THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 10, The Parable of The Good Shepherd, Jesus Asserts His Deity

 

THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 10

The Parable of The Good Shepherd, Jesus Asserts His Deity

 It is easier for a contemporary Christian to read these words from John chapter ten as simply a narrative about Jesus claiming to be The Good Shepherd (The Lord) of God’s people, than it is to understand the astounding-to-unbelievable claims Jesus is making.  And to the Jew, the nature of Jesus remarks are both astounding and outrageous. Jesus opens the doors of a spiritual reality, revealing the truth of a relationship to God through His Son, (the Messiah). He explains this in ways that are unmistakable to the Jew. (And this same truth, later, is to be applied to all people claiming the name of Christian).

Each person who reads this should be asking, at the least, these two questions: “Am I hearing the voice of God through the one I am following?”, and, “Does the one appointed over me for my spiritual safety, hear and follow the voice of Christ?”.

Be reminded these words are inspired by God, have been recorded and preserved and are meant for our instruction, our rebuke and correction for our training in righteousness.

Parable of the Good Shepherd

Verse 1.“Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. Verse 2. But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. Verse 3. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

(Commentary Break): These metaphors are laden and rich both with spiritual truth that leads to life and warnings against deceit.

The “door of the sheepfold” is God’s Word. (John 1:1-3, 14, tells us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”) “The sheepfold” is God’s protective enclosure of safety for His sheep, His redeemed followers.

When anyone claiming to be a leader or a protector of His sheep who “does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep” – in other words, He does not adhere strictly to the Word of God, he innovates, violates or abrogates God’s clear instructions, “he is a thief and a robber”. There is no room for error here. Ignorance of God’s Word is no excuse – it is one of many clear violations that disqualifies a person from representing Christ as a leader, pastor, teacher or prophet.

“But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” The doorkeeper (gatekeeper) represents the Holy Spirit who opens the door for the Good Shepherd and for those who represent Him today. Do not be deceived. I am heartbroken and alarmed that so many churches are being led by thieves and robbers. They excuse embracing homosexuality in leadership; turn a blind eye to sexual deviancy and promiscuity; they allow women to preach and rule over the men; they raid the treasury for their own profits; they seek success, fame, glory and admiration. You know them – you see them – avoid them. Flee from them or you are complicit in their evil and wicked deeds and you will share in paying the consequences. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 4. When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. Verse 5. However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Verse 6. Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them meant.

(Commentary Break): The true sheep of God willingly follow the Shepherd – in other words they hear the Word of God and practice that Word by following it. But if you hear strange teachings, this is the voice of a stranger. Flee and call to the other sheep to flee. Do not be like those who heard these words from Jesus and did not understand what the things which He was saying to them meant. Know the Word of God and follow it. (End Commentary Break)

Verse 7. So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. Verse 8. All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. Verse 9. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Verse 10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.

Verse 11. “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Verse 12. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. Verse 13. He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep.

(Commentary Break): Verses seven through thirteen are clear and plain language. Jesus makes clear the choice and the consequences at stake. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.” You can attend a church all of your life and still find that you will have been robbed of life, killed in your soul and you will be destroyed. We must put our own selfish desires to death and be born again and follow the True Shepherd.

Listen, please. If you are attending a church or following a man (or, God forbid, a woman) who puts themselves forward as a representative of Christ, and who has a cloud of suspicion hanging over them – flee. The man of God appointed to pastor God’s sheep will lead a holy and humble life, blameless and will live his life above reproach – and he will know the Word of God and be able to correctly preach and practice that word. A “hired hand” is not like this. He is there for the paycheck, the recognition, for what he can get for himself. These kind are usually cowardly in the face of opposition, controlling, unrelenting in disputes, and spiritually abusive. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 14. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, verse 15, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. Verse 16. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. Verse 17. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. Verse 18. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.”

(Commentary Break): It is noteworthy that Jesus is forecasting His coming death as the substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of many. And that He now comments that He has other sheep – Gentile sheep – that are not of this (Jewish) fold; He says He must bring them also, and that they will listen to His voice; and that they will become one flock, with one shepherd. Obviously, this would have been a mystery at this point in time. Jesus is speaking a prophetic truth which is, as is always the case, coming to pass. It is just not possible to over-emphasize the importance of what Jesus is saying in this chapter and in these verses and is still true and applicable today. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 19. Dissension occurred again among the Jews because of these words. Verse 20. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” Verse 21. Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of those who are blind, can it?”

