One Shepherd

John 10:16-21

16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” . 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”.

Notes

The contrast is clear. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, laying down His life for the sheep. Conversely, the stranger has ill intent as well as the thief, while the hired hand will do nothing to defend the sheep from predators. There is one Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only One who could lay down His life for the sheep and take it up again. The religious leaders of the time did not represent God or His law; they were strangers, thieves, and hirelings. But the Good Shepherd represented His Father.

1. Father’s Love

   The Lord Jesus explained the reason for the Father’s love for Him. The reason was the Shepherd’s willingness to lay down His life for the sheep. The Good Shepherd’s statement about His death and resurrection was prophetic.

   
   16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again (John 10:16-17, ESV).

   Application: We believe that there is One Good Shepherd, and He has one flock. Let us gather His sheep in His name by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our proclamation points only to One Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Death & Resurrection

   The religious leaders may have thought that they got rid of Jesus by finding a way to crucify Him. But they were mistaken. Jesus would lay down His life. The Father and Son predestined the Son’s suffering, death, and resurrection to gather all the sheep everywhere throughout the generations.

   18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18, ESV).

   Application: We believe as well that the Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily laid down His life for His sheep so that He could rise from the dead. The power to lay down His life and take it up again belongs to Him alone.

3. People Divided

   The writer consistently showed the result whenever Jesus revealed Himself to the crowd: The people became divided. Some would believe, but others would not. This was true then, and it is still true today.

   
   19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” (John 10:19-21, ESV).

   Application: We must proclaim who Jesus is and the significance of what He did, which was His death and resurrection. Our basis is the witness of the apostles as they revealed themselves in Scripture. We should expect that the people who listen to us will be divided.

Reflection & Discussion

1. Explain the Father’s love to the Son.

2. What authority did the Good Shepherd have according to the text?

3. Why were the people divided?