John 10:7–21

Read the passage.

Despite the confusion, Jesus continues to teach and explain what He is in the world to do. He expands His metaphor of the sheepfold to say that He is both the good shepherd and the door to the fold as well. Those sheep that hear His voice and follow Him into the fold are saved and have abundant life.

They are also protected from those that would prey upon them. Unlike a hired hand who values his own safety over the sheep’s, Jesus will lay down His own life in order to keep the sheep safe. But He drops a bomb in verse 17, saying He only lays it down so that He can pick it back up again. Not only that, but this is why the Father loves Him, that He is willing and able to lay down His life for His sheep and take it back up again. It’s amazing that we can get this insight into the interpersonal relationships of the Trinity! Even more amazing is that as deep and thoroughly the Father and Son know each other, we can know Them and be known in the same way. (vv. 14–15)

With all the talk of laying down His life and taking it up again, the Jews know what He means by that, but are wondering if He does. After all, if someone today was saying they would die and rise again, we’d think they were crazy too. That is why Jesus was also going around performing miracles. The power of God authenticated and validated His message in a way that nothing else could. Some people in the crowd remembered the blind man whose healing brought about this whole discussion, and reasoned that meant God truly had a hand in Jesus’s ministry.

Help us to know You as You know us.