John Chapter 10
As we follow the footsteps of Jesus, where has He been from Chapter 7 through Chapter 9? Review the last part of Chapter 9.
So, when John 10 begins in verse 1.... "Truly, truly, I say to you....." and also in vs. 6....."this figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand....."
Who is he speaking to?
So, the place is:
The audience is:
Now, let's look at the subject Jesus is going to talk about! Remember that as He begins to tell these "leaders" why they are "still blind" to the "truth of God's Word"....continuing from John Chapter 9....they have just "put out of the synagogue" the man who was born blind and now can see and has worshiped the Lord Jesus. This is the context of the words Jesus speaks! We are told in verse 6 that this is a "figure of speech" Jesus is speaking to them; therefore it has been called by some:
"The Parable of the Good Shepherd".....
The parable He tells is this - "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber." - vs. 1 "But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." - vs.2,3 "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice." - vs. 4 "A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." - vs.5 vs.6 - "This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them."
The shepherds would relate to the illustrations because to protect sheep as they were penned up in the night, the shepherd would lay across the opening and sleep so that no one could enter and steal a sheep from the pen. This is one of many things a true shepherd would do to guide and protect his sheep.
At the end of the lesson is some facts about sheep that I have learned from the great book: "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" by Philip Keller...truly, a sheep must have a good shepherd or the poor thing is truly in trouble! Jesus goes on to explain the meaning of the parable (figure of speech) he gave them.
Any who came before Jesus were theives and robbers (not really caring for God's sheep). Ezekiel, Chapter 34 is a prophesy by God through the prophet Ezekiel against the shepherds of Israel. Look this chapter up and take time to read through it.
According to verse 1-3, were the leaders (shepherds) taking care of God's flock (Israel)?
What were they doing instead?
Ezekiel 34:4 shows how they didn't care for the people, just as these Pharisees did not care for the man born blind - they had just kicked him out of the synagogue! "Those who are sickly - you have not strengthened; the diseased - you have not healed; the broken - you have not bound up; the scattered - you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost, but with severity you have dominated them."
The promise given Israel at that time from the Lord God was this: Ezekiel 34:11...For thus says the Lord God, "Behold,I MYSELF will search for MY sheep and seek them out..........vs. 16 -....."I will SEEK THE LOST bring back - the scattered, bind up - the broken and strengthen - the sick; BUT THE FAT AND THE STRONG I WILL DESTROY. I will feed them with judgment......" Ezekiel 34:31....."As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God", declares the Lord God.
In the Gospel of John, we have seen GOD our SHEPHERD....The Lord Jesus Christ, the GOOD SHEPHERD Who will lay down His life for the sheep.
According to John 10:16, are the Jews the only ones that Jesus will seek out and call by name?
What does this verse tell you?
In Biblical terms, everyone who is not a Jew is called a Gentile. In the following verses, what do you learn from these verses about the other sheep God will call to his flock?
1 Corinthians 12:13-
Ephesians 3:1-6 -
Galatians 3:7-9 -
Galatians 3:l3-l4 -
Romans, Chapter 11, is written to show that God has not forsaken the nation of Israel, but that there has been a partial hardening of the Jews until .... the Fulness of the Gentiles has come in ... We are the ones not of the Jewish "sheepfold", and yet children of faith are the children of Abraham, the Father of Faith ...Who Jesus told the religious leaders in John, Chapter 8......"Abraham saw MY day and rejoiced.....before Abraham was, I AM".....God's plan has been working throughout the ages and He will continue to work His plan forevermore! (There are many more Scriptures we could look at, but we must get back to John, Chapter 10)! While we are thinking about the theives and robbers that climbed up another "way" to steal the sheep, not to care for the sheep.....
Have you been led astray by leaders who are climbing the wrong ladder and taking you with them?
Why do you say 'yes', 'maybe', or 'no' to this thought?
Jesus is the DOOR, no other door will get you to the Father and bring you eternal life.
Jesus says to you:
"I am the door of the sheep. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The theif comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that you may have LIFE, and have it abundantly....
I am the GOOD SHEPHERD, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father;and I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP." (John 10:7-18)
LOOK AT THE NAIL PRINTS IN HIS HANDS -WILL YOU COME, LITTLE LAMB?
Let's finish John, Chapter 10......
According to John 10:17-18 - Who will be responsible for taking Jesus' life?
What commandment did Jesus receive from the Father concerning His life?
How did the Jews respond to these words of Jesus? (vs.19)
What did some say? (vs.20)
What did the others say? (vs.21)
Verse 21 shows you the flow that this does follow the account of John 9 when Jesus has healed the eyes of the man born blind.....
According to verse 22, what feast is taking place at Jerusalem now?
Verse 23 tells us what time of the year it is! What did you learn?
Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.....the Jews gathered around Him.
What do they ask Him? (vs.24)
What did Jesus tell them?
What testifies that He came in His Father's Name?
Jesus confidently tells them exactly WHY they don't believe in Him. If they were HIS sheep - they would hear His voice and follow Him! ...Some Jews had....
If you have heard His voice and followed Him with your life, what is the beautiful promise He gives you in verse 28? (list 3 things spoken!)
The last point is so important, Jesus repeats it in verse 29: "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and NO ONE is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." You are referred to by the Lord as His sheep.
He is the shepherd...the facts about sheep -
but He leaves the 99 and goes and searches for the one that strays....He will find you and call you back to the fold...HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU - that is the promise of the New Covenant in His blood. Oh, how He loves you and me! If you could make it on your 'own', He would have never spent His blood for you. If you could earn your salvation, the Old Covenant could have remained. But you couldn't and so He has made the way for you through the sinless blood of the LAMB OF GOD, Jesus. He paid your debt. Come to Him and hear His voice, follow His leading...........don't listen to the stranger!
Why are the Jews trying to STONE Him again? (vs.30-33)
When He said "I and the Father are one"....what did they believe He was saying? (vs.33)
Is He God?
What did we learn in John 1:1-18?
In John 10:39, they were seeking again to SEIZE Him to kill Him, but He eluded their grasp.
Many of John the Baptist's disciples were there.
Your Summary and Prayer:
Created For RTB msn group by B. LeMoine, used by permission only. Please join us at http//www.read-the-bible.webs.com
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment