John 10:1–5, 7–15, 17–18

Bible Studies for Life
Director, Extension Division, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Jesus Takes Care of Us
John 10:1–5, 7–15, 17–18
Jesus has just finished telling the Pharisees they are blind. He explains that because they refuse to see who He is, they are unable to recognize truth. Because they were closed minded and unwilling to listen to God, He would allow their eyes to remain unopened and would reject them. Christ follows this statement that identifies who the Pharisees really are and what they lack with a new description of who He is and what He offers.

He Leads Me (1–5)
Jesus starts speaking of sheep and shepherds. Those listening understood how sheep behaved and knew the challenges of being a shepherd. Jesus knew that He had their attention as He began to explain that the “perfect” shepherd calls his sheep by name, leads them where they need to go and guides them on the safest path. His sheep respond to him because they know his voice and will not follow — to the point of running from — the call or sound of anyone else. John tells us, however, that those gathered didn’t understand what Jesus was telling them.

He Gives Me Abundant Life (7–10)
Jesus doesn’t leave them hanging. He explains that He is this Shepherd and that those who believe in Him are the sheep. And not only is He the Shepherd but also the Gate to the sheep pen. Jesus wants them to understand that only those who come through Him can be saved. He also wants them to realize that only this salvation provides an abundant and satisfying life.

He Laid Down His Life for Me (11–15, 17–18)
Jesus now seeks to drive His point home to all listening. He declares that the Good Shepherd is fully prepared to risk His own life for the safety of His sheep. Christ then proclaims that He is the Good Shepherd and will lay down His life for the sheep if needed to protect and provide for them. Then, astonishing them once more, He declares that after He lays His life down, He’ll raise Himself back up.

Look at what Jesus says. He is the Good Shepherd and He knows and calls His sheep — His followers — by their names. These sheep know His voice and won’t follow the voices of others. Jesus is the Gate by which these sheep enter and exit their pen. Those sheep that enter through Him will be saved, and when they go out, they will find that they have all they need. The best kind of shepherd, according to Jesus, is willing to do whatever it takes — even dying — to protect his sheep from thieves, robbers or any evildoers who want to kill and destroy them.

Once again, Jesus hits us exactly where we live. Think about the culture in which we exist — what do people really want? At first thought, most of us would list money, possessions, influence and status. But when we get to the heart of the issue, these are just a means to the real end that people desire. In and of themselves, goods, wealth and power never meet our real needs. Deep down inside what we really want and seek is acceptance, protection, provision and love.

That is what Jesus knows and is talking about. If we have come to Him, confessed our belief in Him and committed to follow Him, then we belong to Him. He knows who we are. We matter to Him. He calls us by name, and we know that it’s Him. We also recognize when the wrong voice calls and in our hearts know that we aren’t supposed to follow. When Jesus leads, we can trust that it is down a safe path and that He remains with us all the way — even when that path seems scary. He promises safety, security and provisions.

Christ guarantees not only eternal life but also abundant life — everything we can ever ask for or imagine. He promises unconditional love to anyone who comes to Him. No matter who we are, what we’ve done or what we think of ourselves, He promises to love us and never leave us. Jesus promised to lay down His life for His sheep — and He did. He took our sin on Himself and, in doing so, forever prevents the evil thief from destroying us. And He rose from the dead to abide with us. Jesus knows, cares for, protects, provides for and loves us forever — no matter what.