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Chapter 7 - Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd
John 10:1-3
1 Verily [amen] , verily [amen] , I say [lego] unto you [humin] , He that entereth [eiserchomai] not [me] by [dia] the door [thura] into [eis] the sheepfold [probaton] [aule] , but [alla] climbeth up [anabaino] some other way [allachothen] , the same [ekeinos] is [esti] a thief [kleptes] and [kai] a robber [lestes] .
2 But [de] he that entereth in [eiserchomai] by [dia] the door [thura] is [esti] the shepherd [poimen] of the sheep [probaton] .
3 To him [touto] the porter [thuroros] openeth [anoigo] ; and [kai] the sheep [probaton] hear [akouo] his [autos] voice [phone] : and [kai] he calleth [kaleo] his own [idios] sheep [probaton] by [kata] name [onoma] , and [kai] leadeth [exago] them [autos] out [exago] . KJV-Interlinear
1 'Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 'But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 'To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. NASB
We are studying the parables of Christ. This is the seventeenth in the near chronological series, which makes us just over half way through this study. Alphabetically this would be right up front at the beginning of the study.
In John 9, Jesus has just finished speaking with the Pharisees and scribes and such fellows. They imply that it is they who are the legitimate shepherds of the people of Judea. And, that Jesus is an impostor and a charlatan with all his miracles and good words. And thus we have this parable which will take up the entire tenth chapter for this study.
Throughout the scriptures there is but one topic, and that is Jesus Christ. He is the main character of the Bible, and without Him, there would be no Bible.
God is the deity, the ultimate power and authority. He is recognized by mankind and has been recognized as such throughout history. However, the problem begins when the method of approach to God is considered. God can define the approach to Himself, or mankind can define how he will approach God. That then is the basis for the many religions that exist in the world.
In many instances, God is rejected, and an alternate identity is adopted for the divine. This includes rocks, animals, wind, stars, the moon, ancestors, even manmade objects, and so forth. In some instances, God is simply rejected altogether and the concept of being one with the universe or with nature is substituted in place of God. The idea that a person will eventually just melt into the environment around Him is the basis for this concept.
Then there is the idea that mankind lives many lives. That we live and we die, then we are reborn again in another form, or in another life, and we have the opportunity to make ourselves better with each succeeding life. Eventually we presumably attain the ultimate life form.
There are religions which recognize God, but seek to define their own approach to Him.
In every case mankind's invented deities and self defined paths lead to false conclusions and to disastrous destinies.
Thus we now have the good shepherd parable.
There are three concepts contained within this parable. First there is the path to God (Jesus Christ). God defines but one path and over that one path, and from no other path, man will find God.
Second, there is but one means by which man can learn or teach the wisdom of God (Gods Word). And from that foundation, only the goodness of God and His will can be learned and taught.
Third there is but one sphere in which man can function inside the will of God (fellowship), and by means of the power of that environment (the power of the Holy Spirit). All of these are defined by God, originate from God, and these are the only authorized methods which will ultimately lead to God.
Apart from Gods rules, man comes up with all sorts of the weird and bizarre ideas for the spiritual realm. We have already studied the four major religions in the world, so we won't repeat them here, but will get on with Jesus' answer to the Pharisees, who presumed themselves to be the one and only source of truth. And since Jesus was not commissioned by them, then His claim to authority, in their eyes, is not legitimate. Earthly education, earthly credentials, earthly recognized systems of licensing and status are irrelevant when it comes to the spiritual life.
There is but one door through which anyone can pass legitimately and become a bona fide student or instructor of the Word of God. Apart from that access door, no one who presents themselves as a 'priest' (mans intermediary to God) is legitimate. Jesus Christ is of course the ultimate intermediary.
Those who reject the door which God has authorized, are in effect thieves and robbers. They seek to take that which does not belong to them. The sheep (believers in Christ) belong to God. They are to be shepherded, only by legitimate shepherds (Bible doctrine).
Thieves aim to do mischief, to disburse the flock and to steal whatever they may. The thieves (false priests, false students, false proponents of any deity or no deity) are not out to help the sheep, but they are there only for this own selfish interest - to feed off of the sheep. Thieves have no lawful right to that which belongs to God. Yet they, not owning any right or title, will invent their own rules of ownership and by their actions of indifference, indignant attitude, open rebellion, or their self serving opinions, they will seek to discredit and destroy even the one true God, the creator of the universe. The thieves invented nothing in history. The designed nothing in the universe. Yet they consider themselves authorities in the spiritual realm. Authorities in an environment that they know nothing about.
The one who enters through the correct and only authorized door as defined by God Himself, is the good student or shepherd. He comes not to take advantage of, but to learn, to teach, to correct, to heal, to strengthen, Ezek.. 34:16.
Ezek. 34:16
16 'I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment. NASB
Access to the sheep pen is manned by the gate keeper - the Holy Spirit. In compliance with the will of the Father, access into the property God was defined long ago in the Divine Decrees. The gate is Jesus Christ. The gate keeper is the Holy Spirit. Only through the Son and in the power of the Spirit can anyone gain access to God and all that belongs to God.
Mans definitions, mans power, mans abilities are all excluded from Gods plan, simply because mans methods are all inevitably flawed with prejudice and/or detached from reality and truth.
Anyone who opens his mind to Gods Word, will know the truth, and will gravitate toward it. No one knows the truth apart from the Holy Spirit's revealing it to them. Discernment does not come from mans unique mental ability, lest the brilliant of the world would presume themselves more able than others with less than an adequate IQ.
The truth stands on its own power. Jesus Christ is the living truth. Bible doctrine is the written truth. Both are one and the same.
End of Lesson
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