Jesus, The True Shepherd ~ John 10 - Presentation of the Shepherd of God-Jesus Christ ~ Ezekiel 34

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

³ To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out" (John 10:1-3) 

The Good Shepherd Enters Through the Door (John 10:1-3)

Christ's Rightful Claim to His Sheep

He (the Good Shepherd) comes the proper way (10:1-2) The shepherd who has a right to the sheep does not need to sneak into the fold or climb over the wall. He can enter through the door. So Christ could come to his people because he had the right. The Old Testament prophecies pointed to him (and to noone else). He was born of a virgin, as Isaiah had foretold (Isa 7:14) He had the title to the throne of David from Joseph, his legal father (Matt 1:1-16)

The Door as Provision and Protection

Jesus called himself the "door", to teach the truth about provision for his own. We must understand the door as representing the entrance perhaps to a wooded thicket where a sheep would enter to find shade and water from which it would pass to find pasturage. (John 10:2)

Characteristics of the Good Shepherd

The Shepherd Knows His Sheep Personally

The Good Shepherd knows His sheep. (John 10,3,14)

The Shepherd Leads and Guides His Flock

The Good Shepherd leads His sheep. (John 10:3-4,27)

The Shepherd Communicates with His Sheep

The Good Shepherd talks with His sheep.(John 10:3-4,27)

The Good Shepherd Provides Abundant Life (John 10:7-10)

Feeding and Satisfying His Flock

The Good Shepherd feeds His flock (John 10:7-10)

The Good Shepherd satisfies His sheep. (John 10:10)

Saving His Flock

The Good Shepherd saves His sheep. (John 10:9)

Protection for His Sheep

The Good Shepherd protects His flock. (John 10:11-18)

In John 7, Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (see 7:2,10) All of the events between 7:10 and 10:39 take place on that visit to Jerusalem. Thus chapters 9 and 10 are closely connected, suggesting that Jesus had the Pharisees in mind when He spoke the opening words of chapter 10.

The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life (John 10:11-18)

Sacrificial Love for the Sheep

The Good Shepherd dies for His sheep. (John 10:11,15)

Uniting the Flock into One

The Good Shepherd unites His sheep (John 10:16)

Fulfillment of Ezekiel 34's Prophecy

God's Promise to Search Out the Lost Sheep

Jesus would search out the lost sheep (Ezekiel 34:11)

Deliverance from Enemies and Gathering from All Nations

He would deliver them from their enemies (Ezekiel 34:12) Jesus leads His sheep out of the fold (John 10:3,6) Messiah was forming His flock in fulfillment of the ancient prophecies. It is of interest that the passage nowhere states that the flock is led back into this fold again.

He would gather them from all nations (34:13)

Healing, Feeding, and Establishing David's Line

He would feed them upon the mountains of Israel (Ezek 34:14)

He would heal their sick (34:16)

He would establish David as his trusted under-shepherd (Ezek 34:23) (see also Jer 30:9;Ezek 37:24; Hos 3:5)

The Eternal Covenant and Perfect Paradise

He would make an eternal pact with them (34:25)

He would guarantee their safety and place them in a perfect paradise. (Ezek 34:25-28)

Jesus as the Door to Salvation

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd." John 10:10-11

Jesus is the door to Salvation (John 10:7-9) Perfect safety for the sheep lay in being near the shepherd. So with Christ, spiritual Salvation is provided by one's union with Him. By faith in Him as Lord and Savior, the beleiver is introduced to the realm of Salvation. Christ becomes our Shepherd and assumes the responsibility for supplying all our needs.

Jesus Christ: The Only True Shepherd

Jesus is the only true shepherd (10:11, Ps 23, Heb 13:20) Thank you Jesus.