Read John 10:7-42.

Introduction⤒🔗

Mrs. Ruth Graham, the wife of evangelist Billy Graham, testifies that as a young girl of thirteen she had spiritual struggles concerning the assurance of her salvation. She knew that Jesus had come to save sinners, and she had received Him as her Savior, but somehow she didn’t feel included in that salvation; she didn’t feel that she was one of His sheep. She states, “I went through a black, black period.”¹

Rob was a young man who experienced a very similar struggle. While in high school, he began to attend a student Bible study. In the process of studying the Bible, Rob became convinced that it is, indeed, the very Word of God. But yet he was plagued by doubts. For months, Rob struggled with the question of how he could know for sure that he was a Christian. He could not seem to feel that he was totally forgiven, that he was accepted by God, that he was one of Christ’s sheep.²

Many sincere Christians at one time or another undergo a spiritual struggle such as that experienced by Mrs. Ruth Graham and the young man named Rob: a lack of assurance, a feeling of not being forgiven or accepted by God, a questioning as to whether or not they are one of Christ’s sheep. This present passage of Scripture can serve as a helpful and objective remedy for such a spiritual struggle. This passage of the Gospel of John informs us that the chief characteristic of Christ’s sheep is a God-given faith that enables them to respond to the Shepherd’s voice and follow Him.

To better understand Jesus’ teaching in this passage, it may be helpful for a moment to take a tour of the Holy Land as it was in the days of the Lord Jesus; let us especially observe the manner of shepherding as it was practiced in those days. As we approach the outskirts of an old Judean village, we see a large animal pen: it is a large enclosure for sheep, it is a community sheepfold. In the ancient Near East many flocks of sheep would be sheltered together for the night in one community sheep fold, with a night watchman standing guard at the door. Early in the morning, each individual shepherd would come to this community fold; he would be permitted entrance by the gatekeeper. The shepherd would enter the large enclosure, and wading through the mass of sheep, he would call his own sheep to himself, calling them by name, for he would know each one of them personally. The sheep that belonged to this particular shepherd would recognize his voice and gather around him. When he had gathered all of his sheep to himself, he would lead them out to pasture, and his sheep would follow him.

Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd and His sheep respond to His voice and follow Him. If you recognize Jesus as the Good Shepherd and follow Him, be assured that you are one of His sheep.

Be Assured that You Belong to the Good Shepherd, If You Recognize His Voice←⤒🔗

Jesus declares, “My sheep respond to my voice” (vs. 27). When the Good Shepherd calls His sheep, His sheep recognize His voice and respond: their ears perk up, their hearts beat with excitement, and they come running to their shepherd. The rest of the sheep in that community fold pay little or no attention, they are uninterested: the things of God do not stir their souls; the Shepherd’s voice goes unheeded, unnoticed, or even rejected.

“My sheep respond to my voice.” That is to say, Christ’s sheep recognize who He is, they recognize that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior, and they are drawn to Him. Consider the response made to Christ by such men as...

• Andrew: “One of the two who heard John [speak] and who followed [Jesus] was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹The first thing he did was find his brother Simon and tell him, We have found the Messiah, (which, being translated, [means], the Christ).” (Jn. 1:40-41)
   
• Philip: “The next day, [Jesus] decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, Follow me. ⁴⁴Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. ⁴⁵Philip found Nathanael and told him, We have found the one of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and of whom the prophets also wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (Jn. 1:43-45)
   
• Nathanael: “Nathanael said to [Philip], Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. ⁴⁷When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, Here is a true Israelite in whom there is no guile! ⁴⁸Nathanael asked him, When have we met? Jesus answered, Before Philip called you, while you were [still] under the fig tree, I saw you. ⁴⁹Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are King of Israel.” (Jn. 1:46-49)
   
• Peter: “Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We have believed and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn. 6:68-69)
   
• The man born blind: “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out [of the synagogue], and when he found him, he asked, Do you believe in the Son of God? ³⁶He replied, Who is he, Sir? [Tell me], so that I may believe in him. ³⁷Jesus said to him, You have seen him and he is the one who is speaking to you. ³⁸Then [the man] said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him.” (Jn. 9:35-38)

Jesus declares, “My sheep respond to my voice.” The reaction of those who are Christ’s sheep is in striking contrast to the world’s natural response to Christ. Consider some of the responses recorded in the Gospel of John:

