Ralph Porter

© 2003

    During the Christmas season it's become common to discuss "the reason for the season." This has been especially frustrating to me this year as it seems the custom has become increasingly familiar to refer to "Turkey Day" and "the holidays." It's no longer considered "politically correct" to make reference to the reason those holidays exist.

    As important as that generic question concerning "the reason for the season" may seem, it's even more significant to ask about the reason for the season, from a different perspective: Why did Jesus come? John was written to answer that question. Repeatedly throughout his gospel, John quotes our Lord's comments, "I have come that . . . ."

    In John 20:30-31, John informs us why he wrote his gospel. He tells us that he had three purposes for writing:

        Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which 

    are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that 

    Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in 

    his name.

    Jesus did many things that John had neither time nor space to write about. He selected the evidence that he included in his gospel to accomplish three purposes. These three purposes build on one another. His first purpose was to demonstrate that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Since we are not Jewish, we read those words without grasping their full significance. He wrote to present the evidence that Jesus was Israel's Messiah, and that He is their God. The expression "Son of God" is an idiomatic way of saying that He is God.

    John wanted to present his evidence to accomplish a second purpose: so that we might trust Him. That purpose in turn led to his third purpose: that we might receive eternal life. These three purposes make this an extremely important book. He is writing about the most important subject ever written!

    John 1 explains the reason for Jesus' coming by introducing Jesus as "the Word." He is the very expression of God Himself! The Word was present in the beginning with God. The Word was God! He came and "pitched His tent" in our midst, so that we could see what God is like.

    Repeatedly in the gospel of John, Jesus associates with the Old Testament name of God: Yahweh. That name was introduced in Exodus 3, when God met Moses in the burning bush in the desert. Moses asked Him: "When I tell the Israelites: 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you' and they ask me, 'What is His name?' Then what shall I say to them?"

    God responded: "I AM who I AM. Tell them, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Thus God indicated that His personal name, revealed in His relationship with Israel, is "I AM"--the One Who always exists!"

    In John, Jesus uses that name, "I AM," to describe Himself. His identification with that personal name of God is most obvious in the dialogue in John 8:58. Jesus is explaining His personal relationship with Abraham. The Jews reacted, "You are not yet 50 years old, and you have seen Abraham?"

    Jesus responded: "Before Abraham was born, I AM!" It's rather obvious that either Jesus' grammar was confused, or He's saying something more than just that He existed before Abraham. He is claiming that He has been around since before Abraham's time, and that He continues to exist. In other words, He's claiming that He's eternal! The Jews who were listening understood what He was trying to say. They tried to stone Him! He's claiming to be Yahweh, God of Israel!

    Jesus combines that name for God in various descriptions of Himself. Last week we considered Jesus' claim: "I AM the Bread of life." He came to satisfy our need for life and our hunger for God!

    In John 10, Jesus adds two more "I AM" statements to the list. These statements further explain the reason for Jesus' coming. He tells them "I AM the gate of the sheep." That's the description that is more familiar as the King James Version translated it: "I AM the door." Since he is talking about a sheep pen, it is more natural to translate this expression, "I AM the gate."

    Jesus adds a second description of Himself: "I AM the Good Shepherd." The key focus of this passage is on that description of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

    The Jewish people would have been used to the Old Testament descriptions that introduced God as their Shepherd:

    Gen. 49:24    "Joseph remained strong before His enemies, "because of the hand of 

        the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel."

    Ps. 80:1    "Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock."

    Is. 40:11    "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms 

        and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young."

    Jer. 31:10    "He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his 

        flock like a shepherd."

    Ezek. 34:12    "As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, 

        so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they 

        were scattered."

    Ps. 23:1    Summary statement: "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want."

    The psalmist points out that because the Lord's my Shepherd, I lack nothing! He gives me rest. He directs my path. He protects me from my enemies. He gives me victory. He gives me security. Thus, the psalmist concludes in 23:6, "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." God, our Shepherd, is the source of all we need. Therefore, we are content. We rest in Him. We are secure!

    If Jesus is God, it shouldn't surprise us to find Him described as our Shepherd! In John 10, Jesus tells us He's the Good Shepherd!

        10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

        10:14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."

    It should be apparent that Jesus never went to "politically correct school!" In John 14, He introduces Himself as "the way." No one comes to the Father except by Him! He emphasizes that He is THE Shepherd--the good one! Everyone else who comes claiming to be the shepherd is a thief and a robber. This is not the way to win friends and influence people!

    Throughout this chapter, Jesus stands in contrast to the false shepherds. They are thieves who come to steal the sheep. Or, they are hired hands who are out to make a buck! They're not concerned for the good of the sheep.

