In John 10, the focus is on the ‘I am’ statements, in which Jesus reveals Himself and His true identity to us. However, there seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding who the world thinks Jesus is. Often, we tend to make Jesus into the Savior we want Him to be, either on a large collective scale or within our own hearts. Because of this confusion, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of who Jesus is.
For centuries, pastors have emphasized the importance of recognizing Jesus’ true identity. C.S. Lewis aptly describes this as “soft soap” in his book, Mere Christianity. Soft soap refers to the pleasantry comments made about Jesus, such as Him being a good teacher. While this statement may sound pleasing, it loses its meaning if we do not believe everything He says about Himself.
Jesus as a Good Teacher
Some individuals believe that Jesus is a good example, and it feels good to say so. However, the problem arises when we fail to follow in His footsteps. People want Jesus to be someone who is politically correct, tolerant, and non-offensive—someone who is universally liked. Unfortunately, that is not who Jesus is, as depicted in the Bible.
Don’t misunderstand; Jesus is a good teacher. And, in fact, He is the best Teacher. He set the perfect example for us to follow. Yet at the same time, He was also convicting, challenging, and dangerous. He wasn’t always politically correct in His day, as He didn’t tolerate lies and a lack of truth. Instead, He challenged people, offended them, and convicted believers when they got off the right path.
It’s time to stop making Jesus into who we want Him to be, just to make Him more palatable for our society. Instead, let’s allow Jesus to speak for Himself, which is precisely what He does in the “I am” statements. If you want to know someone, ask them, then let their actions show you who they truly are. Similarly, in the seven “I am” statements, Jesus is crystal clear about who He is, and it may contradict much of what our society wants to believe about Him.
Jesus is “I Am”
The phrase “I am” tells us who Jesus is. To comprehend the power behind those two words, we must examine the seven “I am” statements in the Gospel of John. However, before delving into John 10, we need to study John 8. In this chapter, Jesus is interacting with the Jewish leadership, which He often did because He challenged the religious structure of the time. They questioned Him, saying, “Who do you think you are?” and Jesus responded by saying He was God’s son sent by the Father. In fact, Jesus told the Pharisees and Jewish leaders that if they had known His Father, they would have known Him too. The leaders began to challenge Jesus’s thoughts about who He claimed to be, saying, “God is our father because Abraham was our father.” They attempted to claim the right family lineage, and Jesus challenged them on it. He told them that even if they said that Abraham was their father, they don’t do what Abraham did or follow the law.
In John 8, Jesus told the Pharisees that if Abraham was truly their father, they would have known Him, as Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus’ day and was glad. However, the Pharisees accused Jesus of being crazy and being possessed by a demon, which He denied, stating that He was sent by God to bring honor to His name, but they dishonored Him instead.
The Pharisees questioned how Jesus could claim to know Abraham or say that Abraham knew Him when He was not even 50 years old. Jesus responded in John 8:58, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am,” which is a claim to be one with the Father, divine, and God in the flesh. This statement was considered blasphemy by the Pharisees, who tried to kill Him but failed because He was right. Jesus was claiming divinity, not just being a good teacher or a great example.
I am the Good Shepherd
In John 10, Jesus continued to interact with Jewish leadership, telling them that the man who enters a sheep pen by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep, and the watchman opens the gate for him. The sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. As sheep follow him because they know his voice, they will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run from one because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. This metaphor demonstrates Jesus’ role as the gate and the Shepherd, leading His people and protecting them from harm.
In verse 6, Jesus used a figure of speech, but the people He was talking to didn’t understand it. Therefore, Jesus tried to explain it to them in a different way. He said that He is the gate for the sheep and that anyone who enters through Him will be saved. He explained that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but He had come so that people could have abundant life.
Jesus is the gate through which we must enter—not only to have eternal life, but also to experience daily abundance. Jesus is the Shepherd, but the Pharisees did not recognize His voice.
Shepherding is a key theme in the Bible. Shepherds would lead their sheep through the gate, and the sheep would recognize their voices. But the Pharisees were like thieves and robbers because they were not leading the sheep as they should. Instead, they were taking advantage of the sheep. Jesus is the true shepherd ordained by God, and He proved it by being born perfect, living a perfect life, performing miracles, and teaching as no one else could. Later in the chapter, Jesus accused the Pharisees of neglecting their duties as shepherds and instead taking advantage of and manipulating the people.
The Pharisees were corrupt and neglected important aspects of pastoral care, finances, and theological guidance, leading the people away from God. Unfortunately, some modern pastors also prioritize personal gain over the spiritual needs of their congregation, just like the Pharisees did. Therefore, we should check ourselves and make sure we are following the true Shepherd, Jesus, by listening to His voice, believing what He says, and doing what He does. Being a sheep means being with the Shepherd, becoming His apprentice, and learning from Him through spending time with Him, worshiping Him, and being like Him. If we haven’t heard the Shepherd’s voice, we should pray to hear it and be called away from the voices of the world towards salvation.