• There is Nicodemus’ initial estimate of Christ: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you are doing, unless God is with him.” (Jn. 3:2)
   
• The Jewish leaders considered Christ to be both a Sabbath breaker and a blasphemer: ”the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things [referring to Jesus’ act of healing the paralyzed man] on the Sabbath” (Jn. 5:16); “the Jews tried even harder to kill him; not only because he broke the Sabbath, but also because he called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” (Jn. 5:18)
   
• The multitudes considered Jesus to be a personal miracle-working servant: “Jesus answered them, I tell you the truth, You are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” (Jn. 6:26)
   
• The religious authorities viewed Christ as a sinner: “So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and said to him, Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” (Jn. 9:24)
   
• Some even claimed that Christ was demon-possessed: “Many of them said, He is demon-possessed and is insane; why listen to him?” (Jn. 10:20)

“My sheep respond to my voice.” As we learn from John 10:30-39, the response of those who are Christ’s sheep is in striking contrast to the world who rejects Christ in spite of the evidence. Consider the interaction between Christ and the religious leaders as John presents it in verses 31-39,

Again the Jews picked up stones, [intending] to stone him. ³²Jesus asked them, I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of those works are you seeking to stone me? ³³The Jews answered him, We are not seeking to stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, claim to be God. ³⁴Jesus answered them... ³⁷If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me. ³⁸But if I am doing those works, even though you do not believe me, believe the works; so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. ³⁹Again they tried to seize him, but he went away out of their grasp.

In response to their demand, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly” (vs. 24), Jesus insists that He has told them: He points to His works as evidence: “The works that I am performing in my Father’s name, these [works] testify about me” (vs. 25). He then concludes by declaring, “I and the Father are one” (vs. 30). That is to say, Christ and the Father have the same purpose, making sure that their sheep are secure: “no one shall snatch them out of my hand...and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (vs. 28-29). Christ and the Father are in full agreement with regard to purpose, and both have the ability to accomplish that purpose, because they share the same spiritual identity of deity.

The religious leaders now respond by seeking to stone Jesus (vs. 31). They recognize His claim to deity, but they refuse to believe it; under the Old Testament law, stoning was the penalty for blasphemy. Jesus refutes their charge that He is a blasphemer by appealing to His works: “I have shown you many good works from the Father” (vs. 32a). Jesus points to His many good works: noble works, works that are the very display of goodness itself; works that originate from the Father, (they are the Father’s works that He is performing through Jesus). These works serve as Jesus’ divine credentials. Then Jesus asks, “for which of those works are you seeking to stone me?” (vs. 32b) Here is Jesus’ argument: If you refuse to believe what I say about Myself, then let My works convince you; after all, actions speak louder than words! Anybody can say that he is God, but only God can act like God!

How do the Jews respond to Jesus’ argument based on His works? “The Jews answered him, We are not seeking to stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, claim to be God.” (vs. 33) Observe their reasoning: We do not seek to stone you because of what you are doing, but because of what you are saying; i.e. they confess that Jesus’ actions back up His claim; but, nevertheless, they still refuse to accept His claim! Their response to Christ reveals a heart and mind that are set against Christ and against the truth.

Jesus restates His argument: “If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me. ³⁸But if I am doing those works, even though you do not believe me, believe the works; so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” (vs. 37-38) He once again appeals to His works as evidence to induce faith in Him as the Son of God and the promised Messiah. But these people refuse to evaluate and receive Jesus in the light of the evidence; on the contrary, they insist upon rejecting Him in spite of the evidence! (vs. 39). Jesus confronts the Jewish leaders with the cause of their rejection of Him and their rejection of the evidence that the Father has provided: “You do not believe, because you are not [numbered] among my sheep” (vs. 26).

Jesus declares, “My sheep respond to my voice.” The first part of true assurance rests in the fact that you respond to the Good Shepherd’s voice: you recognize Christ and accept Him for who He really is, the Son of God and the promised Savior. By the grace of God and the working of His Holy Spirit, you accept the witness of the Apostle John:

Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and by believing you may have life in his name. Jn. 20:30-31

Be Assured that You Belong to the Good Shepherd, If You Follow Him←⤒🔗

Jesus declares, “My sheep respond to my voice...and they follow me” (vs. 27). That is to say, there is a personal identification with the Good Shepherd: there is not only the recognition that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but there is also the acknowledgment that Jesus is my Shepherd. There is the same response to Christ as was made by Peter and the other original disciples on the occasion when the multitude turned away from Christ: “Jesus, therefore, said to the Twelve, ‘Will you also leave?’ ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹Indeed, we have believed and know that you are the Holy One of God’” (Jn. 6:67-69). There is the same testimony as that made by the Psalmist: “The LORD is my shepherd” (Psl. 23:1).

