John
10:7-10 “Jesus the Door of the Sheep”
Introduction:
Jesus told the parable of the sheepfold to a formerly blind, blind man. The young man and received from Jesus both
his physical eye sight and his spiritual eye sight. Jesus is also speaking to His own disciples
this parable and to a group of Pharisees who are hanging on every word of Jesus
that they might trap Him in some way.
Jesus begins His explanation of the parable by explaining that He is the
door of the sheep.
I. Let us
learn that Jesus is the door and the saved are the sheep.
(John
10:7) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
The first thing Jesus identifies
from the parable of the sheepfold is the meaning of the door. Jesus is the door. He is the only legitimate entrance into the
sheepfold. If one is to enter into the
sheepfold he must come by way of Jesus. As
the door He represents both the only entrance and exit from the sheepfold and
the only obstacle to those who would steal the sheep from the fold. Once a person has entered the sheepfold
through the door, as we shall see, he is safe and will never suffer harm nor death. There is
no stronger door than Jesus for if the Son shall make you free you shall be
free indeed. After all (Romans
The second thing Jesus Identifies
from the parable is the sheep. The sheep
are the souls of men who have been saved.
They are saved because they have come to Jesus confessing their sin and
trusting in Jesus to save their souls.
Again I say they are the souls of saved men, women, and children. The sheep are not the house hold of
II. Let us learn that
Jesus protects His own from those who seek their harm.
(John
10:8) All that ever came before me are
thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
All that ever came before the door
which is Jesus are thieves and robbers.
Men who come before Jesus the door seeking entrance by confessing their
sins and trusting in Jesus to save their souls are allowed into the fold. Jesus saves their souls. The all that ever came before the door speaks
of men who are false prophets, false teachers, and false Christs, they are anti-Chirsts and only come to harm the sheep. Down through time there have been many who
have claimed to be God in human flesh.
Many of the Roman Caesars expected people to worship them as if they
were god’s.
Some have come claiming to be the Messiah of the Jews. All of these are considered by God as thieves
and robbers. They have caused many a
human being to worship something other than God. These come only for the purpose of destroying
humans. They lead men to Hell.
But Jesus assures
us that the sheep will not hear nor will they follow the thief and the robber
for they recognize only the voice of Jesus.
They will not lose their salvation for Jesus is the door and the Good
Shepherd. The sheep are safe in His
care. The Devil may take our bodies and
our minds but he can not take the saved soul of a man. The inner man is born of God and has the
righteousness of Christ. The inner man,
the save soul of a man, can not and will not sin for it is born of God. (1 John 3:9)
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of
God. This is why Jesus is such a strong
door. He is why our saved souls can not
be deceived. When the Anti-Christ comes
in the end times doing great miracles it will not be possible for him to
deceive the very elect for they will not hear his voice!
III. Let
us learn that Jesus is the only way for a man to be saved.
(John
10:9) I am the door: by me if any man
enter in, he shall be saved,…
Jesus is the way the truth and the
life. No man cometh unto God the Father
but by Jesus Christ. Jesus will not turn
away any repentant sinner. If you will
come to Jesus He will save you! Though
your sins be as scarlet they shall be like wool! You will be one of His sheep save in the
fold!
IV. Let us
learn that Jesus provides for the needs of those who are saved.
(John
10:9) …and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
God leads His children with His Holy
Spirit. He leads them in truth. Through the Holy Word of God the soul of me
is fed and refreshed. Paul expressed
that his inward man found its delight in the law of God, (Romans
The saved soul is nourished and
cared for by Jesus. He is safe
forevermore and will never hunger nor thirst.
It will be at home in heaven and longs for that time when God’s kingdom
has come and His will is done throughout all the earth just as it is in heaven.
V. Let us
learn that false religious leaders have evil intentions.
(John
10:10) The thief cometh not, but for to
steal, and to kill, and to destroy: …
The Devil like a roaring lion goes
about the earth seeking whom he may devour.
False teachers may seem kind and benevolent on the outside they are
wolves in sheep’s clothing. False Christs will come and will seem to be good and will deceive
the souls and minds of lost men. The may
even deceive the minds of the saved for a time but the saved soul of men will
never be deceived by such. Beware of
false prophets for they may come speaking the name of Jesus but by their fruits
you will know them!
VI. Let us
learn that Jesus is the giver of abundant life.
(John
10:10) …I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more
abundantly.
All men are born spiritually
dead. Jesus comes to bring Spiritual
life to men. This life is abundant
life. It is eternal life. Jesus said (Matthew
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