Post by foxjj on Jun 10, 2023 23:09:42 GMT
John 10:1-18. The Door To The Kingdom.
When speaking to a group of Pharisees regarding their spiritual blindness in John chapter 10, Jesus selected an example that would be familiar to His listeners. Knowing the importance of sheep in Jewish life, both as a resource for food, as well as sacrificial offerings at the Temple, Jesus used the metaphor of a sheepfold for God’s Kingdom. The sheepfold of that time had high walls with a single door or gate. It is highly significant that Jesus proclaimed He is the door by which we enter The Kingdom:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.” - John 10:1-6 (ESV)
Although the Pharisees did not understand Jesus is the only way into God’s Kingdom, it is critically important that you and I acknowledge, and accept this spiritual principle because, it was Jesus Himself who proclaimed in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This spiritual truth disqualifies all other religious leaders who claim to have the unique way to God. Continuing with the metaphor, Jesus further denounced all false paths to God:
“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” - John 10:7-10.
On another occasion Jesus declared: “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” - John 8:24. This is one of the most profound verses in The Bible. Our eternal destiny depends upon our belief, or denial, of this spiritual truth.
Jesus then made the claim that must have been confusing to His listeners who could not understand its significance at that time. A claim that is a most profound and life changing reality in believers lives:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” - John 10:11-15 (ESV)
Israel knew The Almighty as their Good Shepherd. As an example we have the twenty third Psalm written by King David who, as a youth cared for his fathers sheep. David knew firsthand that a shepherd loves his sheep and would seek after a lost sheep until it was restored to the fold:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.” - Psalm 23.
When you and I trust our Lord and Savior for our daily requirements, we will not be in want. For as the Psalm states, our Shepherd will lead us into green pastures, which refers to our daily life and it’s needs. We will also be guided to places of rest and peace as the still waters signify. Most importantly our Shepherd will guide you and I in righteousness all of our days. Even in days of sickness and danger, the Shepherd is with us as the reference to the valley illustrate. After living a righteous life, David declares that our eternal destiny is to dwell with our Shepherd in the house of the Lord forever.
In John 10:16-18 Jesus announced that the offer of redemptive salvation through His atoning sacrifice was also for the Gentiles. This good news gives hope to all who acknowledge Jesus as their Savior and Lord:
“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may 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 I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” - John 10:16-18.
The ministry, and the crucifixion of Jesus, was the manifestation of how our Heavenly Father so loved the people of our world:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” - John 3:16-21 (ESV)
I do pray that you have recognized Jesus as the only door into God’s Kingdom, and have accepted His atoning sacrifice on your behalf.
Today, let us give praise for God’s Love shown in Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.
When speaking to a group of Pharisees regarding their spiritual blindness in John chapter 10, Jesus selected an example that would be familiar to His listeners. Knowing the importance of sheep in Jewish life, both as a resource for food, as well as sacrificial offerings at the Temple, Jesus used the metaphor of a sheepfold for God’s Kingdom. The sheepfold of that time had high walls with a single door or gate. It is highly significant that Jesus proclaimed He is the door by which we enter The Kingdom:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.” - John 10:1-6 (ESV)
Although the Pharisees did not understand Jesus is the only way into God’s Kingdom, it is critically important that you and I acknowledge, and accept this spiritual principle because, it was Jesus Himself who proclaimed in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This spiritual truth disqualifies all other religious leaders who claim to have the unique way to God. Continuing with the metaphor, Jesus further denounced all false paths to God:
“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” - John 10:7-10.
On another occasion Jesus declared: “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” - John 8:24. This is one of the most profound verses in The Bible. Our eternal destiny depends upon our belief, or denial, of this spiritual truth.
Jesus then made the claim that must have been confusing to His listeners who could not understand its significance at that time. A claim that is a most profound and life changing reality in believers lives:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” - John 10:11-15 (ESV)
Israel knew The Almighty as their Good Shepherd. As an example we have the twenty third Psalm written by King David who, as a youth cared for his fathers sheep. David knew firsthand that a shepherd loves his sheep and would seek after a lost sheep until it was restored to the fold:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.” - Psalm 23.
When you and I trust our Lord and Savior for our daily requirements, we will not be in want. For as the Psalm states, our Shepherd will lead us into green pastures, which refers to our daily life and it’s needs. We will also be guided to places of rest and peace as the still waters signify. Most importantly our Shepherd will guide you and I in righteousness all of our days. Even in days of sickness and danger, the Shepherd is with us as the reference to the valley illustrate. After living a righteous life, David declares that our eternal destiny is to dwell with our Shepherd in the house of the Lord forever.
In John 10:16-18 Jesus announced that the offer of redemptive salvation through His atoning sacrifice was also for the Gentiles. This good news gives hope to all who acknowledge Jesus as their Savior and Lord:
“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may 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 I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” - John 10:16-18.
The ministry, and the crucifixion of Jesus, was the manifestation of how our Heavenly Father so loved the people of our world:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” - John 3:16-21 (ESV)
I do pray that you have recognized Jesus as the only door into God’s Kingdom, and have accepted His atoning sacrifice on your behalf.
Today, let us give praise for God’s Love shown in Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.