“My sheep respond to my voice...and they follow me.” In Galatians 5:16 Christ’s sheep, (i.e. His disciples), are exhorted to “walk by the Spirit.” This means living the life prescribed by the Holy Spirit as He reveals God’s will through the Scriptures; and doing so by relying upon the power supplied by the Holy Spirit. Then in Galatians 5:18 Christ’s sheep are described as being “led by the Spirit.” This is speaking of the divinely-imparted compulsion to follow Christ; (we might say, it is a reference to the Holy Spirit’s work of graciously dragging the sheep along the path of following the Good Shepherd).

Being “led by the Spirit” is referring to the divinely-imparted compulsion to obey: There are occasions when the Christian is confronted with sin, but in spite of his desire, he finds that he cannot yield himself to commit the sin; or when confronted with the need for righteous action, he finds that he must respond.

Being “led by the Spirit” is referring to the divinely-imparted compulsion to persevere: There are occasions when the Christian feels spiritually weary and wants to give up, but he cannot; he finds that he is driven to continue in the faith despite doubts, oppressions, opposition, or spiritual fatigue.

Being “led by the Spirit” is referring to the divinely-imparted compulsion to return to Christ when a sheep has gone his own way: There are occasions when the Christian indulges in sin, but he finds that he cannot remain in that state and he finds that he must repent; there may even be occasions when the Christian departs from Christ and lives in sin for a time, but it becomes unbearable to him and he is compelled to return to Christ.

To “walk by the Spirit” refers to a willing submission to the Holy Spirit and His ways: it is the believer’s active response to the Holy Spirit’s presence in his life. To be “led by the Spirit” refers to a divinely-compelled submission to the Holy Spirit: it is the Holy Spirit’s gracious dominion over the believer’s life. This two-fold work is produced by the Holy Spirit, and carried on by the Spirit, in the life of Christ’s sheep.

Jesus declares, “My sheep respond to my voice...and they follow me.” This is in contrast to the world, which refuses to respond to the Shepherd’s voice and follow Him. When confronted with the Person of Christ, the Jewish leaders rejected Him: they sought to stone Him, they would not submit their lives to Him (vs. 39). Consequently, they were finally rejected by Christ: He left them (vs. 40).

But for His sheep, such a response to Him with the consequent result of having the Shepherd depart from them is utterly unbearable! We see this demonstrated at the time Jesus washes His disciples’ feet in the upper room (Jn. 13). When He stoops to wash Peter’s feet, there is the protest, “You shall never wash my feet” (vs. 8). Jesus must then solemnly inform Peter, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.” Upon hearing this, Peter cries out, “Lord, not only my feet, but wash my hands and my head also!” Although he does not fully understand what Jesus is doing and all that it means, out of love for Jesus and not being able to bear even the thought of being separated from Jesus, Peter submits himself to Jesus’ humble ministry. For Peter, as a disciple of Christ, as one of His sheep, it is unthinkable to live without Christ and be separated from Him. Thanks be to God that ultimately, it is out of the question for Christ’s sheep to permanently reject Him and be rejected by Him:

All whom the Father gives me will come to me; and he who comes to me I will by no means cast out; ³⁸for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹And this is the will of him who sent me, [namely], that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but should raise it up at the last day. ⁴⁰My Father’s will is that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. Jn. 6:37-40

“My sheep respond to my voice...and they follow me;” and as the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus bestows upon His sheep eternal life and eternal security: “I give them eternal life; they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand” (vs. 28). Verses 29-30 contain the grounds for this security: “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰I and the Father are one.” God the Father who has given the sheep to Christ, is greater than all, no one is able to snatch the sheep out of the Father’s hand. Since Christ and the Father are one, no one is able to ever snatch the sheep out of Christ’s hand!

The Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, declares, “My sheep respond to my voice...and they follow me.” Here is the second and completing part of true assurance: the fact that upon recognizing Christ for who He truly is, you respond to Him in faith and commitment, no matter how feeble that commitment at times may be. It is a divinely-created commitment, which shall be divinely-sustained without end: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9).

