When have you felt protected during a strange or scary situation? QUESTION 1 #MoreThanEnough BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 29
THE POINT Jesus is the Good Shepherd who can offer us ultimate protection. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE Several years ago, while traveling in a major city, our family was using the subway on a day when it was especially crowded. When the train arrived at our station, my wife and I surged ahead with the crowd, moving two of our children forward. We each thought the other spouse was holding our youngest son s hand, but as the train began moving, we saw him standing in the boarding area. Alone. We panicked. At the next stop, we jumped off the train and grabbed the first train headed back in the other direction. We prayed the whole way, trying to hold back the tears, fearful of what might happen. We arrived to find our son still standing there on the platform, wide-eyed and wondering where we had gone. Whether you are the one left standing alone or the fearful person, helpless in the face of the threat, the feeling of vulnerability is disconcerting, to say the least. Jesus knows life can be overwhelming, but He has not left us alone. He protects us and assures our ultimate safety with Him. He s on the platform with us. 30 SESSION 3
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? John 10:7-15,27-30 (HCSB) 7 So Jesus said again, I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn t listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired man and doesn t care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. The door of the sheep (v. 7) A shepherd corralled sheep into makeshift pens at night for protection, forming a door with a bundle of sticks or his own person. Abundance (v. 10) The Greek word carries the connotation of super abundant or exceedingly abundant, well beyond the minimum. It can refer to both quality and quantity. Snatch (v. 29) To snatch is to grab or seize, often suddenly. This term can be used negatively like a thief stealing property or a wild animal capturing prey, or it can be used positively like removing something from imminent danger. 27 My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father s hand. 30 The Father and I are one. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 31
THE POINT Jesus is the Good Shepherd who can offer us ultimate protection. John 10:7-10 In John 10, Jesus taught using a parable about a shepherd and sheep pen, but the initial response from His listeners may have been the deer in the headlights look. The listeners did not understand what He was telling them (v. 6), so He proceeded to explain Himself more fully. Jesus announced, I am the door of the sheep (John 10:7). Jesus meant He was the only Door for the sheep. We find Jesus exclusive claims as the only Savior for the world throughout the New Testament (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). While some chafe at this claim and try to soften it, no alternative retains the clear meaning of Jesus words. Jesus is not one way to God, He is the only way. It may seem unusual to associate a door with sheep or a sheep pen, but it s a reference to the gate. Jesus based His illustration on a sheep pen with a gate, not a closed room with a door (as our culture would think of a door). The only way to legitimately enter a sheep pen is through the door or gate. Since the sheep pen symbolizes a relationship with God, then Jesus the Door is the only way to enter that relationship. Trust in anything else good works, religious tradition, or the faith or reputation of another person does not get you into the sheep pen of a relationship with God. You must trust in Jesus alone. Jesus warned about people who would distract His sheep from following Him. He said, All who came before Me are thieves and robbers. Jesus was referring to religious leaders like the Pharisees and Jewish leaders who were more interested in personal gain than in leading people to God. In very strong language, Jesus condemned anyone who interferes with people coming to Him. Jesus gave two wonderful promises: Anyone who follows Him will come in and go out and find pasture (v. 9). He said, I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance (v. 10). Where do we encounter thieves and robbers in today s world? QUESTION 2 32 SESSION 3
John 10:11-13 Jesus made another significant I am statement: I am the good shepherd. Every shepherd does good for his sheep; he cares for his sheep leading them to grazing pastures, protecting them from predators, tending to them when they re sick, helping them give birth, and so forth. His listeners would have expected this, but Jesus claimed much more. He described this Good Shepherd as one who lays down His life for the sheep. Jesus has done more than care for His sheep; He died for them. Unfortunately, two kinds of enemies can limit people from coming into a relationship with God. 1. The hired man. The hired man, since he doesn t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when trouble comes. He runs away because he doesn t care about the sheep. 2. The wolf. The wolf snatches and scatters the sheep. One enemy abandons the sheep when trouble comes; the other one is the trouble. The Pharisees who heard these words likely would have cringed at the comparison. Jesus earlier had compared them to thieves and robbers (v. 8) and now to hirelings and wolves. Jesus minced no words in describing the damage religious leaders do when they are more concerned about preserving their traditions than in introducing people to Jesus and helping them find life in Him. Jesus was condemning every religious leader who, while claiming to represent God, would hinder anyone from coming into a relationship with God through Jesus. In fact, Jesus condemnation extends to any person even a church member who puts his religious traditions and preferences ahead of helping people find their way to Jesus. Every Christian is at risk at this point. It s easy to lose spiritual focus and think the church exists to meet our needs. It s dangerous to think our ways of doing things are the only acceptable choices, and our preferences are best for everyone. What do these I am statements teach us about Jesus nature and character? QUESTION 3 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 33
THE POINT Jesus is the Good Shepherd who can offer us ultimate protection. "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." PSALM 23:1-2 How can we learn to distinguish Jesus voice from all others? QUESTION 4 WE ARE HIS What phrase or image most stands out to you from this song? Listen to the song Shepherd by Todd Agnew. In your own words, what are some of the ways Jesus protects His people? 34 SESSION 3
John 10:14-15,27-30 Jesus continued the two key themes He introduced earlier. 1. His sacrifice. Jesus stated it three times: I lay down My life for the sheep (v. 15). This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life (v. 17). I lay it down on My own (v. 18). 2. His care. Notice the care in Jesus description of an intimate relationship with His sheep. I know My own sheep, and they know Me (v. 14). Jesus said His sheep, hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me (v. 27). Jesus care is comprehensive and irrevocable. He promised that when He gives eternal life, His followers will never perish ever! He used a two-fisted example to demonstrate what He meant. Jesus said of His followers, No one will snatch them out of My hand (v. 28) and No one is able to snatch them out of the Father s hand (v. 29). The unity of Jesus and His Father are interwoven throughout this passage. Jesus said, The Father knows me, and I know the Father (v. 15). In verse 18, Jesus said He received the truth He was teaching as a command from My Father (v. 18). Finally, Jesus culminated His teaching with the amazing claim, The Father and I are one (v. 30). Jesus spiritual authority is both derived from and equal to the Father s authority. Jesus and God are separate Persons, both fully God with unique functions and personalities. This mystery is profound, but summarized succinctly in these verses. As Christfollowers, His protection of us is assured by both His personal attention and His Father s authority. What s our role in accessing and benefiting from Jesus protection? QUESTION 5 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 35
THE POINT Jesus is the Good Shepherd who can offer us ultimate protection. LIVE IT OUT How can we anchor our lives in the security Jesus offers us as our Good Shepherd? Identify a source of fear you personally encounter. Ask Jesus to protect you from the wolf that threatens you. Study up on the concept of Jesus being our Good Shepherd. Using a concordance, complete a word study on sheep and shepherd. Choose one verse or passage and post it near your computer, mirror, or someplace easily visible as a reminder of Christ s constant protection and love. Have coffee or lunch with a senior adult who is a mature Christ-follower. Ask how he or she has experienced Jesus as their Good Shepherd. When fear arises, remember your security is in Jesus. He and the Father have you in a double-fisted handful of protective custody! My thoughts 36 SESSION 3