Greetings and thank you for this site--
In John 10 Jesus describes himself as the gate that the shepherd must come through and then He describes himself also as the shepherd.
Recognizing Jesus as God can be anything He wants to be, this seems to be a contradiction/mystery. Can someone explain it?
thank you
antonio

[coachnathan]

Originally Posted by antonio

Greetings and thank you for this site--
In John 10 Jesus describes himself as the gate that the shepherd must come through and then He describes himself also as the shepherd.
Recognizing Jesus as God can be anything He wants to be, this seems to be a contradiction/mystery. Can someone explain it?
thank you
antonio

A new paragraph starts with verse 11. The parable of the good shepherd/hired servent is a seperate thought from the parable of the door.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, 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. 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, and 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. 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.

Jesus called himself many different things to show us that he is the only way.

I am the way
I am the good shepherd
I am the door
I am the gate.....ect...

[Amadeus]

Originally Posted by antonio

Greetings and thank you for this site--
In John 10 Jesus describes himself as the gate that the shepherd must come through and then He describes himself also as the shepherd.
Recognizing Jesus as God can be anything He wants to be, this seems to be a contradiction/mystery. Can someone explain it?
thank you
antonio

He is ALL that we need! He is the "Door" to enter back into the garden and He is the "Shepherd" who is there to protect us as we approach the "Tree of Life" and He is the "Tree of Life" itself of which we are to eat in order to live forever with Him:

Moses and Elijah were there on the mount with Jesus and as important as they had been, they were only messengers carrying God's Word, whereas Jesus was the Word, Itself! Moses and Elijah like us sinned and fell short of His glory in their lives. Jesus never fell short!

"And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him." Luke 9:36

Thank you Amadeus--you keep sinking'em from the outside--you opened my eyes on this verse. Thank you Coach and thank you Daniel.
Gung Hay Fat Choy to all
antonio

There are no other legitimate shephards other than christ. He knew that many would attempt to pretend that they are the doorway to Jesus. Some churches would have you believe that unless you go through them you will never have access to Jesus. But jesus said that he was the door. The door to the sheep. Noboby gets legitimate access to the sheep unless they go through him, therefore unless he allows them. Who is jesus going to allow access to the sheep?

Dear Heneni--you wrote

Noboby gets legitimate access to the sheep unless they go through him, therefore unless he allows them. Who is jesus going to allow access to the sheep?
01-12-2009 03:09 PM

Does that include Satan? I'm not clear what your point is--sorry for being so thick on this stuff.
antonio

Originally Posted by antonio

Dear Heneni--you wrote

Does that include Satan? I'm not clear what your point is--sorry for being so thick on this stuff.
antonio

We are men/women, but he calls us sheep, and those who run away when the wolf comes (the hirelings) he calls men not sheep.

These men are opportunists. They will use the gospel to make money, to get recognition, or status. They preach whatever they feel will help them sell another book. They enter the sheep pin by unorthodox means. The sheep dont listen to them because they dont recognise their voices. Because they dont, the wolf comes to the sheep. His aim to to steal kill and destroy them.

But the good shephard, JESUS, leads his flock safely through the valley of the shadow of death and always provides them with enough pasture to keep them healthy.

When the hirelings (false shephards) see the wolf coming they dont pray for the sheep or intercede with them, they run away. The sheep are left to deal with the wolf by themselves. Jesus did not do that, he overcame the wolf. He laid down his life for the sheep and when he did that he took the keys of hell and freed us.

So we have but one shephard, Jesus, who overcame the wolf, and who leads us to green pastures. Not only that he gave us authority to trample on the wolf and his minions. The hirilings dont want the sheep to have any power, because they want the power themselves, and they aim to keep the sheep in a weak state so that they can appear greater and superior. They are the type of people who lay heavy burdens on their listeners, but never lift a finger to help.

Heneni

[irondumpty]

Originally Posted by antonio

Greetings and thank you for this site--
In John 10 Jesus describes himself as the gate that the shepherd must come through and then He describes himself also as the shepherd.
Recognizing Jesus as God can be anything He wants to be, this seems to be a contradiction/mystery. Can someone explain it?
thank you
antonio

The old testament describes YHWH as being "The Only Savior". Yet Jesus is the savior and the gateway. YHWH is also described as the shepherd of his sheep. Yet Jesus is said to be "The Good Shepherd".

Seems to contradict doesn’t it? If Jesus is the manifestation of the transcendent Almighty God, then it all flows together.