Note: For a consideration of our Lord’s use of Psalm 82:6 in His refutation of the Jewish leaders’ false charge that He has committed blasphemy by declaring Himself to be “the Son of God,” see the Appendix that accompanies this present study.

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. What did Jesus declare at the conclusion of His teaching about the Good Shepherd (cf. Jn. 10:18); what was one reaction to His teaching (cf. Jn. 18:19)? What have been some other reactions to His teaching? See Jn. 3:2; Jn. 5:18; Jn. 6:26; Jn. 9:24 .What do these various responses tell us about these people? See Jn. 10:26,

No one takes it away from me, I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father. ¹⁹Because of these words, a division once again arose among the Jews. Jn. 10:18-19

There is Nicodemus’ initial estimate of Christ:

Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you are doing, unless God is with him. Jn. 3:2

The Jewish leaders considered Christ to be both a Sabbath breaker and a blasphemer:

the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things [referring to Jesus’ act of healing the paralyzed man] on the Sabbath Jn. 5:16

...the Jews tried even harder to kill him; not only because he broke the Sabbath, but also because he called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jn. 5:18

The multitudes considered Jesus to be a personal miracle-working servant:

Jesus answered them, I tell you the truth, You are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Jn. 6:26

The religious authorities viewed Christ as a sinner:

So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and said to him, Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.Jn. 9:24

...you do not believe, because you are not [numbered] among my sheep. Jn. 10:26

2. What is characteristic of Christ’s sheep? See Jn. 10:14. Consider the following responses to Jesus: Jn. 1:40-41; Jn. 1:45; Jn. 1:49; Jn. 6:68-69. What is your response to Christ?

I am the good shepherd; I know mine own [sheep] and my own [sheep] know me... Jn. 10:14

Andrew:

One of the two who heard John [speak] and who followed [Jesus] was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹The first thing he did was find his brother Simon and tell him, We have found the Messiah, (which, being translated, [means], the Christ). Jn. 1:40-41

Philip:

Philip found Nathanael and told him, We have found the one of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and of whom the prophets also wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Jn. 1:45

Nathaniel:

Nathanael answered him, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are King of Israel.' Jn. 1:49

Peter:

Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We have believed and know that you are the Holy One of God.' Jn. 6:68-69

3. To what does the Lord Jesus compare the relationship that exists between Himself and His sheep? See Jn. 10:14b-15a. How would you describe the relationship between God the Son and God the Father? What is characteristic of the Son (Jn. 5:19), and what is characteristic of the Father (Jn. 5:20)? Is your relationship with Christ characterized by the same kind of loving submission to Him; have you experienced a measure of His lovingly sharing Himself with you?

I am the good shepherd; I know mine own [sheep] and my own [sheep] know me, 1⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father... Jn. 10:14-15

Jesus therefore responded to them by saying, I tell you the truth, The Son can do nothing by himself, but [only] what he sees the Father doing; for whatever [the Father] does, the Son also does in the same way. ²⁰[This is so because] the Father loves the Son and [therefore] shows him everything that he is doing.... Jn. 5:19-20

4. What is another characteristic of Christ’s sheep? See Jn. 10:27. How is this characteristic described in Galatians 5:16, 18? What is significant about the use of both the active verb (vs. 16) and the passive verb (vs. 19)? Do you willingly follow the Good Shepherd as His Holy Spirit instructs you and guides you in accordance with the Scriptures? Have you found that at times you have been compelled to follow Him by the irresistible working of His Holy Spirit, overruling your own will and sinful desire?

My sheep respond to my voice; I know them and they follow me. Jn. 10:27

¹⁶Now I tell you, walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the sinful nature... ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Gal. 5:16, 18

5. If you have recognized Jesus for who He really is, who enabled you do to so? See Matt. 16:16-17. To whom do you owe your redemption (cf. 1 Cor. 1:30), and what response should this elicit from you (cf. 1 Cor. 1:31)? Since your redemption has been initiated by our faithful covenant God, of what can you be confident? See 1 Cor. 1:4, 8-9,

Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' ¹⁷Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.' Matt. 16:16-17

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: righteousness and sanctification and redemption; ³¹in order that it may be just as it has been written, He who boasts, let him boast in the LORD. 1 Cor. 1:30-31

⁴I always thank my God for you, because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus... ⁸[God] will also confirm you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor. 1:4, 8-9