John 10 - NLT Student Life Application Study Bible

10:1-18 Shepherd-Gate At night, sheep were often gathered into a sheepfold for protection from thieves, weather, and wild animals. A sheepfold could be a cave, a shed, or an open area surrounded by walls made of stones or branches. Shepherds would often sleep across the doorway of the fold to protect the sheep. Just as a shepherd cares for his sheep, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, cares for those who follow him. At the same time, he himself is also the gate, providing the only way of access to God.

10:10 Rich and Satisfying In contrast to the thief who takes life, Jesus gives it. The life he gives to us is abundantly rich and satisfying. It is eternal, and it begins immediately when we turn to follow him. Life in Christ is more deeply meaningful than life without him because of the overflowing forgiveness, joy, love, guidance, purpose, and other blessings he gives.

10:22-24 Testing Jesus Hanukkah commemorates the cleansing and rededication of the Temple that took place under Judas Maccabeus in 164 BC. (See more on this.) Solomon’s Colonnade was a roofed walkway supported by large stone columns that was just inside the walls of the Temple courtyard. (See an illustration of what the Temple might have looked like at this time.)

10:30-31 Father and Son Are One This is Jesus’ clearest and most dramatic statement of his divinity. The Son and his Father are one in being and nature. Thus, Jesus wasn’t just a good teacher—he is God. His claim to be God was unmistakable. It made the religious leaders want to kill him because the law of Moses said that anyone claiming to be God should die (Leviticus 24:16). Nothing could persuade them that Jesus’ claim was true.