John Chapter 10

I Am the Good Shepherd:
(Read John 10:1-30)
The tenth chapter of John's Gospel begins with a warning.  Jesus is the promised shepherd  (Zechariah 13:7-9). The imagery of sheep and shepherd was familiar to Israel.  Jesus warned Jews about false shepherds. They are thieves and robbers. They abandon and abuse the sheep. They are greedy and illegitimate leaders. They claim revelation from God but do not give any evidence of it. A true shepherd enters by the door. In this chapter Jesus claimed that He is the door and the good shepherd. He saw the people like sheep, fainted and scattered abroad and without shepherd (Matthew 9:36). Sheep usually get lost easily and are prone to follow strangers. Without a shepherd they are in danger. Shepherding is hard work. Shepherds have a unique relationship with the sheep. When sheep enter the sheepfold, the shepherd holds a rod low at the entrance and allows the sheep to pass under the rod. He makes sure whether the sheep needs attention or not. In fact, Jesus is the only door into the sheepfold (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Those who enter by Him will be saved.   David said, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalms 23:1). Jacob knew the Lord as the one who has been his shepherd all his life (Genesis 48: 15).  Jesus said, "I am the Good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep".   What a gracious act of love!  He died to take away our sin. Christ gave His life as a voluntary act of sacrifice. He has the power to lay it down and take it back.  He enters the sheepfold by the authorized gate. He came to do the will of the Father.  He knows his sheep by their name (John 10:14). A good shepherd goes ahead of his sheep and leads them to pastures, providing shelter and security. His fold includes both Jews and Gentiles.  Jesus warned Jews that their religious leaders are hired shepherds. They have no love for the sheep and run away in danger. But Jews did not believe Christ because they were not His sheep. Only His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. Jesus said "I will give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of Jesus' hand because Jesus and the Father are one. My Father who has given them is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:27-30).  This is an affirmation of Jesus' deity. Jesus is the good shepherd, and He is one with God the Father. Not only believers know Jesus, but he also knows them as well.
 
Jesus gives Eternal Life:
(Read John 10:31-42) 
This passage explains the believer's eternal security. Eternal security is based on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Salvation is always by grace and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-10). Man does not initiate salvation. It is not man reaching out to God but God reaching out to man (Romans 5:6-8). Also, salvation is not an afterthought of God. It was His eternal plan (1 Peter 1:18-20; 2 Timothy 1:9). Eternal security is different from assurance of salvation. Someone has said, “Security is God-ward and assurance is man-ward". God promised to give eternal life (John 10:28-30). Assurance is the confident realization that we have eternal life.  Sheep hears the voice of the shepherd and follows him.  Our faith and obedience to Christ gives assurance of salvation (John 10:27).  Once a person is saved, he is saved forever. No one can snatch believers from Jesus' hand or from the Father's hand (John 10:28). Why? Because Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30). Also, this is an affirmation of Trinity. There is one God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. They are in agreement in everything. Jesus holds us secure by the grip of his grace. Jesus Claimed equality with the Father. This angered the Jews. They picked up stones to stone Jesus. They failed to recognize Jesus as their Messiah. He challenged them by saying, "For which of my good works are you stoning me”? They said, "You have made yourself equal with God”. Christ asked them to consider His works and believe in Him. They sought to arrest him, but Jesus escaped from their hands. Yet many believed in him.  Jesus is not merely a great teacher; He is one with God the Father. He is worthy of our worship and devotion.  Do you know Jesus as your Lord and savior?  Do you have the assurance of salvation?  Worship him as your God and pray for the salvation of others who are not saved.