The Gospel of John 10

Welcome to the metaphorical wonderland! Jesus is both gate and good shepherd. Who are the sheep, the wolves, the hired hand and the other sheep? Why is it important?

Weekly Memory Verse: John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Monday, December 12     Read John 10:1-21. Jesus continues to describe his mission using symbolism. Jesus gives life, lays down his life and takes it up again. Explore this passage again for the many times Jesus talks about his life, death, resurrection and our new life in Him.

Tuesday, December 13     Read John 10:22-42. Happy Hanukkah! At least is was for them. Hanukkah is the celebration of the liberation of the Temple from the Greeks in 165 B.C. Judging from how Jesus’ conversation goes, does the Temple need liberation again? Why?

Wednesday, December 14     After reviewing John 10, read Ezekiel 34. Jesus calls himself the “good shepherd”. Why does Jesus need to use the word “good” to describe himself? Where there “bad” shepherds? Who were they? Do we still have “bad” shepherds today?

Thursday, December 15     After reviewing John 10, read Psalm 23. The linguistic root of LORD, or Yahweh, is “I AM” from Exodus 3:14. If “the LORD is my shepherd”, what is Jesus also saying when he says “I AM the good shepherd”? What does this good shepherd do for us?

Friday, December 16     After reviewing John 10, read Ephesians 1:3-14. Jesus says that no one can snatch his sheep from his Father’s hand. This is hard for us to understand from our worldly perspective. How can we take comfort from this heavenly perspective?

Saturday, December 17     After reviewing John 10, read Matthew 13:1-23. Jesus says his sheep know his voice. How is it that we can know the voice of Jesus? How do we even have ears to hear?

Bethel Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN – bethelstpaul.com