John 10:1-21
The Shepherd and His Flock
1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns 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. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I 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. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No 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."
19At these words the Jews were again divided. 20Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"
21But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
Jesus starts out and talks about the sheep gate...His followers would have been familiar with the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem...In Nehemiah 3:1, Nehemiah talks about Eliashib, the high priest, and his fellow priest went to work on building the Sheep Gate (after the Babylon exile)...In John chapter 5:2, Jesus heals an invalid near the Sheep Gate...The Sheep Gate was built for the sheep and animal sacrifices to be brought through (the Sheep Gate)...Normally, the sheep and other animals would enter and would have no way out, they were to be sacrificed, to their death...This sheep gate is much different and superior to any gate or path...
Jesus talks on in John ten, and speaks of Himself, as the Good Shepherd, as followers and the Pharisees listen (to Him)...
The other sheep gate thought would be the everyday shepherds who in some manner penned their sheep up every night and then in the morning would have count and identify all their sheep...Their would be a gate where the shepherd would enter normally and legally...He is the Good Shepherd of the flock...The thieves and evil ones would climb over the pens and try to get at the sheep to steal...The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy...
The gate is the true and proper way to enter the sheep pen...
The sheep knows the voice of the Good Shepherd, and the sheep listen to Him...The sheep know this voice and will follow Him...
Jesus is the true Shepherd...All who came before Him were thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not listen to them...
Even the hired workers who were paid to watch over the sheep, abandon the sheep when times become difficult...The hired hand runs away when he must face the wolves attacking...The sheep scatter and much is lost...The hired hand is concerned primary about getting paid for his work...But the Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep...
The Good Shepherd knows His sheep, and if we follow Him, we will get to know His ways...Just as the Son knows our Father, the Father knows His Son...The Good Shepherd has other sheep who currently are not in the pen, they will come...Those outside this flock will listen to the Good Shepherd's voice and enter through the gate and be a part of this pen...This sheep pen is the Jewish people and those outside the flock are the Gentiles... The Good Shepherd's words here tells us that all are included in His flock...
The Good Shepherd is loved by the Father, because the Good Shepherd will lay His life down for His sheep, only to take it up again...No one can take the life from the Good Shepherd...The Good Shepherd will lay His life down on His own accord for His sheep...The Good Shepherd has the authority to die and come to life again... This command and authority the Good Shepherd has received from the Father, our LORD...Death is not final, because of the Father...
Jesus is our Sheep Gate...It is the only gate to the Father, and it is only through the Good Shepherd..
Some believed His teachings about the Good Shepherd and others didn't, they people were divided...Some thought He was possessed...
Today, still some believe He is the Good Shepherd, while others don't...Today we are still divided by the gate of the Good Shepherd...Some are inside the pen, while others remain out...
This Sheep Gate is the gate and path to life for those who believe...