To Divide and Unite: John 10:1-21

While reading the gospels, it seems as though many people liked hearing the stories and illustrations Jesus told, but it seems that in many cases, while the illustrations Jesus used were simple, the truth Jesus was trying to share was lost on the audience.

In our passage for this episode, we’ll be looking at one of these illustrations, and specifically at how Jesus explains what He meant by this illustration. Our passage can be found in the gospel of John, chapter 10, and we will read it from the Contemporary English Version. Starting in verse 1:

¹ Jesus said:

I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. ^2-3 But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.

⁴ When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. ⁵ The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away.

⁶ Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.

If you have ever read a passage and not understood what it meant, you have something in common with the crowd in this passage.

However, instead of leaving the crowd confused at this shepherding metaphor, Jesus continues and explains it for those listening. Continuing reading in verse 7,

⁷ Jesus said:

I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. ⁹ I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.

¹⁰ A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep. ¹² Hired workers are not like the shepherd. They don’t own the sheep, and when they see a wolf coming, they run off and leave the sheep. Then the wolf attacks and scatters the flock. ¹³ Hired workers run away because they don’t care about the sheep.

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. ¹⁵ Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them together too, when they hear my voice. Then there will be one flock of sheep and one shepherd.

¹⁷ The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so that I may receive it back again. ¹⁸ No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.

¹⁹ The people took sides because of what Jesus had told them. ²⁰ Many of them said, “He has a demon in him! He is crazy! Why listen to him?”

²¹ But others said, “How could anyone with a demon in him say these things? No one like that could give sight to a blind person!”

There are three parts of Jesus’ explanation that stood out when I read this.

The first part in this passage that stands out is Jesus’ telling us He is both the gate and the good Shepherd. These two ideas stand out because of the way Jesus explains them. Firstly, the gate frees the sheep and allows them to go into the pastureland for food and rest, and secondly, the gate protects the sheep and keeps predators out. Jesus is the way to peace, life, and rest – and He is also the best protection we have from those who would try to harm us. There are those who may harm our bodies, but Jesus keeps our lives safe – and this includes both our lives in the world today, and our lives in heaven in the future.

It may be challenging for some to internalize this idea, but just like we were all created with a purpose, God is not going to let us die while there is something left for us to do. This means that while we are working for Him, He is actively protecting us, and it is only after we have accomplished what He created us for that He will let us rest in preparation for the second life that is to come.

The second part of the passage that stood out when I read it is Jesus saying that He has other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. While some might take this to mean that there are multiple paths to God, I see it as extending the principle of Jesus’ ministry into being a little more generic. Jesus came to both divide some people and unify others. As I look at both the Old Testament and New Testament histories, as well as the history of the world up to this point, there are two broad groups of people present at every point in time: There are those who think they can do life on their own, and there are those who realize they need help with their life. The first group is all about self-reliance, while the second group is willing to accept help because they know they need help.

Jesus came for the second group of people, and when I read that He has sheep in other pens, I believe that He is saying that there are people who realize they need Him without knowing who He is. This would include all the righteous people in the Old Testament who only had the symbol of the lamb which is sacrificed for their sins.

The third part of the passage that stood out as I read it is when Jesus says that He has the power to give up His life and receive it back again. Jesus is fully aware in this passage that resurrection is in His future, and that by giving up His life, He is able to receive resurrection.

This ties into the first part of the passage that stood out to me because Jesus lived His life fully within God’s will and God’s plan, and God gave Him protection throughout His ministry leading up to the cross. Culture wants to make us believe that Jesus was betrayed and crucified against His will, but all four gospel writers draw our attention to how Jesus willingly went to the cross, and how all previous attempts on Jesus’ life were thwarted.

This passage concludes with the people taking sides. It seems that everyone thought what Jesus was saying sounded crazy, but while one group believed the source to be a demon, the other group believed the source was really God because of the miracles Jesus blessed others with.

Jesus came to both divide people between their belief about who He is and to unify people throughout time who know they cannot do life on their own.

As we finish out another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life. Purposely choose to be part of the group who believes in Jesus. When God divides people based on their belief in His Son, choose to stand with those who recognize their need for help and their need for Jesus.

Also, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself and learn who Jesus really was from the gospel record. Don’t take my word for it, or even your pastor’s word for it. Study it for yourself because God wants to grow a personal relationship with you, and for your relationship with God to be personal, it cannot be based on anyone else.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!