In Chapter 9 Jesus performed His 6th sign, the healing of the blind man, the purpose of which was given to us in verses 3-5. These verses, summed up, tell us that the man was born blind so that Jesus would heal him, and so that “the works of God should be made manifest in him.”
Then verses 8-38 give us the reaction to this sign, which we covered in the last post. The chapter ends with Jesus telling the Pharisees that He has come into the world for judgment. This brings us to chapter 10, which, even though our Bibles shows as a new chapter, is really a continuation of the sixth sign, or more specifically the significance of the sign. So when reading this, if you want to understand this at the deepest levels, you will have to keep the healing of the blind man in mind.
John 10:1-6 Verily, verily (truly, truly), I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (2) But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (3) To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (4) And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (5) And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (6) This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Are you one of His sheep? Can you understand what He is saying here? The pharisees didn’t. Make sure you take the time to listen and understand because He is going to explain it:
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
He is the only way into the fold. The wall that protects the sheep is our Father, and He has given us the gate, which is His Son.
John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Christ uses the sheep here because sheep will not follow someone who isn’t their shepherd. Even if he is the shepherd of another flock they will not heed to his voice. God’s children know His voice and wont follow after strangers. They have spent time with Him and know Him. They know His ways and know in their gut when something isn’t from Him or is contrary to Him. The world today comes at us and tries to train us that what is wrong is right and that we have to accept their ways. At the heart it is the beast system, Satan’s system calling out to God’s flock and trying to pull them away: trying to get them used to his voice, and trying to get them to forget the voice of their Father. Remember what Christ said: Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Psalms 23:1-6 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
If you enter into His house through the door, you are His sheep and His son, a child of the Living God.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Do not let the thief entice you. When you see him or hear him, call to the Shepherd and He will come.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Just as David fought lions and bears to protect his sheep, Christ gave His life for us, His sheep.
John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. (13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
There are many in the church today who are simply interested in a paycheck. Sure they will sound nice and they will tickle your ears with a 15 minute sermon on Sunday, but as soon as the wolf comes they will disappear. I’m not talking about good pastors because they do exist, but it is your job as the sheep to know the voice of your Father. If the hireling you have running your organization isn’t using the words of the Father, but instead is using his own words, and if he isn’t feeding the flock then you need to either send him/her packing, or find someone that will feed you and will use the words of your Father.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Because His sheep know when He is speaking to them.
John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Christ died so that you can live. He is that gate. His blood is the way into the fold.
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Here He is talking about the Gentiles.
Romans 10:11-13 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (12) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
There is only one flock. You have either gone through the gate or you haven’t. You are either attached to the vine or you’re not and God doesn’t care who your father is or the color of your skin. If you walk through the gate, you are His.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
He rose from the death ladies and gentlemen. He accomplished it.
Isaiah 25:7-9 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. (8) He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. (9) And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
The veil was rent: Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
No longer do we need that porter He spoke of in verse 3. Through the Son we have a direct line to the Father.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
They did not have the power to take anything from Him. Before the time was ready He slipped away from them time and again. What did He tell Peter when he tried to stop them from taking Jesus in the night? Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
John 10:19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. (20) And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
There will always be scoffers. No matter what you do, or how great a work you perform, someone will have a problem with it. Remember, Jesus just healed a man of blindness. He just took the veil that was over his eyes and cast it aside, and yet there are some that will call Him a devil. The same thing happened to Peter in Acts chapter 2, on Pentecost Day, when the Holy Spirit poured out from them, and everyone heard the words of God in their own tongue.
John 10:21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
Thieves and robbers cannot open the eyes of the blind. They can only try and convince the blind man that he can see, or that seeing isn’t possible, or that blindness is a blessing. And I am not talking about those that are physically blind. I am talking about spiritual blindness. Christ said to pray for your daily bread. Seek Him out continually. If you cannot hear His voice, then you have wandered too far off and you need to cry out to Him. He will hear the bleating of His sheep and come for you. If you call to Him He will carry you home. Pray for understanding and He will give it.