    Jesus is concerned for the good of the sheep. He's the Good Shepherd. He leads us to good pastures. He gives His life for the sheep.

    Jesus begins His introduction by pointing to the contrast between the true Shepherd and the thief (1).

         "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, 

    but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber."

    In contrast to the thief, the true Shepherd is recognized by the watchman who protects the sheep and watches for the coming of the Shepherd (1-3a). He is able to come in through the gate because the watchman knows Him.

         "The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman 

    opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice."

    Not only does the watchman recognize the True Shepherd but the sheep recognize His voice. The true Shepherd calls His sheep by name (3b). After He calls us, the true Shepherd leads us along the path of life (3c-4a).

         "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought 

    out all his own, he goes on ahead of them."

    His sheep respond to His call and follow Him (4b).

         "And his sheep follow him because they know his voice."

    They won't follow a stranger because they don't know his voice. In fact they will run away from the stranger. But His sheep recognize His voice and follow Him (4c-5).

         "But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from 

    him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

    After Jesus has presented the image of the Shepherd of the sheep, his listeners don't get it. So he goes back over it again (6-7a). This time He begins with a different figure of speech to point to another truth.

         "Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he 

    was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, . . ."

    He introduces a parable within a parable to demonstrate that Jesus is the way by which sheep enter the sheepfold to safety under the Shepherd's care. He is THE door; there's only one door! The door is the way the sheep get into the Shepherd's fold--into His safe-house--His pen, where they are safe and secure--protected by Him!.

    You can tell what kind of people are entering the fold by way they get in. Thieves and robbers don't go in through the door and His true sheep don't follow them (7b-8).

         "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before 

    me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the 

    gate; whoever enters through me will be saved."

    Jesus is the only way to obtain eternal life (9a). All of His sheep get in the same way. All the sheep get into the Shepherd's pen through the door. There's only one door by which sheep can get into the Shepherd's fold! Jesus is the way to enter the Shepherd's pen!

    Not only is Jesus the way to eternal life, He is also the way to fellowship with God (9b). We approach the Father through Him. When we come to Him, we are provided luscious, green, satisfying pastures through Him.

         "He will come in and go out, and find pasture."

    Now He answers that question about the reason for the season, the reason for His birth. Why did Jesus come? Why was He born? Verse 10 answers that question. Again he contrasts Himself with the thief. They come for two very different reasons:

         "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they 

    may have life, and have it to the full."

    This is the real reason for the season! The reason Jesus was born. The reason the Son of God became a man and came to dwell among us. Jesus is the way to abundant, satisfying, eternal life.

    As the Good Shepherd, Jesus tells us two main characteristics of Himself. Jesus lays down His life for His sheep (11-13). Again, this is contrasted with the attitude of the hired hand who abandons the sheep and runs to protect himself when danger comes near. The true shepherd sacrifices His life for the good of the sheep, because He truly cares about them.

         "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

    The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the 

    wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the 

    flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares 

    nothing for the sheep."

    The second characteristic of the Good Shepherd is that Jesus knows His sheep and they know Him (14-18). His personal relationship with His sheep motivates Him to die for them (14-15).

        "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- just 

    as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for 

    the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring 

    them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock 

    and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my 

    life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down 

    of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it 

    up again. This command I received from my Father."

    Jesus' reference to sheep that are not part of this flock has led to considerable confusion. Some have suggested that He is talking about people from other planets, or other religious groups that receive eternal life by some other way. Other passages combine to offer a better suggestion. He is speaking to Jews who believe that the only way to enter the Shepherd's fold is through Israel. In the book of Acts we read how God made us part of His flock also (16).

    Israel was part of His sheep pen from the beginning. Now we have joined those who hear His voice. We have been transformed and made part of His flock. However, it's still one flock and one Shepherd. Jesus repeats His willingness to lay down His life voluntarily for His sheep (17-18).

    C. S. Lewis wrote a great argument concerning the evidence for Christ. He identified only three logical possibilities concerning Christ. According to Lewis Christ must be a liar, a lunatic, or He must be Lord. The Jewish people who were discussing the evidence proposed only two possibilities!

    For them He must either be crazy (19-20) or, He has come with supernatural power doing things that only God could do. If He is doing these miracles by the power of God, it must be because God sent Him (21)! If that's the case, they had better pay attention to what He has to say. Those who want to reject Him have no problem coming up with excuses!

         "At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, 'He is 

    demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?' But others said, 'These 

    are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the 

    eyes of the blind?'"

    Faced with these alternatives, the reader is forced to make a choice. Will he choose to join those Jews who reject the Savior, or those who decide to trust Him (22-26)? The Jews who reject Him insist that He tell them who He is. Is He Messiah (22-24)?

         "Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus 

    was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered 

    around him, saying, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the 

    Christ, tell us plainly.'"

