John Chapter 10
One of the most beautiful analogies that Jesus ever made was in this chapter as He portrays His great love, protection and leadership for His followers as their shepherd. Jesus pictured Himself as the shepherd that stands in the opening of a corral. As He is standing in that opening He is acting as a door or a gatekeeper. He lets in only His sheep and keeps out any imposters or wolves.
We also learn that the gift of salvation through Jesus is protected by His Father’s hand. This is a great truth to share with a new believer. Jesus said that no man can pluck us out of the Father’s hand. Once we become a follower of Jesus, we belong to Him and He and the Father are one.
Let's Reflect
1. What does verse 3 tell you about your relationship with the shepherd?
2. Verse 4 tells us that the believer knows the voice of the shepherd. So when we think about that practically in our own life as a believer, how does one hear the voice of Jesus? A hint is also given in verse 5.
3. It says they did not understand what He was talking about. That is true of most of the world today. They do not understand what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. One thing I have been hearing a lot about lately in the testimonies of those who just recently accepted Christ, is that the presence of so much evil in our world is what caused them to search for Jesus. Jesus describes the evil as thieves and robbers and He described the father of lies (the devil) as a thief, a murderer. What other description did He assign to the devil?
4. While we can clearly see what the devil and his followers want to do to us, we as believers really need to meditate on what it is that Jesus wants to do for us. We need to truly believe how much He loves us. The only way to discover this great love is to read about it in His Word, apply His principles to our own life, abide in Him, and acknowledge when we see the hand of God working in our life. What does Jesus want for our life here on earth?
5. What did Jesus say He was willing to do for us?
6. Someone who is a “hired hand” (a religious leader) is not the same as the true shepherd. Jesus explained how He is the true and good shepherd. He is equal with the Father. Therefore, the Jewish believers were not the only ones who would be offered the gift of salvation. How did Jesus describe others who would be saved? See verse 16.
7. Jesus said He would die of His own authority. How was Jesus raised from the dead?
8. When questioned once again if He was the Messiah, how did Jesus answer that question?
9. Jesus was accused of blasphemy because He claimed to be God. The very question being asked of Him was one He was not allowed to answer truthfully. Because of their unbelief they wanted to stone Him. Jesus said that if they did not want to believe that He was the Son of God they did not have to believe Him. Does that surprise you? But He did encourage them to believe what?
10. Jesus escaped to the other side of the Jordan. Again, a crowd formed around Him where He apparently healed some of them because they began to discuss the differences between Him and John the Baptist. They concluded that everything John had said about Jesus was true. The last verse tells us that they believed in Him. What does this also mean that they accepted as truth when others were ready to stone Him?
Devotionals
