THE GOSPEL OF JOHN Small Group Discussion Guide

Text: John 10:1-6

Theme/ Big Idea: While John 9 offered a comparison between true faith and true rejection, John 10 provides a comparison between the True Shepherd and false shepherds.

Context/ Background Information: John 10 is directly connected to chapter 9 and the healing of the blind man. Both the emphatic "truly, truly" in vs. 1 and the reference to the man being healed in vs. 21 are our clues. John 9 concluded with the healed man being cast out of the synagogue by the religious leaders. John 10:1 picks up with the emphatic, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber." By addressing the thief and robber first, before the rightful shepherd, Jesus is connecting the previous scene with the teaching to come. While John 9 offered a comparison between true faith and true rejection, John 10 provides a comparison between the True Shepherd and false shepherds. In verses 1-6, Jesus issues a challenge to the watchmen of Israel, while simultaneously highlighting the distinct difference between himself and the religious leaders. Verses 7-21 will expand on the metaphors used in verses 1-6 and will be explored further in the next study guide.

CHALLENGING FALSE SHEPHERDS Jesus’ claim to be the good shepherd in John 10 is likely a direct reference to Ezekiel 34. In Ezekiel 34, God rebukes the "shepherds of Israel" for not caring for or feeding the sheep of Israel (Ezek 34:1). Instead, they cared only for themselves and ignored the weak, sick, injured, and lost (Ezek 34:3-4). Therefore, God's sheep were scattered, wandering, and lost (Ezek 34:5).

With the shepherds of Israel rejecting their role and responsibilities, God promised to seek, save, feed, and rescue his sheep (Ezek 34:11-14). He will do this personally, saying, "Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out" (Eze 34:11 and 15). God promises to come to the rescue of his sheep through "one shepherd, my servant David" (Eze 34:23). This promise carried clear Messianic overtones and expectations as the promised Son of David was also a reference to the Son of God who would sit on the throne forever (2 Sam 7:13-15).

In light of this scriptural background, we return to John 9 and 10 and see the religious leaders of Israel abdicating their role and casting a formerly blind man out of the synagogue. Rather than caring for the man, they reject him and his testimony. Thus begins John 10 with Jesus immediately rebuking the religious leaders as thieves, robbers, and strangers who attempt to play the role of shepherd, but enter "by another way" (John 10:1). Calling the religious leaders thieves and robbers is similar to God's rebuke in Ezekiel 34:2-3. Rather than feed Israel, the shepherds of Ezekiel's day fed themselves. Rather than give of themselves, they stole for themselves. Jesus is boldly asserting that the religious leaders, who claim to be shepherds of Israel, are not feeding the people of Israel but feeding off the people of Israel. Jesus proceeds to outline the characteristics of a true shepherd, which highlights the stark contrast between himself and the religious leaders.

JESUS, THE TRUE SHEPHERD John 10:1-6 stands as a sharp rebuke to the religious leaders by outlining the characteristics of a true and genuine shepherd. Jesus says the true shepherd has the right credentials and authority, he knows his sheep personally, and his sheep know and respond to him. In highlighting these characteristics, Jesus reveals the religious leaders to be false shepherds and himself to be the promised True and Better Shepherd of Ezekiel 34.

First, Jesus says it is only "the shepherd of the sheep" who enters by the door (John 10:2). He says anyone "who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way is a thief and a robber (John 10:1). The word for sheepfold can be translated courtyard. It was common at this time for multiple families to keep multiple flocks together in one common courtyard at night. These courtyards typically had high walls and a single gate or doorway. The gate was usually guarded at night by a hired watchman. Each morning the shepherds would come to retrieve their sheep and take them out to feed. Since the sheep belonged to a specific shepherd, the gatekeeper recognized the shepherd's identity, credentials, and authority to enter the courtyard. By saying that he enters by the door, Jesus is making clear that he enters by the appropriately appointed way. In other words, Jesus has the right credentials and authority. He is the appointed shepherd of God sent to call God's sheep out of the courtyard. Jesus is the promised "shepherd" come to seek, save, feed, and lead the lost sheep of Israel (Eze 34:23). Jesus is reminding the religious leaders that only true shepherds have the authority to enter the fold. Therefore, Jesus is inviting them to recognize his identity, credentials, and authority.

