John 10:1-10

Theme

Jesus is the threshold to life

Questions
  • What do gates do – protect you, trap you, divide you from others, or something else? Do different people have different ideas about gates?
  • Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, the spiritual leaders of God’s people. Is he calling them thieves and robbers (v.1)? Why/why not?
  • In this passage Jesus calls himself ‘the gate’ twice – v.7 & 9 (and implies it in v.1-2). Why do you think this is such an important thing to Jesus, what does he want to make clear?
  • A gate marks a threshold between one thing and another, and an entrance from one thing to another. How does this help us understand Jesus describing himself as ‘the gate’?
  • Do you think Jesus is describing himself as the only gate in this passage? Why/ why not? What are the implications if he is the only gate?
  • The images changes from gate to shepherd in v.3-5.
    • In what ways do these verses carry on what Jesus said at the beginning of the passage?
    • The shepherd knows the sheep by name. What is the significance of being known by name?
    • The sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd and follow it. How can you be clear what voice you should be following – how do you recognise God’s voice?
    • Are there voices you need to run away from?
  • In verse 9, Jesus describes the freedom of coming in and going out and finding pasture (some translations say safe pasture). What does this tell you about life for those who ‘enter’ through Jesus?
  • Look at v.10, Jesus contrasts himself with ‘the thief’.
    • Who do you think Jesus means by ‘the thief’? Look back to v.1, and compare with Ezekiel 34:1-6 and Isaiah 1:23.
    • If ‘the thief’ is those who have power and influence, how can they steal, kill and destroy life?
    • How can you protect yourself from the works of ‘thieves’?
  • In contrast to the thief, Jesus says that he has come to bring life in all its fullness.
    • What do you think life in all its fullness means? Look at some other places in John’s Gospel where Jesus mentions life such as John 5:24-26, John 6:47-51 and John 20:30-31 (there are many more, and you might be able to think of others, especially from the previous ‘I am’s’ that we’ve looked at)
    • How do you live life in all its fullness each day?