Listening for the Shepherd’s Voice
How can we distinguish between the voice of the Savior and the voice of the world? There are so many voices on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and the internet, and they even come from family and friends. However, God has given us a Book inspired by His Spirit and written through men to guide us to the voice of our Shepherd. The challenge is not whether it’s available, as I have several copies in my office and phone, but whether we are reading it. Reading the book is the primary way to differentiate between God’s voice and the world’s voice. Additionally, the voice of the enemy brings negativity and depression, whereas the voice of the Father and the Shepherd speaks life into us. The voice of God is clear and concise, with statements of truth, without manipulation or leading. In contrast, the voice of the enemy is more emotional and sneaky, using guilt to destroy us. God may bring guilt, but it’s to convict us and lead us to forgiveness and victory. He never wants us to be defeated or depressed.
I Am the Gate
In verses 6–10, Jesus used another analogy, saying that He is the gate that we must go through. The Pharisees were confused, but Jesus explained that He is the Shepherd and we need to hear His voice. He then said, “I am the gate, and whoever enters through me will be saved.” This means that we are saved from the penalty of sin that eats away at our soul, which is death and eternal separation from God. But salvation doesn’t end there; if Jesus is our shepherd, He saves us from all the things in our lives that bring us down and try to destroy us.
The world is full of depressing, negative, and hurtful things, but the promise of your Savior is that He can guide you through them. This does not mean that you won’t experience these things, but rather that you will be saved. Moreover, the Shepherd promises that you will travel with Him and find pasture. To experience a joyous life and have eternal life, you must follow the Shepherd and enter the Shepherd gate. While the Pharisees missed this, those who do enter the gate will find comfort and peace in the pasture with Jesus. Though it may be scary to leave the safety of the sheep pen, there are things worth experiencing with Jesus that make it worth the risk. However, there are also dangers out there, including wolves in sheep’s clothing and a prowling lion, the devil, seeking to devour.
The Benefits of Following the Shepherd
Despite this, there are five benefits to having Jesus as your Shepherd, as outlined in Psalm 23.
- You have everlasting contact with your Shepherd since He is always with you.
- You have a daily connection with your Shepherd since He never leaves your side.
- You have everlasting provision from the Shepherd because He will lead you to pastures with enough grass and water to sustain you.
- You have everlasting hope because the Shepherd will always guide you.
- You have everlasting life with the Shepherd, which starts today through Jesus!
The Shepherd will always guide you, providing you with everlasting guidance. Many people in our world, whether believers or unbelievers, are lost and aimless, lacking direction and hope. This is due to a misunderstanding about who Jesus is and what Scripture represents. However, with Jesus as your Shepherd, you will never be lost again. Despite the chaos of the world, financial instability, or familial struggles, Jesus will always be there to guide you. Seeking the Kingdom of God is the guiding principle, and all other distractions will be taken care of. The provision is everlasting, as the psalmist notes that there will always be food and water to sustain you. Even in the midst of trials, the tranquility of the quiet waters is attainable.
It does not matter what tomorrow holds because there is hope in Jesus, who is the Shepherd. The worst thing that the world can do to you takes your life, but even if something worse than that were to happen, there can still be hope in Christ as the Shepherd. This is the benefit of giving everything to Him—He gives you hope.
Next Steps
Jesus is standing with you spiritually today, just as He has been for the past 2,000 years, calling out to you at the center of your life, in the privacy of our own homes, saying, “Come and follow me. I am enough.” So, the question is simple: Would you hear the voice of your Savior and follow Him? Ask the questions, challenge the Scriptures, talk to the Spirit, ask a friend, and let God bring you to repentance and faith. The Shepherd is calling you, and you must follow Him. It’s not just about saying a prayer and having the salvation card you put in your pocket. Following Jesus means confessing, repenting, and believing every day. It’s a lifelong, daily journey of dying to yourself.
As a believer, you may have heard the Savior’s voice calling, and maybe you’ve never aimlessly wandered into sin, knowing better than that. But the benefit of being a believer is that you hear the Savior’s voice. If you’re going to live in sin, you have to ignore the voice and choose sin over Him. Every time you do this, you know it comes from listening to the wrong voice. Maybe you’ve been listening to the wrong voices on social media, from your friends, or family members. Enough is enough. Listen when your Savior says, “Come and follow me,” and make a commitment to follow Him and believe what He says.
It is important for us to look beyond ourselves and see those in the world who are helpless because they don’t have a Shepherd. We need to have compassion for them and bring them back to our green pasture, our house, or even a coffee shop, and tell them about how awesome our Savior is.
