Dear Friends,
A few months have gone by since Jesus revealed Himself as the Light of the world at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 9). John 10 brings us to another Jewish feast day — Hanukkah (v 22). More on that in the next post. Jesus now only has a few months left before He goes to the cross for us at Passover.
Father, give us understanding as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
John 10:1-21
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
As people were making their way to Jerusalem for Hanukkah, they passed many sheepfolds on the way. At that time of year it was chilly and sheep were kept in sheepfolds at night. This is one of the many reasons we know Jesus was not born on December 25. Luke 2:8 says the shepherds had their sheep in the field on the night Jesus was born (Luke 2:8). Jesus was born in the fall during the Feast of Tabernacles, which makes perfect sense. After all, He is the Light of the world and He tabernacled (Gk skénoó) among us (John 1:14), but that is a topic for a different study.
By talking about sheep, Jesus is using an illustration that the people can relate to. The Jews understood sheep the way Texans understand horses.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Pastor Ray Bentley of Maranatha Chapel in San Diego tells how he once met a Palestinian boy who was a shepherd. When Pastor Ray asked him how many sheep he had, he said he did not know how to count. When he asked him how he was able to keep track of his sheep if he could not count them, the boy told him he knew all their names. Our Shepherd knows all of our names too.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Cattle are driven. Sheep are led. Sheep are not known for being particularly bright, nor particularly tough. They cannot defend themselves from predators. Sheep need a shepherd. This is one of the many reasons I know evolution is not true. Sheep cannot survive on their own without a shepherd. Evolution teaches that animals evolved long before humans did but that is impossible. Sheep had to be created at the same time humans were or they would have become extinct without any shepherds to care for them. The same is true of us. We need our Shepherd too.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
The shepherd on duty at the sheepfold would lay in front of the entrance, thereby acting as the door. That way, he kept the thieves out and the sheep in. There is only one legitimate way to get into the sheepfold, and that way is through the Good Shepherd (cf John 14:6).
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Others came before Jesus who claimed to be the Messiah. They were thieves and robbers. The thieves and robbers are still here. Cults are known for stealing peoples’ money, but I think Jesus is talking about souls.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Thieves would climb over the wall to snatch a sheep. They would cut the sheep’s throat and toss him back over the wall. A thief would not use the door. Jesus said the thief (not thieves). This is a reference to Satan. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Likewise, false prophets and false teachers act on Satan’s behalf and steal sheep away, thereby stealing away their opportunity to receive the free gift of eternal life. Jesus on the other hand is come that we might have life, and that [we] might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Usually a sheep would have been sacrificed for the shepherd, but Jesus turns everything on its head. Jesus is the Shepherd who is sacrificed for his sheep.
Jesus has now made four of his seven I AM statements in John’s Gospel:
I am the bread of life
I am the light of the world
I am the door
I am the good shepherd
I am the resurrection and the life
I am the way, the truth, and the life
I am the vine
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
The Pharisees we read about in the last chapter were wolves. They cast out the man to whom Jesus gave sight. Jesus went looking for him after that happened because Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus cares for his sheep. Jesus will have some choice words for those wolves before He is done (Matt 23).
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
The sheepfold is Israel (this fold). Jesus says He has other sheep, the Gentiles. The church is the one fold, made up of both Jew and Gentile (cf 1 Cor 10:32).
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19 ¶ There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
John 10:1-21
At the end of our section, there is a division among the Jews. Jesus causes division. He said so Himself (Matt 10:34-36). We see that division now more than ever in these final hours as the worldwide concentration camp system, which will be utilized in the great tribulation period, is being phased in. For example, police in Australia are pepper-spraying 12-year-old girls for not wearing masks, while arresting and incarcerating people in mental facilities for the thought crime of ‘having a problem trusting authority’. Australia seems to be a beta test site for this Orwellian takeover of society as they are constructing the Centre for National Resilience, which is a modern detention facility to gaslight the public and keep the COVID quarantine hoax narrative fresh. In a country where you are only allowed to travel a few km from your house, and only once a day to exercise or go to the store, the last thing they need is more qurantines. Here in America, Homeland Security now says people who question COVID restrictions are a “potential terror threat.” Doctors are silenced by the media but still speak out on their own private forums concerning the worldwide holocaust being executed by Big Pharma.
