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lesson 8 THE GOOD SHEPHERD Jn 10:1-18 I. Background
of the Parable 1. Context a. Jesus
had just healed the blind man and the Pharisees threw him out of the
synagogue, Jn 9. b. Jesus
claims to have come into the world to provide a double-sided judgment, 9:39. c. Jesus
used these parables to describe the difference between himself and the
Pharisees, especially as leaders. a.
Those who
heard the parables were divided over Jesus - was he demon-possessed or was he
sent by God since he could heal the blind, 10:19-21? 2. Definitions/Cultural Insights a. Sheep
pen: an open enclosure where different herds of sheep were protected
overnight. b. Shepherd:
one who cares for sheep and leads the sheep, rather than drives them, 10:3. c. Thief/Robber:
a thief steals by cunning/stealth, a robber steals by threat or violence. d “The
sheep listen to his voice”: with many herds in one sheep pen, sheep would
learn the voice of their shepherd and follow only him. e. “He
calls his own sheep by name”: Palestinian shepherds had names for each sheep. f. The
hired man: the person who was paid for taking care of other people’s sheep. II.
Understanding the Parable
are described as the sheep. 2. Thieves/robbers do
not enter by the gate to the sheep pen.
a. The
thieves come only to slaughter for their own benefit. b. They
climb over the fence - they try to trap people cleverly through insincerity,
:1. c. They
do not know the sheep - they seek not the understanding of the people or
their condition. d. They
drive the sheep - through threats and violence they force people’s
actions. e. They
are strangers to the sheep - they sound different from Jesus at any time, :5. f. They
seek to slaughter the sheep - they seek their own benefit, not the people’s,
:10. 3. Jesus as the gate - (1st
parable) through which the sheep enter to be protected, and where Jesus
provides full life, :7-10. 4. Jesus as the good shepherd: knows his sheep and lays down his life for his sheep. The sheep also know him, 10:14-18. a.
Jesus has
other sheep that are not in the (Jewish) sheep pen that will follow him and
join the original sheep to become one flock with one shepherd, :16. b. He
enters by the gate - he comes to people in a straight forward, genuine
fashion, :2. c. He
calls the sheep by name - he knows the people personally & understands
them, :3. d. He
leads the sheep - he goes ahead of the people, providing a clear example, :4. e. He
uses a familiar voice to call the sheep - he sounds the same whether then or
now; :4, 14. f. When
the sheep are threatened, He will willingly lays down his life for them, :11. III.
Consideration and Application of the Parable 1. Jesus - The Perfect Leader! Jesus presented this parable
to describe the characteristics of a true leader. Jesus was and is the perfect leader. He provided safety for the people, he knew
and understood the people, he was genuine, he led by example, he spoke consistently with God, and he was
willing to lay down his life for them.
Today’s preachers church leaders, shepherds, and deacons should follow the
leadership example of Jesus. Will
you? 2. The Pharisees - terrible leaders The Pharisees were blind to
the fact that they were terrible leaders of God’s people, 9:41. As usual, the
Pharisees misunderstood Jesus and how to lead God’s
people, 10:19-21. They were not genuine, they did not understand the people, their voices were not similar
to the actual message of God, they were only seeking their own
profit/desires, and they would abandon the people in times
of danger. Jesus described them well
as thieves, robbers, and hired men. In like manner, preachers today can be
terrible leaders of God’s people, having the same characteristics as
Pharisees. Will you lead like a Pharisee, or Jesus? IV. Memory
Verse - Jn 10:10 |