John 10: 1 – 21

The Good Shepherd

Jesus has just healed the man

born blind, who was thrown out

by the pharisees for crediting

Jesus. Then Jesus found the

man and made a veiled

accusation against the

pharisees.

The Good Shepherd passage is

familiar, but it may not be

familiar as part of Jesus’

conversation with the

pharisees. He seems still to be

talking to them…

John 10:1 “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.”

The pharisees are there

hearing Jesus call them out as

“thieves and robbers,” but

they don’t seem to get it.

Jesus spoke in parables so that

He could sneak things by like

this.

John 10:8 “…but the sheep did not listen to them.”

Jesus is painting the picture of

a sheep pen with ordinary

people as the sheep, ruled

over by bad shepherds up

until now.

Something vaguely like this:

When Jesus says, “I am the

gate,” He means what He

says.

Shepherds planted themselves in

the doorway to defend the sheep

from predators.

Something like this:

What I take from this passage

•People have been prisoner

in the sheep pen of the

Pharisees

•No one until Jesus has been

able to lead people out.

•Everyone other than Jesus is

really about “fleecing” the

sheep and imprisoning them.

•Only Jesus is about guarding

the sheep and giving them

freedom to come and go.

This passage has been the

basis for traditional Quaker

opposition to pastoral ministry.

What I do has been called

“hireling ministry” and

distrusted as a poor substitute

for Jesus Christ.

Sometimes this has been true.

It is not just paid leaders who

poorly substitute for Jesus and

imprison us for unworthy

purposes, though.

Religion itself can imprison us.

This passage is also one of

the key scriptural foundations

for any sort of view of other

religions than Christianity…

John 10:16 “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.”

•What can this mean but that

Jesus claims other people

around the world besides just

hereditary Jews of Palestine?

Like you and me.

…but what about people who

follow other religions?

(imprisoned by other religions,

including secular irreligion)

John 10:16 continued:

“They too will listen to my

voice, and there shall be

one flock and one

shepherd.”

Hindu, Buddhist, Moslem,

Wiccan, whatever, the person

who doesn’t go to church…

They don’t listen to my voice or

your voice, but they will listen to

Jesus’ voice when they hear Him.

…and we will all be unified.

It may not look like

American Protestant

religion, but it will praise

God in Jesus’ name.

John 10:17 The key to it is:

“I lay down my life – only

to take it up again.”

No one can mistake that

for anything else, and

they will listen to the

voice of Jesus when they

recognize it.

Do you know how to

recognize the voice of

Jesus, so that you can

teach someone else?

Recognizing the Voice of J esus

According to the 7 Last Words from the Cross

1. Father forgive them, for they know not what

they do (Luke 23:34).

Jesus’ voice always offers forgiveness. It does

not ignore sin, but it recognizes that we do the

best with our limited awareness and limited

ability to govern our own will, and it will always

come up short.

2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in

paradise (Luke 23:43).

Jesus’ voice immediately responds to faith, not

necessarily with an outward or material,

miraculous salvation, but the guarantee of

perfect, eternal reunion with God.

3. Woman, behold your son: behold your mother

(J ohn 19:26-27).

Jesus’ voice offers comfort here in the world,

bringing His people together to care for each

other in a way that resembles family.

4. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me,

(Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).

Quoting Psalm 22:1 and a human’s voice of

agonized prayer, Jesus’ voice offers us the

assurance that He shares even the worst of our

suffering, no matter how great or unbearable.

5. I thirst (J ohn 19:28).

Jesus’ voice often comes in simple requests that

are opportunities for us to give and discover Him

as He blesses us and rewards us for our offerings

of mercy and compassion.

6. It is finished (J ohn 19:30).

Jesus’ voice always offers the calm assurance

that God’s will is perfect and will be perfectly

accomplished in full.

7. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke

23:46).

Jesus’ voice encourages our faith to trust in God

at any cost and be content that His will be done

and not our own.