11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 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 them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd."
Message: The Shepherd Who Knows His Sheep
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: Jesus provides further clarity to what He said, recorded in the first 6 verses of Chapter 10. In verse 7, He says He is the door of the Sheep. And in verse 11 He says, "I am the good shepherd." Toward the sheep, Jesus says He lays down His life for the sheep (v. 11). He says he lays down His life for the sheep (v. 15) and he knows His sheep and His sheep know Him (v. 14). There is intimacy here. There is a close relationship. God is sovereign and in control. He is mighty, but, as a reminder, on this Christmas day, God sent His son as a baby into this world, small and innocent. He lived as we live, tempted as we are. And He knows us. There is nothing greater than to be known by God.
Jesus lays down His life for His sheep. He dies for us. Jesus atones for His sheep. Jesus dies on the cross but His death was not for all because all would not be saved, instead He lays down His Life for the sheep. Jesus mentions in verse 26 that "you do not believe because you are not of My sheep." So not all are His sheep.
Verse 16 speaks of "other sheep...not of this fold." Verse 1 of chapter 10 mentions the fold of the sheep. In these verses and in his conversation in chapter 9, He is speaking to the Pharisees, the Jews of the day (v. 19). But in verse 16 He remarks that beyond the fold of the Jewish people and those He has chosen of the flock, there are other sheep, there are other sheep that will hear His voice and they with the other folds will become one flock with one shepherd.
As such verse 16 is a prophetic word by Jesus. The Gentiles will be a part of His kingdom but they are not yet. He is speaking here again to the Jews, the Pharisees but later all people from all nations will be a part of His fold - one flock with one shepherd. I remember again chapter 9, verse 39 that Jesus comes into this world for judgment and there will be a separation - some will see, some will be blind, but He comes into the world for all. For God loves the World.
Summary: Jesus is the good shepherd, laying down His life for His sheep, those of the fold of Israel and other sheep (Gentiles), not of this fold are prophesied.
Promise: John Calvin comments on John 10:16, “We are already God’s sheep, before we are aware that He is our shepherd.”
Prayer: Lord, you are Holy. Your ways are perfect. Thank you for grafting me in, all Gentiles in and calling Israel as well to your flock. You are our Shepherd and we are one Flock. Thank you for seeing the need all people have for You, in all nations, in all manners of life. Let us be a people that continually honors You and gives glory to Your name. Draw my family to You o god. Make yourself real to them always. Awaken them by Your Spirit to an understanding of You.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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