1/5/2025 Pastor Mark Vucekovich (Chicago UBF New Year’s Message: John 10:1–18, “Jesus, the Good Shepherd”)

(QUESTIONS)

John 10:1-18 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

Key Verse: 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

1. Who is Jesus addressing here, and why (9:34,40–41)? In his words, what shows who is a shepherd and who is a thief or robber (1–2)? What could this “door” represent (10)?

2. How does Jesus describe the shepherd and his sheep (3–4)? What does it mean to know them “by name”? To “hear” and “know” his “voice”? Who are the “strangers” (5)? What can we learn here about how to be good shepherds? Good sheep of Jesus?

3. What does Jesus say again (6–8)? What does it mean that he is “the door” of the sheep? What happens to those who “enter by him” (9), and what does it mean to “be saved” and to “find pasture”? How can we live like this?

4. What are Jesus’ motives in helping people (10)? Read verse 11. Why does he say he “lays down his life” for the sheep (cf. 17–18; 15:13; cf. 1 John 3:16)? What does he say about “the hired hand” (12–13), and how is he similar yet different from a good shepherd? What is Jesus teaching us here?

5. What more does Jesus say about the good shepherd (14–15)? What larger vision does he have (16)? What else does the good shepherd do (17–18), and why?

6. Review the qualities of a good shepherd Jesus teaches here. How can we grow to be more like him?

(MESSAGE)

Key Verse: 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Do you feel qualified to help others? Some people are eager to teach, correct, and give advice. But most of us would answer, “No, I don’t feel qualified.” Even if we know a certain subject, or have some experience, if asked how good a mentor we are, we might pause, or wonder if we have any business even trying to help. Ours is an individualistic culture where people focus on themselves. Staying self-focused seems so much easier and safer. But in today’s passage Jesus proclaims that he’s the good shepherd. Why? More than anything, he wants us to come to him, believe in him, and have life abundantly in him. He’s also implying that those who follow him should learn from him. What does he mean that he is the good shepherd? And how can sinners like us possibly become good shepherds like him? May God speak to us through his word.

The opening to chapter 10 is unusual. There’s no change of time or place, no people mentioned, no activity. Jesus just begins speaking. He starts with a solemn introduction, “Truly, truly, I say to you…”, he says it again in verse 7, and he keeps speaking until verse 18. He makes not one but two of his seven “I am” statements in John, and he repeats them both: “I am the door” (7,9) and “I am the good shepherd (11,14). What’s going on? Jesus has just performed his sixth of seven miraculous signs. In his compassion he healed a man born blind (9:1–7). How the man testified about his grace is heart-moving (9,11,15,17,25,27,30–33). But the way the religious leaders responded is disturbing. They used their authority to pressure the man and his parents to deny Jesus (16–24,28–29). When the man refused, they treated him like garbage and cast him out (34). Jesus went and found this man abandoned by everyone and helped him believe (35–38). Then he rebuked the Pharisees (39–41). Now he takes this opportunity to help his disciples and us learn about himself. But how?

1. The shepherd and his sheep (1–6)

Look at verses 1–5. “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.”

Jesus’ words here are a “figure of speech” (6). In their world these were everyday things: sheep, a sheepfold with a doorway, a gatekeeper, a shepherd, a thief, a robber, and a stranger. They’re all so ordinary, but it’s all so deep, so Jesus explains it later. For now, he says the shepherd enters the sheepfold by the door. The shepherd knows the sheep by name. The shepherd comes to the sheep daily. The gatekeeper knows him. Sheep know the shepherd’s voice. The shepherd goes before them. Because they trust him, sheep follow. Sheep never follow a stranger. He’s talking about not animals but people. What’s his point? Mainly he’s exposing bad leaders. He calls them “thieves,” “robbers,” and “strangers.” Leaders, even so-called “religious” ones, if they’re bad, are actually thieves, robbers, strangers. It says, “…but they did not understand what he was saying to them” (6b). Still, Jesus uses this figure of speech, not just to rebuke bad leaders, but to help us all get to know him better.

