Gospel of John—Lesson 29
By Joyce Webb 2026
John Chp. 10 Vs. 1-18
Verse 1 Jesus said: Truly, (true) I say to you, the person who does not enter into the sheepfold by way of the door,—-but climbs up some other way, that person is a thief and a robber.
(A sheepfold was a fenced in area where the sheep were kept.
Sometimes it was a low wall made of stones. One wall had an opening where the sheep went in and out.
The “door” to to the opening was the shepherd himself as he sat or lay down in the opening. To get into the sheepfold—-you had to go over or around the shepherd.
Sometimes instead of the shepherd staying at the opening—a hired servant call a “porter” or “gatekeeper” would be in the opening.
What Jesus is saying is: He is the shepherd/door to the safe place “sheepfold” meaning heaven. If you want to get into heaven—you have to come to the “door”—Jesus —-and ask to get in. There is no other way to get in.)
Verse 2 He that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Verse 3 To him the porter opens the door. The sheep know the shepherd’s voice. He calls his own sheep by name and he leads them out.
(This verse makes us think that there are other flocks of sheep in the fold/pen.
Often goats and sheep were kept together.
So the shepherd calls his own sheep. They know his voice and they follow him.)
Verse 4 When the shepherd “puts forth his sheep”—-he leads them out—he goes before them. The sheep follow him for they know his voice.
Verse 5 A stranger —they will not follow, but will flee/run — from him. Because they do not know the voice of a stranger.
Verse. 6 This “parable”—”earthly story with a heavenly meaning”—Jesus told the group of people and Jewish leaders—-but they did not understand what Jesus was telling them.
Verse 7 Then Jesus said: “I am the door” of the sheep.
(This is an important “parable”. Jesus is telling them that he is the only way to heaven. To get into heaven—the safe “sheep fold”—you have to go through the “door”—Jesus.
That is still true today! If you want to get into heaven—you have to go through Jesus. The reason is—-he is the one who paid your death punishment for you. No one else did. No other god did. No other god has “heaven” for eternity.)
Verse 8 Jesus said: All that came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.
Verse 9 I am the door: by me—if any man enter in —he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture (grass to eat).
Meaning: the person will be saved and as he goes on each day he will find what he needs to live—-God will help him.
Verse 10 The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I come that they can have life and have it abundantly (with much).
Verse 11 I am the good shepherd, and a good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
Verse 12 A person who is hired but is not the shepherd —-who does not own the sheep—-if he sees a wolf coming —-he will leave the sheep (and go to save himself) —then the wolf will catch the sheep and scatter them (or maybe eat them).
Verse 13 The hired person runs away—–because he is hired to watch the sheep—they are not his sheep—so he does not care much.
Verse 14 Jesus said: I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and they know me.
Verse 15 As the Father knows me, so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Verse 16 I have other sheep that are not in this fold. I must bring them, too. They will hear my voice. There will be one sheep fold and one shepherd.
(Jesus has been talking to Jewish people. He said “I have other sheep—not of this fold.”
Jesus is talking about Gentile people around the world. They will become his sheep, too. They will know his voice. They will enter into the sheepfold (heaven) also.
At this time, the Jewish people would not have believed that Jesus meant that Gentiles would go to heaven. The Jewish people knew that the Gentiles did not even know the God of heaven and did not worship him.
They never would have thought that God would send a Jewish man to go preach to them and that they would turn away from idols and follow Jesus.)
Verse 17 The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I can take it up again.
Verse 18 No man takes my life from me. I lay it down by myself (of my own choosing).
I have the power to lay it down and I have the power to take it up again.
This commandment I have received from my father. (Meaning this is what the Father asked Jesus to do.)
(These verse 17-18 are very important.
Jesus said: No one takes my life from me.
The Jewish leaders talked the Romans into put Jesus on the cross. Jesus was alive on the cross. Then came the time Jesus said, “Father, into thy hands I commit (give) my spirit.” Luke 23: 46
Jesus chose to give up his spirit unto God.
Then Jesus said to the group of people: “I have the power to take it up again.”
Jesus had the power of “life” within himself. Only God has the power of “life”.
This means that Jesus was God.
No man can decide I am going to die now—and then die. He might starve himself.
He might kill himself. He might hold his breath until he passed out but then he would start breathing again.
Men might even be able to control their breathing to slow so much others would think they are dead—but they are still alive.
When Jesus gave his spirit to God—he died—then.
Three days later—he came alive again—by his own choosing.
No man can do that.
In these two verses—Jesus is telling them—he is God. He has the power of “life” in himself.
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Questions—-Gospel of John—–Lesson 29
John Chp. 10 Vs. 1-18
1. What is a “sheepfold” ? _________________________________________________________________
2. In these verses when Jesus uses “sheepfold”—-what is Jesus referring to?
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3. Who is the door to the sheepfold that Jesus is talking about? ____________
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4. Why does Jesus call himself “The Door” ? _______________________________________________________________
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5. Why are verses 17 and 18 so important? _____________________________________________________________
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