Jesus Asserts His Deity

Verse 22. At that time the Feast of the Dedication (Now known as Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of Lights) took place in Jerusalem; verse 23, it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area, in the portico of Solomon. Verse 24. The Jews then surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Verse 25. Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. Verse 26. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. Verse 27. My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; verse 28, and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. Verse 29. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. Verse 30. I and the Father are one.”

(Commentary Break): Rather than comment here, I ask you to imagine. Imagine walking with Jesus and asking Him “are you the Christ” and His response is “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep.” This is still the litmus test today. You can be walking with Him and ask (through prayer), “are you the Christ?”. Don’t be afraid to ask. The Apostle John asked this very question as he was facing his death, (see Luke 7:18-23). You see, we are redeemed by Christ and saved from the coming Messianic judgments by God’s grace, through our faith in Christ Jesus. It is not of ourselves, It is a gift of God. So, yes. Ask in faith. Seek and knock and He will give all these things to you!  (End Commentary Break).

Verse 31. The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Verse 32. Jesus replied to them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” Verse 33. The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” Verse 34. Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law: ‘I SAID, YOU ARE GODS’? Verse 35. If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be nullified), verse 36, are you saying of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? Verse 37. If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; verse 38, but if I do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” Verse 39. Therefore they were seeking again to arrest Him, and He eluded their grasp.

(Commentary Break): (From BibleHub.com bible study), This phrase, : ‘I SAID, YOU ARE GODS’?,  is a direct quotation from Psalm 82:6, where God addresses the judges of Israel, calling them “gods” because of their role as representatives of divine justice. In the cultural and historical context, judges and leaders were seen as God’s agents on earth, tasked with upholding His laws and justice. Jesus uses this reference to argue that if human judges can be called “gods” in the Scriptures, then it is not blasphemous for Him, the Son of God, to claim a unique relationship with the Father. This argument underscores Jesus’ divinity and His fulfillment of Old Testament types and prophecies concerning the Messiah. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 40. And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He stayed there. Verse 41. Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” Verse 42. And many believed in Him there. (End Chapter 10 text).

It should seem incredible, then and now, that even after His testimony, His amazing works (miracles), that there continue to be dissension and divisions. But these same dissensions and divisions concerning Jesus continue to this day – and in fact, the religious and doctrinal fractures outside and inside the church have become chasms. It would appear that the church in 2025 is divided against itself. But that is not the case.

It is true that the enemy has invaded the church in a last ditch effort to thwart and pervert the Gospel Message and the mission and cause of Jesus as the Christ. God has addressed the shortcomings of the Church in a message to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. But for now, God has said we are to tend to the “wheat” (the true believers) in the church and that He will remove the tares (the weeds or the non-believers) from our midst in the final harvest (see Matthew 13:30).

So, what may appear to be an errant or deliberately rebellious church is actually a counterfeit of Jesus’ Church, the Body of Christ. (The term “counterfeit church of Satan” often refers to groups or organizations that mimic true Christian teachings but promote false doctrines, misleading followers away from genuine faith. These groups are seen as deceptive, using tactics similar to those of Satan to lead people astray from the truth of the gospel. The term “Counterfeit Church of Satan” refers to religious groups or movements that mimic true Christian teachings but distort them to promote false doctrines. These groups often present themselves as legitimate expressions of faith while leading followers away from the core truths of Christianity.

Characteristics of Counterfeit Churches

Attribute	Description
Deceptive Teachings	They often teach doctrines that sound similar to biblical truths but are misleading.
Charismatic Leadership	Leaders may use flattery and persuasive speech to attract and retain followers.
False Miracles	Some may claim to perform miracles or signs that are not genuine, aiming to deceive.
Focus on Emotional Experience	Emphasis on feelings over scriptural truth can lead to a shallow understanding of faith.

Biblical Warnings

The Bible warns against such counterfeits. For instance, the Apostle Paul cautioned that Satan disguises himself as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), indicating that false teachings can appear attractive and convincing.

Conclusion

Recognizing the counterfeit church involves understanding the core tenets of true Christianity and being vigilant against teachings that deviate from biblical principles. Engaging with scripture and seeking genuine spiritual guidance are essential steps in avoiding deception.

You will know them by their fruit. (see Spiritual Counterfeit by Tim Challies and GotQuestions.Org).

 We must be Berean, diligent in examining the Scriptures, as exemplified by the Bereans in Acts 17:10-12, who carefully checked the teachings of Paul and Silas against the Old Testament to verify their truth. This approach emphasizes the importance of seeking truth through prayer and personal study of the Bible.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

NEXT: (coming soon), THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 11, The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus, The Conspiracy to Kill Jesus.

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 9, Healing the Man Born Blind, Controversy Over The Man, Jesus Affirms His Deity.

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