to be sustained.? Salvation and sustenance, (in fact, abundant sustenance or nourishment) characterize the results of Jesus’ actions.
B.? Jesus is the Good Shepherd:? John 10:11-18.
>>>>? Have someone read John 10:11-13.
Q? What is contrasted in these verses?
An = The True Shepherd and the hireling.
Q? What is the difference between the two?
An = 1) The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.
2) The hireling, not an owner, runs, abandons the sheep when danger comes and is not concerned with the sheep.
Q? What does this say about Jesus?? Who is Jesus?
An = He owns His sheep and if you are one of His, He will never leave you nor forsake you.? What is more, He came and died for you.? Satan wanted to destroy us but Jesus interposed His life for us.?
Note:? Sometimes it is so hard to realize Who He really is and what He really thinks of us!? He is true, self-sacrificing, and concerned for His sheep.
Note:? If you want to be a leader, a good verse to memorize is John 10:11.
>>>>? Have someone read John 10:14.
Q? What do we learn about Jesus in verse 14?
An = He knows His sheep.? >>> Have someone read Isaiah 40:11?
And we know Him.? >>>? Have someone read I Timothy 1:12.
>>>> Have someone read John 10:15.
Q? What do we learn about Jesus hear?
An = His Father knows Him and He knows the Father.? And again, Jesus stresses the death component of His leadership, He lays down His life for the sheep.
>>>>? Have someone read John 10:16-17.
Note:? Jesus seems to hint of the Gentile, world wide, aspect of His concern and ministry.
Q? Why does the Father love Jesus?
An = The death component again.? If your view of Jesus is not dominated by His death for you and absolute care, demonstrated in His death, then you need to improve your view of Jesus.
>>>>? Have someone read John 10:18.
Q? Is Jesus’ death for the sheep, His idea or His Father’s?
An = Actually, both.? It is His Father’s commandment, but His initiative, and certainly not mankind’s initiative.? Jesus could never have been killed unless Jesus allowed it.? He had all authority in the matter of His death.? But it pleased the Father, because the Son knows the Father and the Father knows the Son, and they both want the welfare of the sheep.
V.? The Response to Jesus’ Explanation:? John 10:19-21
>>>>? Have someone read John 10:19-21.
Q What was the response to Jesus’ explanations of Himself?
An = It was mixed, it always is.
Q How did some negatively describe Him?
An = He has demented, insane, possessed by a demon.
Q Why did some not go along with a negative assessment of Jesus?
An = The works! Crazy people do not help the sheep.? Demons do not restore to a man his sight. Demons destroy, Jesus nurtures, Jesus saves.
Note: There is death in the ministry of Jesus, but not to His sheep, but to Himself. There may be death in your ministry but it should not be to those you lead.