John 10:1-21
10: “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.
7 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. 11 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. 16 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.”
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Reflection
The imagery of sheep, shepherd, and sheepfold was an important component of Israel’s heritage. By choosing this symbol, Jesus accomplished two things. He drew a strong contrast between himself and the shepherds of Israel, and he also declared himself to be the promised Shepherd for whom Israel hoped (Zech. 13:7–9).
The sheepfold was commonly attached to the shepherd’s home, so the sheep that entered had come into his household (John 10:9). As the “door of the sheep,” Jesus is the only means of coming home to God and becoming a member of his household. Jesus is the merciful and good Shepherd who provides shelter, security, and pasture for his beloved sheep. Many of Israel’s previous shepherds were selfish —fleeing the sheep quickly when threatened (v. 12), and using the sheep for personal gain (v. 10). Jesus knows his flock by name, and each of his sheep recognize and love his voice (vv. 3–5, 14–16). Though the gospel is not a private story, it is most definitely a personal one. Jesus delights in his whole flock, and in each individual sheep. His flock and sheepfold is enormous and includes lost sheep from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9). The goodness of this Shepherd is most clearly seen as he lays down his life for the sheep on the cross (John 10:11, 17). What a glorious act of love: The Good Shepherd became the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. Even throughout eternity, Jesus will be known as the Lamb who shepherds his people and guides them to “springs of living water” (Rev. 7:17).
Hebrews 9:11-14
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Reflection
In contrast to Old Testament high priests who offered the blood of sacrificial animals in an earthly sanctuary, Christ presented his own blood in God’s presence in heaven itself. What is the result? He secured “an eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12). When we compare the millions of Old Testament sacrifices with the power and effects of Christ’s single sacrifice, it is simply amazing. Unlike theirs, his sacrifice purchased our eternal life! The one sacrifice of the Son of God delivers all believers forever.
Christ’s sacrifice frees us to serve God by cleansing our consciences (v. 14). The conscience is designed to be an internal sin detector, sometimes “going off” when we do wrong. Only Christ’s death can wash our consciences and liberate us to serve God with the sincerity and zeal that he deserves. His work on the cross fuels our Christian lives by cleansing our consciences. He freed us to “love [him who] first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This means that by God’s grace provided in Jesus’ death and resurrection we can now enjoy God, walk with him, and do his will.
Psalm 3:3
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
We are strengthened for service in the work of God’s kingdom when our conscience is cleansed by the work of Jesus. Bring any unconfessed sin to him and receive his loving mercy so that your heart can be restored and lifted once again.