WTTW: GOD'S WORD

SUNDAY

“The Gate & Good Shepherd”

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

GOD'S WORD: John 10: 1-21

Paraphrase

Jesus said “The one who enters the sheep pen through the gate is the shepherd while anyone entering by some other way is a thief and robber. As the watchman opens the gate for the shepherd and he calls the sheep by name, they listen to his voice as he leads them out and they follow him because they know his voice. However, they won’t follow a stranger and instead run from an unknown voice. The people didn’t understand the metaphor Jesus used to tell them this truth about Salvation.

Jesus repeated, “I tell you the truth, because all those who came before me were either thieves or robbers the sheep didn’t listen to them but since I am the gate for the sheep whoever enters through me will be saved, i.e. will be able to come in and out to find pasture. In contrast to the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so the sheep may have life and a full one at that.

As the good shepherd I lay down my life for my sheep. The hired hand doesn’t own the sheep so when the wolf comes he runs away abandoning them, leaving them helpless to the attacking wolf who scatters them. The hired hand runs because he cares nothing about the sheep.

“As the good shepherd I know my sheep and they know me – in the same way the Father knows me and I know Him – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep from another pen I must also bring with and since they too listen to my voice they will be part of the single flock of which I shepherd. The reason the Father loves me is that I lay down my life - to have it taken up again. My life is not taken from me, I lay it down on my own; I have the authority to lay it down and to take it up again – a command I received from the Father.”

Hearing his words the Jews were divided with many saying that because he was demon-possessed and insane he shouldn’t be taken seriously and others saying he wasn’t talking or acting like a demon-possessed man – that demon-possessed men don’t open the eyes of men born blind.

Principles

Central Idea of the Text (CIT)
Interrogatory (INT)
Answer (ANS)


A. Meaning for 1st Century Readers

I. CIT: John told his 1st Century Readers a metaphor Jesus used in telling the Jews that he was the Gate and the Good Shepherd to tell them that Jesus was the Messiah who saved them from death and provided life instead.

II. INT: How did John tell his 1st Century Readers the Gate and the Good Shepherd saved them from death and provided them life instead?

III. ANS: John told them the Gate and the Good Shepherd saved them from death and provided life instead because the:

1. Gate vv. 7, 9a, 10b

A. Was Opened by the Watchman vv 3, 6c
B. Was Entered Through by the Shepherd vv 2, 6b
C. Was Entered In & Out for Pasturing by the Sheep v 9b

2. Shepherd vv 11a, 14a

A. Called His Sheep by Name & Led Them. vv 3c, 6c, 14b
B Laid Down His Life & Took It Up Again vv 11b, 14d, 17b, 18
C. Was Loved by the Father v 17a

3. Sheep vv 5,8,16

A. Knew the Shepherd & His Voice vv 14b, 21
C. Listened to the Shepherd vv 3b, 6c, 16b
D. Followed the Shepherd vv. 3c, 6c


B. Meaning for 21st Century Readers


I. CIT: John tells us today a metaphor Jesus used in telling the Jews that he was the Gate and the Good Shepherd to tell us that Jesus is the Messiah who saves us from death and provides life instead.

II. INT: How does John tell us today the Gate and the Good Shepherd saves us from death and provides us life instead?

III. ANS: John tells us the Gate and the Good Shepherd saves us from death and provides us life instead because the:

1. Gate -> Jesus Christ

A. Was Opened by the Watchman -> Announcement of the True Messiah
B. Was Entered Through by the Shepherd -> Entrance of the True Messiah
C. Is Entered In & Out for Pasturing by the Sheep -> Entrance into Salvation

2. Good Shepherd -> Jesus Christ

A. Calls His Sheep by Name & Leads Them -> Love of Jesus Christ
B Laid Down His Life & Took It Up Again -> Death & Resurrection of Jesus Christ
C. Is Loved by the Father -> Son is Loved by the Father for His Obedience Unto Death

3. Sheep -> Believers

A. Know the Shepherd & His Voice -> Recognize Jesus as Christ Son of the Living God
C. Listen to the Shepherd -> Accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior of Their Life
D. Follow the Shepherd -> As a Disciple of Jesus Christ the Lord & Giver of Life

Prayer

Our Father in Heaven,

We praise You for opening the Gate for the Shepherd to enter through into this world. And, we thank You for Your Son who is both the Gate - the entrance to Salvation and the Good Shepherd – the One who willingly laid down his life, sacrificing all, so that we can live eternally with You.

LORD,

We thank You for Your Love for Your Son for His Obedience unto death and we thank You for Your Love for us in the name of Jesus Christ who knowing our name laid down His life for us.

Father Almighty,

We give Your Spirit the glory that like the blind man our eyes have been opened so we have been able to recognize who Your Son is, that we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior and that we are living as His disciple.

LORD, we ask that as sheep we could be used as shepherds where needed in this world and that as shepherds in this world others would see and hear Your Son, come to know Him as their Savior and follow Him through all pastures in this world and the next.

In the name of Your Son,

Amen.