Gospel of John 09.vp

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The Gospe l of John

A. Thieves, robbers, strangers, and the gatekeeper: a figure of speech to reveal Jesus’ legitimacy, John 10.1-6

1. Thieves and robbers climb up into the sheepfold by another way other than the door, 10.1: the Pharisees who rejected God’s way to life through Messiah Jesus were thieves and robbers .

2. The shepherd enters in by the door, and the gatekeeper opens for him, 10.2-3: Jesus is the Father’s one and only means of accessing the flock of God .

3. The sheep hear the voice of the shepherd, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out, 10.3: a deep intimacy exists between the shepherd and his sheep, as the sheep follow only him .

4. The shepherd brings out all who belong to him, and he goes before them, they follow him for they know his voice, 10.4: the shepherd leads the sheep and they follow only him for they recognize him and his voice .

5. The sheep do not follow strangers but run from them, not knowing their voices, 10.5: the sheep do not respond to the voice of strangers for they recognize that they are not the shepherd .

6. The role of figures of speech in Jesus teaching, 10.6

a. He communicated the truth of his identity and relationships through the images and figures of speech .

b. The people did not understand what he was saying to them through the images (cf. John 6.60; 8.27, 43).