Jesus Said, "All That Came Before Me Are Thieves and Robbers But the Sheep Did Not Hear Them" - Part 1025

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you -- he that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber ... but He that enters in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. To Him the porter opens; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out." (John 10:1-3)

Interestingly, we live in a world that willingly subscribes to every other message rather than submit completely to the Shepherd of the sheep who shed His precious blood on a cross for you and I. This situation has not changed over time. Even in Jesus' time, we saw examples of people knowing the gospel truth and yet, refusing to believe in God their Saviour. Further, in hearing many of Jesus' parables, the Pharisees understood not what things they were which He spake unto them. (John 10:6)

For example, in John 9, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. He has just performed a miracle -- healing a man of his blindness from birth -- but the Pharisees clearly did not want to believe the miracle that Jesus performed. Instead, these Pharisees questioned the man, hoping to find an alternative reason for his healed sigh. And, in reviling the man they said, "Thou art His disciple but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses; [as] for this [fellow] we know not from whence He is." (John 9:28-29)

The healed man answered and said unto them, "Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God hears not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God and does His will, him He hears." (John 9:31) Then the man asks, "Since the world began, was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind? If this man were not of God, He could do nothing." (John 9:30-33)

Good questions but the Pharisees would not change their stance. In fact, they mocked the man, saying, "Thou was altogether born in sins and dost thou teach us?" (John 9:34) Almost like a "how dare you think that you are smarter than us!" So what did they do? They cast the man out. But Jesus the Christ heard that they had cast him out, and when He found him, He asked the man, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" 

The man answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?" Jesus said, "Thou hast both seen Him and it is He that talketh with thee ... For judgement I come into this world, that they which see might not see and that they which see might be made blind." (John 9:37-39)

Some of the Pharisees seeing the healed man worshipping Jesus heard the exchange (and the man's admission that he believes) and asked Jesus, "Are we blind also?" Note Jesus' response -- "If ye were blind ye should have no sin, but now ye say, "We see; therefore your sin remaineth." (John 9:41)

In other words, those who know Jesus as their Saviour also worship Him in everything that they do, including water baptism. This is why Jesus continued sharing His analogy about the Shepherd and the sheep -- so that we too would know the truth that sets us free. You see, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who goes before the sheep, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.  "And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." (John 10:1-5)

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the Shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." (John 10:6-11)

Again, Jesus repeated the message so that these would be without excuse. He said, "I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be One fold, and One Shepherd.

Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father." (John 10:6-18)

Just as it would be today, a division emerged again among the Jews for these sayings, and many of them said, "He hath a devil and is mad; why hear ye Him?" Others said, "These are not the words of Him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? (John 10:19) This rift between those whose inner desire was to worship Jesus -- like the blind man who had his sight restored, and the Pharisees (the religious of the day) who wanted to retain their authority and power over an.

Not satisfied, the Jews came round about Him and said unto Jesus, "How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." (John 10:24)

Jesus answered them, "I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of Me, but ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you -- "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me -- and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand."

My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:25-31)

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, "Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me?"

The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we stone Thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest thyself God."

Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, I SAID, YE ARE GODS? If He called them gods, unto whom the Word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, "Thou blasphemest" because I said, I am the Son of God?" (John 10:32-36; Psalm 82:6; I Peter 1:25)

And then Jesus said, "If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him." (John 10:37-38)

Therefore, they sought again to take Jesus but He escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there He abode. And many resorted unto Him, and said, "John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true." And many believed on Him there.

In the same manner, we need to make a decision for Jesus. Ask Jesus into your heart today. "Repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:37-42) Read His Word for your guidance and direction. Stand in the offering plate with our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ.