Jesus—I AM the Door
Jesus—I AM the Good Shepherd
“Just as there was one door that led into God's presence in Eden and one door that led into the safety of the ark and one door that led into the inner sanctuary of the temple, a personal relationship with God is only accessed through one Door Who is Jesus Himself.” Anne Graham Lotz
“God, our great Owner, the sheep of whose pasture we are by creation, has constituted His Son Jesus to be ourshepherd…”Matthew Henry
Introduction:
John 10:1-6, “ ‘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.But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.To him the gatekeeper opens. 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. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.’This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.”
1. The sheepfold was a fenced enclosure with one entrance:
2. Jesus makes it very clear that those who do not come by the way of the door are:
3. Only true shepherds had access through the door:
4. In the midst of all the sheep, there are those sheep:
5. Those sheep who belong to the shepherd:
6. The sheep are afraid of any voice other than that of the shepherd.
7. Sometimes we miss the point:
John 10:7-9, “So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.’”
1. Jesus establishes that it is only by coming through Him:
2. The thieves and robbers are those:
3. Jesus guarantees that salvation is given to:
4. Once we have come through Jesus for eternal life:
John 10:10-13, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.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.He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
1. False teachers will steal:
2. They will kill and destroy us:
3. Jesus comes to give us a life that is:
4. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus makes it clear what He has come to do for us:
John 10:14-18, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.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. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.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.”
1. Jesus makes it clear that in the same way that Father knows Him and He knows the Father:
2. This “knowing” isn’t mental assent:
3. Jesus makes it very clear that His salvation:
4. We are included:
5. The Good Shepherd wants one flock:
6. Jesus’ sacrifice is an act:
7. Jesus is not a victim:
Conclusion: John 10:19-21, “There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.Many of them said, ‘He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?’ Others said, ‘These are not the words of one whois oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’