2. “I am the door” (7–10)

Read verse 7. ^“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” In verse 2 Jesus said the shepherd “enters by the door.” Here he says he himself is the door. Why is he stressing this? He wants us to know he’s the only way of salvation (5:24). Later he says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (14:6). Here he continues, “All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them” (8). He means the legalistic Pharisees. He might also mean false prophets, messiahs, or teachers, or any bogus “leader” with a personal agenda. Sadly, some today who appear to be religious leaders are actually “sketch.” They’re suspicious, not trustworthy, even dangerous. Why? Because they did not go through the door, they’ve got the wrong motives.

By saying he’s “the door,” Jesus is sharing the first timeless truth in being a shepherd: A shepherd always approaches people through the door, through Jesus. A shepherd first needs to be united with Jesus in the Holy Spirit through personal repentance and faith. Only then can he or she genuinely help people. The shepherd who “enters by the door” helps people turn not to himself or herself, but to Jesus, the door. Such a shepherd helps people believe only in the name of Jesus, and helps them only for his sake.^[1] If we’re truly Christ-centered and prayerfully point people to him, his sheep sense it and trust us. But if we have other motives, no matter how clever we are, his sheep won’t listen to us.

Read verse 9. “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” Jesus the door is the only way of salvation, but the phrase “go in and out” also says he’s the door his sheep use regularly. As the door, he’s the one we can come to every day. This is the second timeless truth in being a shepherd: we first need to come to Jesus personally. Before doing anything, and after doing anything, at the beginning of the day, and at the end, every day, we need to come to Jesus, the door, personally. He promises that if we do, we’ll “find pasture.” Our souls will find satisfaction, security and rest if we come to him. Spending time in prayer and Bible study is not to impress people, but to truly spend time with Jesus. It’s not occasional, or forced; we do it every chance we get. Shepherds come to Jesus, the door, every day, and help others do so also.

Read verse 10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus, the door is a contrast to bad leaders. In his words we find the third timeless truth for shepherds: we need to share in the heart of Jesus, who really wants sheep to have life abundantly. He doesn’t want us to just be doing the bare minimum, or meticulously keeping superficial rituals, or putting on a show, while our inner problems remain untouched and unresolved. He wants us to have life abundantly in him. What is “life abundantly”? “Abundantly” means “beyond the expected, over and above, more than enough.” During Advent, we saw how “life abundantly” is full of hope, full of peace, full of love, and full of great joy. In “life abundantly,” we have real conviction and direction to serve our Lord Jesus and his sheep. “Life abundantly” comes if only we have a real relationship with Jesus. As the door, he’s the source––not activities, not methods, but a living relationship with our living Lord. Shepherds don’t just try to hold people in their ministry with activities for the sake of having people and looking good. And we don’t approach people with mere sympathy or pity. We do our best to bring them to Jesus, the door, who alone gives salvation, pasture, and life abundantly.

3. “I am the good shepherd” (11–18)

Thus far Jesus has been describing a shepherd. A shepherd knows his sheep by name. A shepherd leads his sheep. A shepherd regularly takes his sheep to pasture. A shepherd wants his sheep to have life abundantly. All this shows how a shepherd loves his sheep. Now Jesus comes to a climax. Read verse 11. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” It’s love’s greatest expression (15:13). Jesus didn’t die on a cross as an epic self-sacrifice for an idea or cause. He died for real, live human beings, for us––even in our hostility, rebellion, and stubborn unbelief. In this way he became “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (1:29). This Jesus, our good shepherd, fulfilled God’s prophecies to send us a shepherd.^[2] Because God, at his core, is our Shepherd,^[3] Jesus being our good shepherd proves he’s God’s Incarnate Son (1:14). Through his death, only he can restore our broken relationship with our Father God (2 Cor.5:21). Only he brings God’s forgiveness to sinners like us (Acts 10:43). Only he can save us from our sins and death and Satan and this evil world.^[4] There are other good human shepherds. But only Jesus shed his blood and died to save us. He held nothing back. He loved us that much. Jesus, our good shepherd who laid down his life for us, is the only one who can heal all the wounds in our souls. He wants us each to receive and experience this greatest love ever known. This is the main way to be a shepherd: through the Holy Spirit, to really experience the love of Jesus, who laid down his life for me. When I realize that Jesus went through that horrible death and humiliation even for me, it breaks down all my pride and self-righteousness, all my anger, selfishness and indifference. If we taste his great love, we cannot but want to follow his example and love sinful people as he does.

