Written ~ 04-17-2024
Read John Chapter Ten
John 10
In our chapter for today, Jesus gives us a wonderful illustration of Him being the Good Shepherd to His sheep. Also in our passage we will discuss the enemy and his role in distracting those sheep.
We will start off by reading verses 10:1-5… Listen to the words of Jesus…
1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
This analogy may seem simple to some, but “those who heard Jesus, didn’t understand what He meant…” (vs.10:6) So, Jesus goes on to explain a little further what He meant…
John 10:7-10…
7 “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before Me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
In verses 10:1-5, we have Jesus using the example of a shepherd, a sheepfold, a thief and a gate to describe the relationship the shepherd has with the sheepfold. When the shepherd enters the gate the sheep know him and they respond to his voice. The shepherd calls them each by name and they follow. The sheep will not follow a stranger. So, if a thief were to sneak over the wall, his main “purpose is to steal, kill and destroy” (vs.10:10b). The sheep, because they do not know the stranger’s voice, will scatter.
Instead of looking at these verses literally, let’s bring them to light spiritually. We are the sheep, we have the capacity to know the voice of our Shepherd, the Lord. When we hear His voice we turn to it and follow as He leads. As we become more knowledgeable in the Scriptures, the more we will know, without doubt, whose voice we are listening to. The thief is the devil, the enemy. Look at verse 10:10 closely, in it we have both a warning and a promise…
John 10:10…
10 “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
The Warning:
We know all too well that we have an enemy who is trying everything he can to stumble us, turn us away from our Master and lead us astray and scatter us, leaving us vulnerable. The enemy’s purpose is not to bring us life, but to see what he can do to disrupt our lives and do his best to steal the joy we have in the Lord. If he can completely destroy who we truly are, make us believe things about ourselves that aren’t true – if he’s allowed a foothold into our lives, he will try to kill everything about us (if he can’t actually take our lives). He knows our Master, so he is sneaky, he comes up from behind when we least expect it and strikes.
~BUT~
The Promise:
The purpose of Jesus is to give us a rich, satisfying life. He is our Master. He cares for us, He gathers us to Himself, each one of us is known by Him. When He calls us by our name, we know His voice and we respond. We follow Him because we recognize who He is, He is the Good Shepherd. He is the Master. His voice and His words are truth. When we hear His voice, we follow Him, we trust Him. In verse 10:9, Jesus says, “Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved.”
~JESUS GATHERS ~ THE ENEMY SCATTERS~
John 10:14-16…
14 “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 just as My Father knows Me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to My voice, and there will be one flock with one Shepherd.”
When Jesus says in verse 10:16 that He has other sheep, but they are not in this sheepfold… What do you think that means? I believe it’s those who have not yet given their hearts to the Lord. Maybe they are listening to the voice of the Lord, but haven’t decided to put their faith and trust in the Master. They are still roaming about, doing their own thing, setting themselves up for disaster and deadly attacks from the enemy. But Jesus says, “They will listen to My voice…” That right there! Is my hope and prayer for those who haven’t yet given their hearts to Jesus, that they will finally listen to the Lord’s voice and be gathered into the flock whose only Master is Jesus.
So, where are you today? Are you one who is living outside of the sheepfold? One who has lost their way and are now in danger of being picked off by the enemy? Have you responded to a voice you do not recognize? Has the enemy made his way in and now threatens all you know and who you are? Has he wormed his way in by destroying relationships? Has the enemy grabbed ahold of you, turned your face towards his and fed you lies? Does he keep you in a state of depression or does he hang over your head all that you have done wrong and keeps you feeling the guilt and shame of your past? Does the enemy hold you in a place of anger where the chains that bind you feel inescapable? Are you lonely? Has the enemy scattered you so far from the sheepfold that you have completely lost your way?
If any of those things ring true… it’s time to break free!
LISTEN!
Jesus is calling you! Just listen! You know His voice! When all else seems to be a disaster, run, break away from the enemy’s grasp and run head strong to your Master!
Even if your life isn’t as bad as all that… you may still be toying with the lies of the enemy – if his purpose is to steal, kill and destroy – he will try first with subtle distractions – then when you least expect it – he’s got you just where he wants you… feeling defeated and alone.
It’s time to hear the Lord’s voice! Our Master is calling!
John 10:27-30 (The Message Version – MSG)…
27 “My sheep recognize My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of My hand. 29 The Father who put them under My care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from Him. 30 The Father and I are one heart and mind.”
WOW! Can we say AMEN!
So, if you are feeling overwhelmed, defeated, not sure what to do next. Go to the Good Shepherd, He will rescue you! Follow Jesus, hear HIS VOICE ONLY! As you walk with the Lord and dive into the Scriptures, you will know His voice because you know His Word.
If you begin to hear anything contrary to the Word of God… you may just have a thief sneaking around searching for the vulnerable places in your life, so he can get in! You must shout, NO!!
Jesus has gathered us in – He closes the gate behind Him – DO NOT let the enemy try to pick that lock!! I can’t emphasize this enough!
John 10:1-2…
1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.”
How does Jesus describe Himself?
John 10:9…
“Yes, I am the Gate…”
John 10:14…
“I am the Good Shepherd…”
*** THE ENEMY WILL NEVER GO THROUGH THE GATE***
Our Lord Jesus Christ, our Master, our Shepherd has come to give us a rich and satisfying life!
My Jesus! My Yeshua! Thank you for calling me into Your sheepfold! Thank you for eternal life! Surround me with Your protection! I will follow You, hear Your voice alone! Oh how I love You Lord!
~AMEN~