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Baaaaa (Notes from Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, by Spangler and Tverberg)

John 10:1-21 Jesus, the Good ShepherdI can guarantee this truth: The person who doesnt enter the sheep pen through the gate but climbs insomewhere else is a thief or a robber. But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd. Thegatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leadsthem out of the pen. After he has brought out all his sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow him

because they recognize his voice. They wont follow a stranger. Instead, they will run away from a strangerbecause they dont recognize his voice. Jesus used this illustration as he talked to the people, but they didntunderstand what he meant.

Jesus emphasized, I can guarantee this truth: I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before I didwere thieves or robbers. However, the sheep didnt respond to them. I am the gate. Those who enter thesheep pen through me will be saved. They will go in and out of the sheep pen and find food. A thief comes tosteal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything theyneed.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. A hired hand isnt ashepherd and doesnt own the sheep. When he sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and quickly runsaway. So the wolf drags the sheep away and scatters the flock. The hired hand is concerned about what hes

going to get paid and not about the sheep.I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep as the Father knows me. My sheep know me as I knowthe Father. So I give my life for my sheep. I also have other sheep that are not from this pen. I must leadthem. They, too, will respond to my voice. So they will be one flock with one shepherd. The Father loves mebecause I give my life in order to take it back again. No one takes my life from me. I give my life of my ownfree will. I have the authority to give my life, and I have the authority to take my life back again. This is whatmy Father ordered me to do.

The Jews were divided because of what Jesus said. Many of them said, Hes possessed by a demon! Hescrazy! Why do you listen to him? Others said, No one talks like this if hes possessed by a demon. Can ademon give sight to the blind?

1) Why were the Jews divided? Hes possessed by a demon is a pretty strong response to sheep talk.

It was not the first time Jesus mentioned shepherds.Luke 15:1-7 (also in Matthew 18:12-13): All the tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus. But thePharisees and the scribes complained, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.

Jesus spoke to them using this illustration: Suppose a man has 100 sheep and loses one of them.Doesnt he leave the 99 sheep grazing in the pasture and look for the lost sheep until he finds it? When hefinds it, hes happy. He puts that sheep on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends andneighbors together and says to them, Lets celebrate! Ive found my lost sheep! I can guarantee that there willbe more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts thanover 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.

2) What do you notice about this parable?

In a nation of shepherds, as they still were, and even began with Abraham, the shepherd image might havemeant more. Kings were sometimes referred to as shepherds:Psalm 78:70-72 He chose his servant David. He took him from the sheep pens. He brought him fromtending the ewes that had lambs so that David could be the shepherd of the people of Jacob, of Israel, thepeople who belonged to the LORD. With unselfish devotion David became their shepherd. With skill heguided them.

3) With what do these passages connect the idea of a shepherd? What would that have meant to Jesusaudience?

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Psalm 23 A psalm by David.The Lord is my shepherd. I am never in need.He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside peaceful waters.He renews my soul.He guides me along the paths of righteousness for

the sake of his name.

Even though I walk through the dark valley ofdeath, because you are with me, I fear noharm.

Your rod and your staff give me courage.You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies

watch.You anoint my head with oil.My cup overflows.

Certainly, goodness and mercy will stay close to

me all the days of my life,

and I will remain inthe Lords house for days without end.

4) How do you respond to this poem? Why?

5) This was famous among the Jews of Jesus day, just as it is now. If what Jesus said reminded peopleof this psalm, what would it mean to them?

One of the most sheep heavy sections of scripture is Ezekiel 34. The whole chapter is long,

but here aresome verses from it.Ezekiel 342How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves.Shouldnt shepherds take care of the sheep? 4You have not strengthened those that were weak, healedthose that were sick, or bandaged those that were injured. You have not brought back those that strayed awayor looked for those that were lost. You have ruled them harshly and violently.10 This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am against the shepherds. I will demand that they hand over mysheep. I wont let them take care of my sheep anymore, and they will no longer take care of only themselves. Iwill rescue my sheep from their mouths, and my sheep will no longer be their food.11 This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will search for my sheep myself, and I will look after them. 12As ashepherd looks after his flock when he is with his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. 15 I will

take care of my sheep and lead them to rest, declares the Almighty Lord. 16 I will look for those that are lost,bring back those that have strayed away, bandage those that are injured, and strengthen those that are sick. Iwill destroy those that are fat and strong. I will take care of my sheep fairly.31You, my sheep, are the sheep in my pasture. You are mortal, and I am your God, declares the AlmightyLord.

6) What connections are there between this chapter and what Jesus says in John 10?

7) Back to John 10 what is it saying to us today? Does your experience match what Jesus says orcontradict it?

y Well respond to Jesus voice.y Jesus will call us by name.y Jesus will lead us.y We will not follow a stranger well even run away from them.y We will have life and everything we need.

8) If we accept what Jesus is saying here, what will that mean for us?