The biggest news of the week is the failed withdrawl of the US from Afghanistan. Exactly as I predicted back in January when the election was stolen, we are seeing the same chaos-by-design in the Middle East that we had under Obama. The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan is already unleashing death and destruction not seen since the Obama era. Just as ISIS raped, tortured, and murdered with impunity, aided with weapons smuggled to them by the Obama regime, we are seeing the same thing all over again. Only this time, the Americans who are getting left behind very well may get caught in the middle of the worst hostage situation in the history of our country. After the Taliban quickly confiscated weapons from the Afghan people (what mass-murdering dictators always do), they then moved on to executions, but today we were told by Biden not to worry because the Taliban promises they will let Americans with passports past their checkpoints. How reassuring. I remember discussing these same sorts of things with people during the Obama era, things which I chronicled in Dragon Slayer Jesus Christ. When confronted with these things, they would inevitably ask, Why? Why are they doing these things? There is no answer to that question. There is no logic to it. There is no point in trying to understand it. It is just evil, plain and simple (John 3:19).
Christians can see these things for what they are. Those who reject the truth of the gospel have trouble seeing what is really happening. Division. Here in America, we have a highly polarized population that is divided along political lines, but it seems plain to me it is a spiritual division more so than a political one. Many of those who are deceived are ready to wholeheartedly accept the Antichrist, ready to believe whatever they are told. It is for these reasons that we need our Shepherd now more than ever. It is the Shepherd’s job to take care of his sheep. Our Shepherd is fully aware of the predators that are roaming about and He will never leave us or forsake us. We have nothing to fear as long as we have our Shepherd. If David was willing to fight a lion and a bear to save his sheep, how much more will our Good Shepherd defend and protect us. A lady once told Pastor G Campbell Morgan that she had trouble trusting God with the big things. Dr Morgan responded, “Ma’am, can you think of anything in your life that is big to God?” In other words, we have nothing to fear. Go to prayer and see what Jesus says. Let Him lead you in the way that He chooses.
Father, thank You so much for your Son, our Good Shepherd. We know and believe that all of your promises in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. We are your sheep. Lead and guide us. We know that You are able. Make us people of prayer, Father, that we may be wise and shine as the brightness of the firmament; and that we may turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. We pray for an end to violence. Please bring peace to Afghanistan. Please protect those who are suffering in Afghanistan. Please turn the tables on their persecutors and take them in their own devices. Provide for the needs of the people: food, protection from their enemies, safe travel, medical attention where needed, and knowledge of You. We pray for miracles of healing, protection, and knowledge of your presence. Send angels to help where necessary. If at all possible, give those among the Taliban faith in your Son, that they could repent and be saved. Where it is not possible, please fight against them that fight against us. Provide a safe exit for all who need to leave the country. Please give those in Australia and everywhere else where there are lockdowns strength to endure. Please give people everywhere wisdom to see the traps that are being laid for us. Please bring revival. Please give your people boldness, that we may testify to the world what a mighty God You are and the great love that your Son has for us. Please throw confusion into the hearts of the new world order, that they may turn on one another, that they may fight against one another and destroy themselves. Please restore our Republic, that we could restore freedom and sanity to our communities in America and around the world. I ask this for the children, Father, and for your glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PS: I am going to be very busy for the next month or so, so I am not sure when I will be able to post again. Rosh Hashanah will begin at sundown on September 6 this year. In light of current events, some prophecy teachers believe this could very well be it and the rapture we have all been waiting for is at hand. Considering all the things I have written about over the last year on this blog, I agree that is a possibility. Jesus said, And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. So far in 2021, we had a solar eclipse on June 10 and a blood-red moon on July 23. Although no man knows the day or the hour, these are things we have been told to watch for. (Joel 2:31) I must stress again, no man knows the day or the hour. This key verse is a foundational principle of Bible prophecy. For all we know, there could be one last revival that pushes back the agenda of the new world order. Yet we are still commanded to watch (cf Luke 21:28). Nevertheless, I plan my life with long-term goals in mind and I recommend you do too. But I still pray Luke 21:36 every day: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
…..For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
…..And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 2:21
…..And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 16:31
