(REFLECTIONS ON John 10:1-21)

In today’s Scripture we read that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. In fact, it is Jesus Himself that twice says, “I am the good shepherd.” The first time Jesus said this is in reference to Himself laying down His life for His sheep.

The second time, is in reference to the relationship He has with His sheep, “I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.”

When we think about Jesus as the Good Shepherd, we perhaps think about a shepherd leading a group of sheep. The shepherd leads them by going ahead of them, and is always on the lookout to ensure they are safe and provided for.

However, in addition to being the Good Shepherd, we also read in today’s Scripture about Jesus talking to the Pharisees about a sheep pen, a gate, and a gatekeeper. The interesting thing is that Jesus as the Good Shepherd, not only goes ahead of the sheep, leading them out of the sheep pen, but Jesus also is the Gate for the sheep.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd leading His sheep out of the sheep pen, but at the same time He is also the Gate that the sheep need to go through to follow Him. The gatekeeper opens Jesus (the Gate) for Jesus (the Good Shepherd). Jesus is the way, and the One that leads the way.

Today’s Scripture also leads us to consider who the gatekeeper is. Scripture doesn’t explicitly tell us who the gatekeeper is, whether it is God, the church, or even John the Baptist that came to prepare the way for Jesus. Maybe the gatekeeper is symbolic for all those who are willing to submit in obedience to God, and not preach their own version of the gospel, but rather to preach Jesus and open the Gate for the Good Shepherd.

Anyone that does not enter the sheep pen by the Gate, that is Jesus, is a thief and a robber. That is anyone, whether it is the Pharisees of the time, or church leaders in our time. Anyone that does not enter through Jesus, is not a true shepherd. In fact, the Good Shepherd is the true shepherd, and He is one.

Jesus is not only the way, but He leads His sheep to God. Jesus has not only laid down His life for His sheep, but He has a relationship with them and they know His voice.

As the Good Shepherd and the Gate, Jesus leads all that surrender to Him to God through Himself. The question for us then, is if we are being led by Jesus, through Jesus, to God, or are we following another shepherd that only leads us to ourselves?

And for us that serve in church, are we entering the sheep pen through Jesus Christ (the Gate), and by Jesus Christ (the Good Shepherd), functioning as the gatekeeper, or are we a thief and robber of God’s sheep?

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: John 10