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14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” ~ John 10:14-21
Christianity is more than being saved from sin and death and judgment, it is a personal relationship with the living God who leads the believer through the darkness of this world. The words of v.14 are astonishing and quite revealing. The Lord Jesus offers His sheep a relationship with Him which is on par with His eternal relationship between God the Father and God the Spirit.
In v.14, we read, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." The Greek word used here for "know" is "gnosko," which is experiential, relational knowledge. The order here is very important for we do not come to know Him first. No, our knowledge of Him is in response to His of us. We know Him for He first knew us. This intimate knowledge renders for us a relationship that is eternal life.
No one else can satisfy the human heart, no one else can solve the problems of the human mind, no one can answer the questions about life after death like the Lord Jesus. No one can deal with human conflict and strife and bring healing and deliverance like the Lord Jesus. He is the only one because He only is God.
In v.16, the Lord Jesus says, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen." The sheep He speaks of is found in the nations of the earth. From the beginning, He had a heart for all ethnicities. In Genesis 12, He told Abraham, He would bless all mankind by blessing Abraham. This provides for us God's ultimate purpose for our lives: to be a blessing.
Four times, in today's text, Jesus says he "lays down his life" for the sheep. (v.11,15,17,18). The Lord Jesus is not a hired hand, because the sheep belong to Him and because he loves the sheep more than he loves His own life. When the Lord Jesus sees the wolves coming, he does not leave the sheep to be destroyed. He fights the wolves and saves the sheep. And in doing it, he lays down his life for the sheep.
According to v.19-21, disputes began over the identity of the Lord Jesus. The picture given in these verses provides a realistic look at how people respond to the claims of the Lord Jesus. For most, His free offer of forgiveness of sin and a personal relationship with Him is too much. While, for some, He is the God to be worshipped. For those who believe, once He is experienced by them, they want others to know about Him for themselves. Therefore, having entered into a personal relationship with God, believers engaged in opportunities to make Him known to others.
Finally, there are two large bodies of water in Israel, the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is found in the north. The sea to the south is called the Dead Sea, and for good reason. Geographically, these two seas are only 63 miles apart. If we look closely at the map, we’ll notice one distinct difference between these two bodies of water. The sea of Galilee is fed from the north and in turn feeds the famous Jordan River to the south. Water comes in, water goes out. However, the Dead sea is in “receive only” mode. All water flows in, and none flows out. One sea receives and gives, while the other sea only receives.
