According to John

Chapter 10

1. Who is the shepherd of the sheep mentioned in 10:2? Note the following:
   
   a. O.T. prophecies (e.g., Ezek. 34:23; 37:24) and N.T. passages (e.g., John 10:1 and 1 Pt. 2:25)
   b. The authority of the voice of the shepherd as seen in Jn. 10:3-5.
   
   
2. To whom does Jesus refer int he words, "He that entereth not bythe door...is a thief and a robber"? (cf. Acts 5:36-37, Mt. 24:24)
   
   
3. What is represented by "the door" as opposed to "some other way"? (cf. Jn. 5:36, 39, 46) Be careful not to confuse the figure used in 10:9 with the figure being used in 10:1. In 10:9, Jesus is the door, whereas here, Jesus enters by the door.
   
   
4. In connection with verses 7-10, consider this quotation from William Barclay:
   

   "In this parable Jesus spoke about two kinds of sheep-folds. In the villages and towns themselves there were communal sheep-folds where all the village flocks were sheltered when they returned home at night. These folds were protected by a strong door of which only the guardian of the door held the key. It was to that kind of fold Jesus referred in verses 2 and 3. But when the sheep were out on the hills in the warm season and did not return at night to the village at all, they were collected into sheep-folds on the hillside. These hillside sheep-folds were just open spaces enclosed by a wall. In them there was an opening by which the sheep came in and went out; but there was no door of any kind. What happened was that at night the shepherd himself lay down across the opening and no sheep could get out or in except over his body. In the most literal sense the shepherd was the door."

5. What is the significance of the phrase "go in and out" (10:9)? Cf. Num. 27:17, Dt. 28:6, 1 Kings 3:7, Ps. 121:8, Acts 1:21.
   
   
6. Describe both the actions and the reason for the actions of the shepherd, and of the hireling, in the face of danger. (10:11-13)
   
   
7. Jn. 10:1, 15, and 17 all allude to what? What is meant by the additional statement, "I may take it again" in verse 17?
   
   
8. Who are the "other sheep" of Jn. 10:16?
   
   
9. Do verses 3-5, and 14 tell us anything about the notion that people can get to heaven by means of any denomination, and that even "sincere, moral" Buddhists and Moslems will go to heaven?
   
   
10. Explain the controversy described in verses 19-21.
    
    
11. What did the "feast of dedication" commemorate, and what is another name for this feast? (You will need a commentary, or reference book for this question.)
    
    
12. List passages in John which show that Jesus had made plain the fact that he was the Messiah prophesied in the O.T.
    
    
13. What is the point of verses 27-29? (cf. 10:11-15)
    
    
14. Jesus had said, "no one shall snatch them out of my hand," and "no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." What fact justified the equating of God's hand with Jesus' own hand? (vs. 30)
    
    
15. Why did the Jews intend to stone Jesus?
    
    
16. What O.T. passage did Jesus quote from in vs. 34?
    
    
17. Read Psalm 82. Who are the "gods" mentioned in the psalm, and why are they so called? (cf. Dt. 1:9-17, Ex. 18:13-27, 21:6, 22:8-9)
    
    
18. What difference between these "gods" and himself did Jesus point out?
    
    
19. What is the point of Jesus' words in verse 34-36?
    
    
20. Verse 38 clearly teaches that the purpose of Jesus' works was what?
    
    
21. "Does one have to have faith in order to "see a miracle"?
    
    
22. What did John not do?