John [chapter 10]

@ Ezra Chapel, start-time 7:15pm. ​*Every Wednesday from 7:15pm to 8:30pm at Ezra Chapel, come walk with us into the Gospel According to John. Reading through verse-by-verse with reflection. Let's all grow as people of God in the Word of God! Walk into the Word, Walk out to your world! Amen!

Wednesday Walk into the Word
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN 요한복음 (part 11):
I am the Door, I am the Good Shepherd 나는 양의 문이라, 선한목자라 (10:1-42)
THE DOOR FOR THE SHEEP (10:1-10)
(Question #1) Jesus continues correcting and teaching the same spiritually-blind leaders from the previous chapter 9. By their stubborn claim, “We see” when in fact they were blind, Jesus declares their guilt remains. Now, the portrait of a shepherd is used reveal more of their blindness. How do you distinguish between the thief and the shepherd (verse 1-2)?
[*REFLECT #1a] What is “climbing in by another way” within your heart, stealing and robbing what belongs to the Lord?
[*REFLECT #1b] The gatekeeper opens the door to the real shepherd. What does the shepherd do once the door is opened (verse 3-5)? What do the sheep hear and know and do?
[*REFLECT #1c] When you hear and know the voice of the Shepherd, what should you do? How is what you are doing a reflection of who you are hearing and knowing? Are you fleeing or following the voice of strangers or the Shepherd?
[*REFLECT #1d] Those who follow Jesus understand and hear His voice (verse 6). What are areas you have yet to understand the voice of Jesus speaking through the Scriptures, godly teachers & servants, and/or life’s circumstances?
[*REFLECT #1e] How is Jesus not only the shepherd of the sheep, but also the door into the sheep pen (verse 7-9)?
[*REFLECT #1f] What are the differences between what the thief comes to do and what the shepherd & door of the sheep came to do (verse 10)?
[*REFLECT #1g] What are the works of the thief in your life? How can the life-giving work of the shepherd begin in you?
THE SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP (10:11-21)
(Question #2) What does a good shepherd do over a hired shepherd (verse 11-13)?
[*REFLECT #2a] How is Jesus a good shepherd over a hired shepherd for us? How are we to model this as we shepherd our families, our church family, our younger brothers & sisters under the spiritual care of our shepherdship?
[*REFLECT #2b] What kind of relationship does the good Shepherd have with His sheep (verse 14-16)? For what end goal does the Shepherd nurture this relationship (verse 16)?
[*REFLECT #2c] Why does the Father love His Son, the good Shepherd – what was He willing to do (verse 17-18)?
[*REFLECT #2d] As our good Shepherd did, when do we manifest the Father God’s love for one another?
[*REFLECT #2e] What happened to the Jewish leadership after hearing these words (verse 19)? What prior event (chapter 9) caused them to rethink their views (verse 20-21)?
[*REFLECT #2f] Jesus does bring division – but it is not between brothers and sisters in Christ. Rather, it is between unbelievers. Where does division appear in us? Can we rethink our views by what our common witness to Jesus’ work?
THE WORKS OF THE SHEPHERD (10:22-42)
(Question #3) The Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) celebrated the cleansing and re-dedication of the temple after three years of being desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syra (164/165 B.C.). Yet how are the spiritual leaders desecrating it again – now to the living temple Jesus Christ (verse 22-25)?
(Question #4) Why can’t the Jewish establishment believe that Jesus is God in the flesh (verse 26)?
(Question #5) Describe someone who is truly among the Lord’s sheep (verse 27-29) – what does a sheep do, and what does the Shepherd do for them and assure them? Why can Jesus assure this to His sheep (verse 30)?
(Question #6) The earthly judges of PSALM 82:6 were called “gods” due to their office and administration of the word and judgments of God. If even these hostile Jews did this, why weren’t they able to call Jesus their God (verse 31-36)?
(Question #7) Even if He Himself is rejected, what does Jesus plead with them to believe to know and understand (verse 37-39)?
(Question #8) Although John did no signs, why did the crowds start believing in Jesus (verse 40-42; see also 1:15; 1:26-27; 3:27-30)? Although the miraculous is absent, why can you still trust in Jesus? Does your faith rest on miracles or the message?