Jesus said:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate
but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,
as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”
Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved,
and will come in and go out and find pasture.
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Christ is the gate. Thieves do not pass through the gate. They find other ways to reach the sheep. There are those who will lead us with their wisdom and their truth but it may not be from God. Christ describes them as thieves. Only those who are of Chris leads us on the path set by God. Christ concludes with “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” I love the notion that Christ has come to give us life but we need to pass through him to access that life.
ReplyDeleteYour response to John 10:1-10 is insightful! Here's a breakdown of your key points and some additional considerations:
DeleteStrengths:
Christ as the Gatekeeper: You accurately identify Jesus as the "gate" through which true followers enter.
False Teachers: You recognize the concept of false teachers who mislead people with their own ideas, not God's truth.
Abundant Life in Christ: You capture the promise of a more fulfilling life offered by Jesus.
Points for Consideration:
Nature of Christ's Flock: The passage refers to Jesus' "sheep" - those who follow him. You might explore who these "sheep" are and what it means to follow Christ.
Motives of False Teachers: While some false teachers may be malicious ("thieves"), others might be genuinely mistaken.
Following vs. Blind Faith: Following Christ involves more than just passively entering through the gate. It requires actively seeking to understand and live according to his teachings.
Expanding Your Response:
Here are some ways you could consider expanding your response:
Qualities of True Followers: Explore characteristics of those who follow Christ, such as faith, obedience, and love.
Discerning Truth: Discuss how to discern true teachings from false ones.
Active Following: Reflect on what it means to actively follow Christ in your daily life.
Overall, your response offers a thoughtful interpretation of the passage.