Existing or Living. (John 10:1-21)
Transcript.
Are you living, or are you just existing? Are you on life support, barely breathing, or are you healthy and robust, able to move around? Are you living abundantly, living fully, or are you just existing?
I read about a pastor who saw a lady crying at a bus stop. He stopped to ask her what was wrong, and she said, "Well, I guess I'm just weary and feel like I have had enough of this life. Because of our financial situation, I have to work. My life consists of getting up and fixing breakfast. I have four children, and I have to get them off to school with packed lunches. Then I take a bus to work. I work hard all day and come home to more work at night. I get a few hours of sleep, and then I head off into another day. I guess I'm just sitting here waiting for the bus, sick of the endless routine."
I also heard of a wealthy lady who was tempted to commit suicide. She went to a counsellor to see if he could help. She said, "Life for me has lost its meaning. The extravagant house, the expensive clothes, the busy social life, the luxurious holidays—they just don't satisfy or fill the need in my heart any longer."
So, it see this loss of meaning can attack us from both ends of the spectrum. Both scenarios for men point to a loss of opportunity to be appreciate what we have.
So are you living, or are you just existing? What is the secret to living a life full of meaning, what is the secret? Where is it found?
I believe that this question is answered for us in John chapter 10.
That's what I'd like for us to talk about today in this episode of TBPDP.
Before we look at today’s Bible text, there are several things you need to understand to grasp what’s happening in these 21 verses.
First, let's look at the flow of the Gospel of John up to this point.
In the first four chapters, everyone who he came into contact with Jesus believed in Him. They believed He was the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel, and the Savior of the world. But starting in chapter 5, unbelief creeps in. Chapters 5 and 6 tell us that people began to doubt Jesus as the Savior and Messiah.
In Chapter 7, Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. There, we see both belief and unbelief. We’re told there was a division among the people.
In chapter 8, still at the same Feast, the leaders try to trap Jesus by bringing Him a woman caught in adultery. It didn’t work, which only made them more upset.
Some accused Jesus of being demon-possessed, and some even picked up stones to stone Him.
In Chapter 9, still in Jerusalem, Jesus heals a blind man outside the temple, making the leaders even more desperate. They harden their opposition to Jesus. They interrogate the blind man and, out of frustration, throw him out of the synagogue.
Understanding all this helps us grasp the point we are now at in John chapter 10.
When we open John Chapter 10, we’re still in Jerusalem, just at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles. It’s not until verse 22 that the scene will changes to the Feast of Dedication.
So, from John 7 through 10:21, the Lord is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles.
With that background, we need to look at John chapter 10.
At first glance, it seems like Jesus is telling a parable with two applications. But upon closer study, these 21 verses are an allegory with three scenes within one story.
· The first scene, covering verses 1 to 6, takes place early in the morning.
· The second scene, in verses 7 to 10, is at noon.
· The third scene, in verses 11 to 18, is in the evening.
· Then the final verses show people's reactions to what Jesus said and did.
Now, let’s dive into this discourse on the shepherd and his sheep and let's begin with the early morning scene in the first six verses.
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this parable, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
(John 10: 1-6)
The first thing to note is that the word translated as "parable" in verse 6 isn't the usual word for parable. It’s a Greek word that should be translated as, figure of speech, or better "allegory."
It is interesting to note that John doesn’t include the parables of Christ found in the other Gospels but includes this allegory about the shepherd, the sheepfold, and the sheep.
In these opening verses the scene is in the early morning, and there's a contrast between thieves and the true, legitimate shepherd. Verse 1 says the real shepherd enters through the door of the sheepfold, but anyone climbing in another way is a thief and a robber.
At that time in Israel, many shepherds’ sheepfolds had a single entrance.
Jesus explains that only the legitimate shepherd enters through the door. Thieves and robbers try to climb in another way. In the context of John’s Gospel, this likely refers to the Pharisees.
At the end of chapter 9, we saw the Pharisees in out and out conflict with Jesus and they have just thrown out the blind man He healed.
Jesus then immediately tells this allegorical story, implying the Pharisees are the thieves and robbers. Thieves steal secretly by night, while robbers do so openly with violence. The Pharisees were spiritually harming the Jews and Israelites.
This also applies to modern cults. There are those who claim to be shepherds or even messiahs but are not legitimate. They are nothing less than thieves and robbers, trying to deceive people.
For example, the Unification Church and its leader, Sun Myung Moon, have made such claims as he is the Messiah of the world. Moon testified in a court trial that he had conversations with Jesus, Moses, and Buddha, and claimed they all said he could become the true Messiah. Such individuals are like the thieves and robbers Jesus spoke of, not entering through the legitimate way.
Jesus says the true shepherd enters by the correct door; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
In these verses, we see a clear connection between chapters 9 and 10 of John.
In chapter 9, the Pharisees cast out the blind man from the synagogue. In chapter 10, Jesus, as the true shepherd, leads his sheep out to pasture, contrasting the Pharisees who cast people out for harm with himself who leads for their benefit.
Verse 4 mentions when the shepherd " brought out his own sheep," which uses the same Greek word as when the blind man was "cast out." This connection highlights the Pharisees as false shepherds and Jesus as the true shepherd is highlighted.
Jesus is the true shepherd because he fulfils Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.
· Isaiah 11 predicts he would come from Jesse’s family.
· Isaiah 7 says he would be virgin-born, and.
· Isaiah 53 says he would die like a criminal yet be buried with the rich.