Read verses 12–13. “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.” Here, the good shepherd and the hired hand both enter by the door. They both know the sheep’s names, lead them out, and take them to pasture. Their main difference is when the wolf shows up. The good shepherd is ready to lay down his life for the sheep. But the hired hand disappears; he doesn’t want to fight or get hurt. Jesus says bluntly that the hired hand runs away because “…he cares nothing for the sheep” (13). Why not? Verse 14 suggests it’s because he thinks the sheep are not “his own,” so he doesn’t take responsibility for them. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, “…all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Cor.3:22b–23). When we accept this profound truth about ourselves and everyone else, we stop with all the jealousy, strife, and divisions. It’s why Jesus adds the word “good” to “shepherd.” In the context of John’s Gospel “good” means “true” or “genuine.” The one who works like a hired hand is not a good shepherd. But the one who thinks of everyone as a shepherd would, takes responsibility for them in God, and really cares for them is a good shepherd. Jesus makes this challenging contrast with shepherds with hired hands to help his disciples, and us.

Look at verses 14–15. “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.” This is another goal of the good shepherd. Jesus really wants his sheep to share the same intimate fellowship with God that he has (cf. 17:23). He’s ready to lay down his life for this purpose. But his shepherding doesn’t stop there. Read verse 16. The good shepherd has such a big heart, he’s thinking about all the lost sheep in the world. He has God’s heart for them all, who are all God’s creation. In his great compassion he says, “I must bring them also.” He doesn’t forget them; he believes his sheep are out there and that they will hear his voice, be saved, and join those who believe in him. Though there are impossible barriers between them, he’s the one who can unite them all into one flock under one shepherd. So at the end of John’s Gospel Jesus tells Simon Peter, as a representative for all believers, “Do you love me? Feed my sheep” (21:17). At the end of today’s passage, we see that the good shepherd has a personal love and obedience relationship with the Father, ready to give his life for the gospel (17–18). Praise Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

Being a good shepherd may seem unattainable, or burdensome. But it’s where Jesus our Lord wants to take each of us. It’s what Jesus our Good Shepherd can do for us: he can change us to be good shepherds like him. As we pray for spiritual leaders for the world and for future generations, practically we need specific direction, to grow as good shepherds like our Lord Jesus. The only way is to get closer to him. As I review 2024, I’m amazed at what God has done. As a pastor God has helped me in so many ways. But as I become more aware of all the people in our community and all our needs, I feel overwhelmed. I try to hide my indifference, and sometimes feel dumped on and angry. In my sin I’m useless and helpless. But God reminds me of Jesus’ words: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt.11:28–30). This is my key verse for 2025. More than anything else, I need to come to Jesus daily. Only he’s the door to pasture; only he’s my good shepherd. To really come to him, I practically need to take his yoke and learn from him, especially his gentle and lowly heart. I pray to rely on him more closely in 2025 and grow in his gentle and lowly heart as a good shepherd for all those he entrusts to our care.

In summary, a good shepherd knows and leads his sheep (3b,4). A good shepherd enters through Jesus, the door, the only way of salvation (7). A good shepherd goes in and out through Jesus, the door every day, and helps his sheep do that, too (9). A good shepherd helps his sheep “find pasture,” “life abundantly,” in Jesus (10). A good shepherd holds onto the great love of God in Jesus, who laid down his life for us, and helps his sheep really experience his redeeming love (11). A good shepherd doesn’t run away like a hired hand; he truly cares for his sheep and stays and fights for them (12–13). A good shepherd has intimacy with the Father through Jesus, and he shares this intimacy with his sheep (14–15). A good shepherd is always seeking to bring the “other sheep” and unite them all into one flock (16). A good shepherd does it all, like Jesus did, out of loving obedience to the Father (17–18).

Human beings always seem self-sufficient. But all of us really need a good shepherd. It may be the most meaningful work in the whole world, to raise good shepherds in Jesus. In 2025, may God help each of us grow closer to Jesus, our Good Shepherd, so we can bring wounded and lost people all around us to him.

^[1] 1:12–13; 20:31; cf. 1 John 2:12; Rom.1:5b; Phil.1:29.

^[2] Isa.40:11; Jer.23:1–6; Eze.34:23; Micah 5:2–5.

^[3] Psalm 23:1; 80:1; Ecc.12:11; Eze.34:15; cf. Gen.49:24.

^[4] Matt.1:21b; Gal.1:4; Col.1:13; Heb.2:15.