    Jesus' answer to their question focuses on their response to Him (25-26). He has told them. The problem is with their hearing. They don't want to accept His answer and trust Him. They refuse to believe His answer.

         "Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do 

    in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not 

    my sheep."

    In contrast to their refusal to believe, Jesus' describes how His sheep respond to His voice (27-30).

        "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them 

    eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my 

    hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can 

    snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

    Jesus' sheep listen to His voice (27a). When they hear His voice, His sheep follow Him (27b). You may have missed a deliberate pattern traced through this passage. Notice how many times Christ describes their response to Him:

    3    ... the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name ...

           [He] leads them out. They know His voice! They follow Him!

    4    ... he goes .. ahead of them, His sheep follow him ... they know his voice.

    5    The sheep run away from a stranger ... because they do not recognize a stranger's

           voice."         [but they DO know the Shepherd's voice!]

    8    The sheep did not listen to ... [thieves and robbers]. [but they know the shepherd's

           voice!]

    14    " ... my sheep know me"

    16    I have other sheep ... They too will listen to my voice ...

    26    but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

    27    My sheep listen to my voice; ... and they follow me.

    Do you get the point? The main thing Jesus is saying in John 10! Jesus' sheep are secure because they stay close to the Shepherd! They have their antenna fixed on Him--so they can hear what He says! Do you spend time with the Shepherd--enough time listening to His Word--enough time in His presence--so you and He have such an intimate relationship that you would never mistake His voice for that of a stranger? The true sheep spend so much time with their Shepherd they'd know His voice anywhere!

    Jesus continues His description of the true sheep by describing the results of their response to Him:

    His sheep have eternal life (28a). His sheep never perish (28b). His sheep can never be snatched away (28c-30). No one can take them away from Him. He uses the figure of a clenched fist--an ALL-powerful one!

    His figure reminds me of a game I used to play with our kids. I don't play it with my kids anymore. Now I only play it with the grandkids! I used to hide something in my hand and close it tightly. They could never pry it loose because I'm bigger and stronger than they are. (That's why I don't play it with my kids anymore!) They could never pry it out! They'd have to be stronger than I am to get it out!

    That's why Christ can say definitively that no one can snatch me out of God's hand. My enemies can't snatch me out of God's hand! My neighbors, friends, or family can't snatch me out of God's hand! Satan can't snatch me out of God's hand! When I traveled to Papua New Guinea, they were afraid of the evil spirits. The evil spirits can't snatch me out of God's hand! I can't even snatch myself out of God's hand! No one can snatch us out of God's hand! No one! Only God could remove us because there's no one stronger. And He's told us He won't!

    A Texas rancher who owned 2000 sheep told J. Vernon McGee: Someone has to keep an eye on sheep all the time. If two go over the hill, they're lost; they can't find way back. If a wolf comes along and eats one, the other doesn't run away. He doesn't know where to go! A sheep is stupid; he has no way to defend himself. He can't outrun the enemy. If a sheep is safe, it isn't because it's clever. It's because he has a good shepherd!

    When I tell you I have eternal life and I'll never perish, you may accuse me of bragging. No, I'm not bragging about myself. I'm bragging about my shepherd! I have a wonderful Shepherd. He never loses a sheep! Never!

    It's not true that once you're a Christian you can get away with anything! God's children are secure! But we're secure because His true children know His voice and follow Him!

    Don't confuse the cause with the effect! Don't confuse the result with a pre-requisite! We don't listen to His voice and follow Him to become his sheep! We listen to His voice and follow Him, because we are his sheep!

    So, how will you respond to Jesus? Are you His sheep? Will you listen to His voice? Will you follow Him? Will you trust Him? Those who trust Him have eternal life. Those who trust Him will never perish. Those who trust Him will never be "snatched away" from Him.

    When you trust in Jesus--when you stop trusting yourself and trust Him--you receive God's FREE gift--God's Christmas present to you--eternal life!

    But you also receive another gift: NEW life. In verse 10 He says: "I have come that they might have life and have it to the full!" Jesus came to give us a new kind of life--eternal life--abundant life--a life that satisfies.

    As our Shepherd, Jesus has promised to give us EVERYTHING we need! He only gives that kind of life to those who recognize Him as Shepherd! The Shepherd doesn't care for someone else's sheep. The Shepherd cares for HIS sheep

        --those who know His voice!

        --those who listen to Him!

        --those who follow Him!

    To his true sheep, Jesus promises no one will ever snatch us out of His hand! Are you His sheep this morning? Are you trusting him? Do you know His voice? Are you listening to Him? Are you following Him?

    He's the good Shepherd--the best Shepherd any sheep ever had! Are you trusting Him?