A) JESUS AS THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP PEN (VV 1-10)

• We shall discuss the following issues:

1.The use of double imagery here poses one immediate problem:

How can Jesus be the door of the sheep pen, and at the time be the shepherd of the sheep?

1. What does the ‘door’ signify here?

Application : Have you and I entered through the right door yet?

•Door signifies an entrance which we have to pass through from one side to the other side. See verse 9: “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture”.

B) JESUS AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD (vv 11-18)

• What are the characteristics of a good shepherd?

1) The uniqueness of Jesus as a good shepherd

• A willingness to lay down his life for the sheep. See verse 11

• “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”

APPLICATION : Other human shepherds exploit the sheep

2) The differences between a hireling and a shepherd

• A hireling flees upon the first sign of danger (verse 12)

• A hireling only cares for himself (verse 13)

3) The special qualities of the Good Shepherd

a) A personal knowledge of the sheep (v14)

• Not an objective knowledge, but a subjective or experiential knowledge

b) A voluntary sacrifice of oneself for the sheep (v15)

• “I lay down my life for the sheep.” Jesus voluntarily chose to become our sacrifice and substitute on the Cross.

c) A missionary heart for other sheep (v16)

• “And I have other sheep, they are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.”

• Jesus did not come primarily to save the Jews only, but also other races.

APPLICATION : What does it imply to have a shepherd’s heart?

INTERLUDE (vv 19-21)

• The healing miracle of the man born blind in chapter 9 generates a division between the Jews.

C) JESUS AS THE SON OF GOD (vv 22-38)

• A switch from imagery of Jesus as a shepherd to his true identity as the Son of God.

1. As the Son of God, Jesus has the power to do the following:

a) He can give eternal life to the sheep (v28)

• “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish….”

b) He can assure our eternal security (vv28b-29)

• No one shall snatch them out of my hand.”

2. Jesus claims equality with God the Father (v30)

• “I am the Father are one.”

a) Jesus provoked a violent reaction from the Jews (v31)

• They wanted to stone Jesus to death

b) Jesus asked the Jews why they wanted to put him to death (v32)

• The Jews responded by charging Jesus with blasphemy (v33)

c) Jesus appealed to the Jews to consider his ‘works’ and also his union with God the Father (vv35-38)

CONCLUSION

• What is your personal conclusion about the Person of Jesus?