Anchor My Faith

Who Will the Sheep Follow?

Scripture: John 10:4-6

At the end of the previous lesson, the shepherd went into the sheepfold and identified his sheep and called them out. In this lesson we will find out where Jesus is going with his illustration of the shepherd and his sheep.

^{Jn 10:4} “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The shepherd comes back out through the door and his sheep will follow him. The sheep of other shepherds would see this shepherd as a stranger and would not follow. These sheep who follow “know his voice.” This is a common theme in John in relationship to God. Those who truly belong to God listen to and believe in the words of Jesus. For example: John 5:46 – 47 ESV: ⁴⁶ “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. ⁴⁷ But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”; John 8:37 ESV: “I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.”; John 8:45 ESV: “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.”; and John 8:47 ESV: “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” Belief provides the ability to hear him call and then to follow.

Then and today, God appoints human leaders to be shepherds of people. The exodus of Israel from Egypt is at times portrayed in terms of a flock being led out by its shepherd. The church today is made up of pastors and teachers who have the responsibility to lead those under them toward heaven. But the greatest of these shepherds, as we will see, is Jesus Christ, who is leading the greatest exodus as he leads people out of their sin and into the covering of his righteousness.

^{Jn 10:6} “This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.” This “figure of speech” is an illustration like a parable which Jesus uses to communicate truth through a narrative analogy in order to teach a moral or spiritual lesson. These illustrations produce different results in different people: they hide truth from those spiritually dead (the crowds), while communicating truth to those who believe (disciples).

Conclusion

Jesus has been setting up an illustration of a shepherd and his sheep to establish terms he will apply to himself in coming lessons. In the next lesson, Jesus will refer to himself as a “door” that relates to our salvation.