The Gospel of John Lesson 34 (5-12-2013) John 10:1-6

The Gospel of John Lesson 34 (5-12-2013)

Lesson 34 – John 10:1-6

In John chapter 10 we come to an extremely important section of Scripture. This is the watershed to all who claim to know the way or be the way to God. Many claim to know the way to God. Most of us have at least some opinions of how to get there. Some are more confident of what they proclaim as the path to God than others. They offer what they call ‘my thoughts’, my beliefs, opinions, suggestions, strong urgings, documented proof, so called scientific evidence, confident proclamations, another person’s opinion and yes, near death experiences often using as their source their experience or philosophies on life, using sources other than the Bible to back them up. Quite often they state such things with the perspective and attitude that the Bible needs to prove its claims and measure up to their personal belief instead of them measuring their belief according to what God says in the Bible.

But here in John chapter 10 Jesus Himself makes some definitive statements that will virtually eliminate all but One possibility. You can deny the absoluteness of the details and statements of what is said here appearing to be so called ‘broad minded’, but in doing so you are making the claim that in reality you do not really believe what Jesus is saying at all. In essence one would be saying that they believe some of the facts concerning Jesus, choosing which ones they decide to believe or not believe, but, in essence in doing so in reality they have chosen not to believe what Jesus says here.

Many choose to pass by this section of Scripture quickly and or tend to avoid it altogether because what Jesus says here leaves only One option. To believe in Jesus and His claims and Message one must also believe what is found here in the beginning of John chapter 10. You can choose to believe exactly what He says here as a foundational truth to Him and His message or you can essentially reject His claim and message considering it too narrow for your thinking. However, one cannot just deny Jesus’ comments and declarations found here in chapter 10 for in doing so they will deny the ‘Purpose of His coming’, I.e. coming and presenting Himself as the only true Savior of the world.

Most will readily accept many of the claims concerning Jesus, His good life, His example, His acts of compassion and even His miracles, but the attribute of Savior requiring a humbled response from them is not easy for many to accept. But, for those who are His sheep they find His Voice and His claims, including this one, comforting. His sheep are willing to embrace all of Him, including all of His claims, leaving nothing out, for in doing so they find forgiveness and true ‘Peace’.

In John chapter 10 verse 1 the Apostle John representing God makes a very important statement. He tells us that we need to evaluate all claims to the Throne of God or claims claiming the way to God using only one process, judging what they say according to the claims found in Scripture. In v. 1 the Apostle John makes the statement that all other claims no matter what their source or basis that do not meet the Bible’s criteria are deception and lies, and in doing so John warns God’s children, His sheep, to beware and not be fooled.

In v. 1 John makes the statement that we should beware of those who would attempt to claim not only the way to God, but actually attempt to assume the position of the Great Shepherd of God’s elect by using alternative philosophies or other means that do not match the claims that are found here in Scripture as their basis. He does not say that we cannot support the claims of Scripture using other honest and objective means such as science and objective philosophy. All truth has only One source…Jesus, and even nature itself if approached with an honest and open heart will find its end and conclusion in a creator God, Jesus being the ending conclusion. Objective and honest evaluation can in the end only support the claims of Christ and may often be one of the witnesses to the truths found in Scripture that can prompt deeper faith in these claims. This is especially true in the case of someone that has not yet fully believed these truths.

But, in John’s statement in v. 1 he cautions us to not be so easily deceived making the assumption that God needs to validate Himself by other measures, for in doing so we must not forget that in reality God is the only constant, and it is inherent and easy to come up with flawed answers and thinking being part of an imperfect world, being imperfect ourselves.

In v. 1 He uses the imagery of a thief that comes to steal a prize or treasure that to them represents Great opportunity. It says that this thief would not use the main entrance or gate, but looks for another way to get in attempting to secure and steal away the treasure. To attempt to even think of entering in through the main gate would be pure suicide for this deceiver for in v. 3 it tells us that the main gate is guarded by a Porter who has specific instructions to open to no one else but the Great Shepherd, God’s Chosen One. This gate is the window to Eternity. This event must come out right. God Himself stands on guard for this one.

 Jesus tells us that there is no way that He could enter through this portal of time in prophetic history if He were not the Elect and chosen One. God Himself would not allow it. God’s opening the door and letting Jesus pass through this opening in history and time is proof to Israel, and to all in this world, that Jesus is indeed the One. The only question left is, ‘Do you believe this??’. Measure your beliefs and your Messiah against this section of Scripture and then ask yourself if the Bible supports them as being a possibility. Jesus made the claim here that anyone that does not come through this Door is a thief and a liar. There is only One possibility and Jesus claims that position. Do you believe Him? The choice is yours…but the consequences of this decision are eternal.  

There is no way that this Porter can be overcome, tricked or fooled into letting anyone else through. It all comes down to this one event,… this one place in history. Jesus is telling us that the Messiah, God’s Elect must come through this gate. This is the front gate of Scripture concerning the Promised One and there is none else. God is the guard of this gate and He is vigilant and ruthless in His protection, He never sleeps at His post. Everything hinges, no pun intended, on this gate in time and in actuality it is the ‘door to all that is eternal’. For this to go wrong would be disastrous. But, not to worry. God is able. Jesus has arrived and the door has been opened to Him. He has met all the requirements necessary to this point and is in the process of meeting all the requirements, some yet to be fulfilled.

Jesus Himself when debating with the Pharisees stated plainly that Moses spoke of Him in his writings which they claimed to know and claimed to obey. Jn. 5:46 All they really needed to do was to read what was recorded with an open heart and He would be plainly seen there by them.

There are over 300 prophecies of the First Coming of Christ that were literally fulfilled.  Look at some of the fulfilled prophecies of the First Coming.

1.     Isaiah 7:14                    Born of a virgin
2.     Micah 5:2                      At Bethlehem
3.     Jeremiah 31:15              Slaughter of children
4.     Hosea 11:1                    Called out of Egypt
5.     Zechariah 9:9                Entry into Jerusalem
6.     Isaiah 11:2                    Anointed with the Spirit
7.     Psalms 69:21                 Gall and vinegar
8.     Exodus 12:46 & Psalms 34:20     Not a bone broken
9.     Isaiah 53                      Death, Burial, Resurrection
                                           Christ became sin for us
                                           Forgiveness through his death
10.     Daniel 9:24-27            Date of First Coming
11.     Isaiah 9:6                   God taking on human flesh
12.     Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14  Betrayed by a friend
13.     Zechariah 13:7            Disciples forsake Him
14.     Zechariah 11:12           Sold for 30 pieces of silver
15.     Zechariah 11:13           Potter's field
16.     Isaiah 50:6                  Spit on and scourged
17.     Psalms 22:16               Hands and feet pierced
18.     Psalms 22:18               Garments parted lots cast