Jesus fulfilled these prophecies, proving he is the legitimate shepherd. The true shepherd knows his sheep, calls them by name, and they respond to his voice.
This isn’t just an allegorical story it has been illustrated in the court of law on several occasions. A famous example was in Australia in the 1940 when an Australian farmer accused another of stealing his sheep. In court, the judge couldn't decide until he had both men go the corralled sheep and got the two men to stand at either side of an open pen and call the sheep. When the true owner called, the sheep recognized his voice and came to him, proving they were his.
His allegory continues.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
(John 10: 7-10)
In verses 7-10, Jesus contrasts himself with the thieves who come to steal, kill, and destroy. He says, “I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved and can come and go and find pasture. Therefore, Jesus, as the door, provides access to abundant life, unlike the thieves who just cause harm.
In these verses, Jesus establishes himself as the true shepherd and the door, providing safety, security, and abundant life for his sheep. The Pharisees are depicted as false shepherds, who harm and deceive the flock, while Jesus leads and protects them.
Jesus contrasts himself with the thieves, saying that all who came before him are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not heed them.
Jesus again emphasizes that he is the door, and if anyone enters through him, they will have life, not just existence, but abundant life.
Verse 10, one of the most well-known verses in John’s gospel, highlights that Jesus came to give life and to give it abundantly.
What does he mean by abundant life? Jesus explains it through his actions and words.
First, abundant life means being spiritually alive. Jesus, the shepherd, lays down his life for the sheep, granting them spiritual life. Beyond that, abundant life includes salvation, freedom, and nourishment.
This verse outlines the main elements of abundant life:
Salvation: You are saved from sin, the penalty of hell, and eternal separation from God. You are also saved from the power of sin as you learn to abide in the shepherd.
Freedom: Abundant life includes the freedom to enter in and go out. Unlike restrictive religious systems, Jesus' yoke is easy, and his burden is light. His commandments are not burdensome. False shepherd, impose heavy yokes of legalism on people, but Jesus offers freedom. Freedom to go out into the Lord while at the same time abiding in Him. In John 8, Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Abundant life in Jesus means liberating, allowing you to truly live and enjoy a godly life in all its fullness.
Nourishment: Verse 9 also mentions finding pasture, symbolizing spiritual food. The human soul hungers for something that satisfies deeply. People can’t find lasting satisfaction until they find Jesus and his word. The modern world with its countless offerings, still leaves many unsatisfied. True satisfaction comes only through Jesus and the word of God, providing the nourishment your soul needs.
Thus, abundant life is a life with, salvation, freedom, and spiritual vitality through nourishment. There can be a bounce in your step and joy in your heart because you are spiritually alive, free, and well-fed on the spiritual food God intended for you.
In these verses, Jesus establishes himself as the true shepherd who offers all these things. Unlike the Pharisees, who are false shepherds causing harm and deceit. Jesus leads and protects his flock.
The blind man healed by Jesus did not follow or believe the Pharisees. "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy." These false leaders harm the sheep for their selfish gains, while Jesus, the true shepherd, offers life in abundance.
Okay, let’s see what happens next.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father
(John 10: 11-18)
In this third scene, verses 11 to 18, Jesus shifts to the evening time, emphasizing his role again as the Good Shepherd.
He contrasts himself with hired shepherds who flee in danger, leaving the sheep vulnerable.
Unlike the hired shepherds, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will lay down his life for the sheep. His death was not a murder or even a suicide but a voluntary act of devotion. He willingly lays down his life to protect and save his sheep.
Jesus leads, protects, and provides for his flock, demonstrating his ultimate love and devotion by laying down his life for them.
Imagine a mother running into a burning building to save her child. She saves the child but dies in the process, we wouldn't call that a suicide. We'd would call it a sacrifice. Jesus Christ voluntarily laid down his life, not as a suicide but as a sacrifice. This is how he makes it possible for us to have life and have it abundantly.
Do you think that mother would want that child to go through life living under a rock and never getting on at achieving something in Life.
So also with Jesus, these verses explain how he wants us to have an abundantly life precisely because he voluntary laid down his life for his sheep.
In verse 16, Jesus widens the perspective by mentioning him having other sheep, referring to all Gentiles nations as well as Jews, who are also part of his flock. He says, "They shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd."
Farmers and shepherds often know their animals intimately, identifying them by their unique markings and needs. Similarly, Jesus knows each of us by name, face, and need.
He not only knows where you are and who you are, but he also knows what you are going through in life right now. As the true Good Shepherd, he knows each one of us personally, making him capable of giving us this abundant life personally as well.
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
(John 10: 19-21)
In the final verses, we see again the crowd's reaction to Jesus is divided. Some say he is demon-possessed and insane, echoing sentiments from earlier chapters. Others argue, "These are not the words of someone possessed by a demon. How and why would a demon open the eyes of the blind?" The division highlights the connection to Chapter 9, where Jesus heals a blind man and we saw the same divided reaction.
The question for us I suppose is: which group do we belong to?
Do we dismiss Jesus as mad or demon-possessed, or do we see Him as something more?
Do we recognize his unique words and deeds and believe that he is the Christ? If you believe, you will find the shepherd and the door, experiencing abundant life as you follow him.
Some religious organisations try and tell people that their organisation holds the keys to salvation. Well you can tell them, they can keep his keys, because you have the door, and the door is open wide.
Do you have an abundant life? Do you know the shepherd? Have you entered through the door?
Jesus offers abundant life to those who follow him, knowing their every need and guiding them with love and sacrifice.