Secondly, Jesus says true shepherds know their own sheep. Shepherds had personal and intimate knowledge of their sheep. They often gave their sheep personal names, and they regularly and carefully inspected their sheep from head to toe for injuries. Verses 3 and 4 both emphasize the personal nature of the shepherd to his sheep. Verse 3 says, "he calls his own by name." While verse 4 says, the true shepherd brings "out all his own." Both of these statements make clear that the sheep belong to the shepherd, and the true shepherd can identify his own flock. This is one of the primary points of verses 1-5. Jesus knows who belong to him. He calls them out of the crowds by name. This is visually displayed in the story of Zacchaeus, where Jesus spots him among the crowds and calls to him by name. The text says Zacchaeus came down quickly and "received him joyfully" (Lk 19:1-5). Everyone wants to be known. But with that desire also comes the great fear of being rejected. Here we learn that the true shepherd knows his sheep intimately and still calls them by name to come to him.

A third way Jesus distinguishes himself as the true shepherd is by pointing to the response of the sheep themselves. After all the miracles, signs, and works of Jesus, if the religious leaders still wonder about his identity and authority, Jesus invites them to look at the response of the sheep. In verses 3 and 4, Jesus says the shepherd knows his own sheep by name and the sheep "hear" and "know" the shepherd's voice. Upon hearing the shepherd's voice, we are told they respond and follow. Using modern vernacular, this is two-factor authentication. He knows them personally and by name, he calls them out, he goes before them, and they respond by following. In verse 5 Jesus says they will not respond to nor follow a stranger. As with a parent and child, anyone can know a toddler's name and call to it, but it is only to the parents that toddler will run. In fact, when a stranger calls a toddler's name, the toddler may turn but will often cry out for their mother or father.

Jesus is pointing to something that was well known among shepherds at that time. Though multiple flocks might be kept together in a sheepfold, if a specific shepherd called out to his sheep, those sheep would hear his voice and respond to their master. They would come out from the other sheep and organize themselves next to their master whenever he called. Jesus is inviting the religious leaders to look at the response of the people. The religious leaders do not have to look very far. For how did the blind man respond to the voice and commands of Jesus? He trusted, obeyed, proclaimed, and worshiped.

Jesus is also inviting the religious leaders to evaluate their own hearts. How did they respond when the master shepherd arrived and called? Did they recognize his voice? Did they receive him with joy? Did they fall in line at his command? No, instead, they ignored and even rejected him. Their reaction and rejection reveals the type of relationship these shepherds have with the true shepherd of God and, therefore, God himself.

By pointing to the characteristics of the true shepherd, Jesus simultaneously reveals the religious leaders to be false shepherds. Rather than enter with authority, they are thieves, robbers, and strangers. Rather than know and care for the sheep of God, they cast them out and care only for themselves.

Discussion Questions: 1. What is the common image used in Ps 23:1, 80:1, and Is 40:11 for the way God cares and provides for his people? What comfort does this provide the believer? 2. One of the primary means of providing this care in the Old Testament was through appointed human shepherds. 1. Outline the way these shepherds failed according to Ezekiel 34:1-4? 2. What does God promise to do in Ezekiel 34:11-15? 3. By what means will God fulfill his promise to seek and save his sheep according to Ezekiel 34:23? 3. How does John 10:1-6 reveal that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of Ezekiel 34? 1. What is the significance of a shepherd entering by the gate? 2. What comfort and encouragement is found in the fact that Jesus knows his own sheep by name? 3. What does the response of the sheep say about the shepherd? 4. By outlining the characteristics of the true shepherd, how does Jesus simultaneously confront and challenge the religious leaders?