Jesus The Gate and The Good Shepherd

Sunday 30th April 2023

You are welcome to worship in person this Sunday at 10.15am.  Hand sanitizer and masks are available if you would like to use them.

We are also live streaming of our services.  The service can be seen each Sunday morning commencing at 10.15am.  Here is the link to our YouTube channel to access the live streaming: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEm1fJeADpcP6gO1BsBKcg 

Jesus The Gate and The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Today my message is entitled ‘Jesus The Gate and The Good Shepherd’ from John 10:1-21. I want to look firstly at Chapter 9 regarding Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath of the man who was born blind. There were four different reactions to Jesus’ healing. The man’s neighbours surprise and scepticism; his parents fear of excommunication; the Pharisees showed disbelief, prejudice and attacked the things that the healed man was saying. While all this was happening, the healed man showed a consistent growth of faith in God. Secondly, Jesus seeks out the man and reveals to him that He was the One who healed him and as well as accusing the religious leaders of spiritual blindness.

The theme from Chapter 9 flows into Chapter 10, where Jesus contrasts the religious leaders’ sinfulness compared to His spiritual leadership and He refers to them as thieves and robbers. The shepherd is the gate for the sheep and it was his job to protect the sheep from wolves. There may have been more than one herd in the sheep pen, however each shepherd calls his sheep by name and they know his voice. Jesus then uses the first of two I am’s; ‘I am the gate for the sheep.’ In other words, the only access to God is through Jesus the gate. He then refers to Himself as the second ‘I am’ being ‘I am the Good Shepherd,’ who lays down His life for the sheep.

Finally, He relates to other sheep (Gentiles) who are not of this sheep pen. They will listen to His voice and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd. This should be a significant encouragement for us as followers of Jesus. One quote I heard and picked up on goes like this; ‘Our common interest is the Shepherd not the fold in which we meet.’     Keith

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Build each other up in faith; and to
Become Like Jesus.