In “preaching study” posts, I’m really interested in fostering a “community” approach to study and prep for the sermon, so please interact as much as you like. All Scripture quotes are from the TNIV unless otherwise noted. Thanks!
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As I said earlier this week, I’m preaching this week in Mosaic, our contemporary worship service. The Scripture text is John 10:1-18, Jesus’ teaching on being the gate and the good shepherd. Here’s part 1 of my study.
Continuing thinking about Jesus as the Gate and the Good Shepherd from the literary study angle…
1. The Parable of 10:1-5. In 10:1-5, generally considered a parable being told to the Pharisees (see 9:40-41 and 10:6) as well as others gathered around, Jesus lifts up two prominant positive images relating to the care of the sheep. First, the gate is characterized as guarding access to the sheep so that the wrong people are kept out and the right people are let in (v1-3a). Second, the shepherd of the sheep is characterized as (a) known to the sheep by his voice (v3, 4), (b) known to his sheep by his care–knowing their names (v3b), and (c) leading the sheep (v3, 4).
And there are two persons contrasted with the gate and the shepherd: a theif/robber (v2, who tries to gain access to the sheep via entry through the gate) and a stranger (v4-5, who tries to gain access to the sheep via his voice, drawing them away from the leadership of the shepherd).
Let me pause for now. I’ll aim to get at these in the next post sometime tomorrow:
2. Jesus’ Commentary on the parable using “I AM the Gate” (10:7-10).
3. Jesus’ Commentary on the parable using “I AM the Good Sheperd (10:11-13).
Guy M Williams 