Who is Jesus?

1. Jesus is the Only Way to Salvation

• The Exclusive Entrance: Jesus identifies Himself as “the door,” emphasizing that He is the only legitimate entrance into God’s kingdom and a relationship with the Father.
• Dual Purpose: As the Door, He provides an “entrance” for protection from spiritual danger (like a sheepfold) and an “exit” for believers to go out, find pasture, and serve.
• The Requirement: Trusting in Jesus as Savior involves admitting one is a sinner and turning to Him for deliverance, which is described as being “saved” or “delivered safe and sound.”

2. Jesus is the Competent and Caring Shepherd

• Inherent Ability: The title “Good Shepherd” implies He is competent and able. He isn’t just a guide; He is the expert caretaker of our souls.
• Ownership vs. Hirelings: Unlike a “hireling” who flees when a wolf approaches because they don’t own the sheep, Jesus owns His sheep and will never abandon them in times of trouble.
• Personal Connection: He knows His sheep personally—even the number of hairs on their heads—and He calls them by name to lead them forward.

3. Jesus Offers an Abundant Life

• More than Survival: Jesus came not just to give life, but to give it “more abundantly,” referring to a life that is super-added with happiness and purpose.
• Spiritual Fruit: This abundance is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control, rather than material wealth.
• Immediate Reality: This higher plane of living isn’t just for heaven; it is meant to begin immediately through His guidance and forgiveness.

4. Jesus Chose His Sacrifice Voluntarily

• Authority Over Death: Jesus’ death was a voluntary act of love. He stated clearly that no one takes His life from Him; He chose to lay it down of His own accord.
• Resurrection Power: He possesses the divine power to both lay down His life and take it up again, validating everything He claimed to be.
• The Father’s Command: This sacrifice was a direct mission received from God the Father, proving that the cross was always the plan for our redemption.

5. Jesus Demands a Decision

• A Divided Response: Jesus’ claims always create a division. In this passage, some viewed Him as “mad,” while others recognized His miraculous power and truth.
• The Ultimate Choice: Every individual is faced with a choice: to be a skeptic who lives in spiritual torment or a follower who experiences eternal joy and peace.
• Relationship Focus: Ultimately, Jesus doesn’t just want followers of a religion; He wants a personal relationship with you as your Savior and Shepherd.

Icebreaker

If you had to describe your current “season” of life using a single metaphor (e.g., a stormy sea, a quiet garden, a mountain climb, or a busy highway), what would it be and why?

Introduction: The Big Question

John 10:1-21

Summary

The study begins by asking the most critical question any person can face: “Who is Jesus?” While many have heard of Him or view Him through various titles like King or Savior, this passage provides Jesus’ own “credentials” to define His identity and mission.

Discussion Questions

1. If someone on the street handed you a microphone and asked, “Who is Jesus?”, what would be your “elevator pitch” response?
2. Why do you think Jesus used the specific imagery of sheep and shepherds to explain who He is to His audience?

Application Questions

1. On a scale of 1–10, how well do you feel you truly know Jesus versus just knowing about Him?
2. What is one specific thing you hope to gain or change in your walk with God through this study?

Section 1: He’s the Salvation Door

John 10:7-9 Romans 3:23 Romans 5:8 Romans 6:23 Romans 10:13 Matthew 11:28

Summary

Jesus identifies Himself as “the door of the sheep,” representing the only legitimate way to enter God’s kingdom and find safety. As the Door, He offers deliverance from “thieves and robbers”—those who exploit or mislead—and provides a place of rest, protection, and freedom.

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus describes Himself as the “only door.” How does this claim of exclusivity contrast with how the world typically views “getting to heaven”?
2. The “door” has two purposes: an entrance for protection and an exit for service. How does Jesus provide “pasture” and “rest” for you in the middle of a stressful week?

Application Questions

1. In what areas of your life are you currently trying to find peace or “pasture” through doors other than Jesus?
2. Have you personally made the decision to “enter the door” by trusting Jesus as your Savior, or are you still standing on the outside looking in?

Section 2: He’s the Good Shepherd

John 10:1-6 John 10:11-16 Matthew 10:30-31

Summary

Jesus is the “Good Shepherd,” a title that denotes He is competent, able, and deeply caring. Unlike a “hireling” who flees when danger appears, Jesus owns the sheep, knows them individually by name, and is willing to lay down His life to protect them from the “wolf.”

Discussion Questions

1. What are the key differences between a “Good Shepherd” and a “hireling” in how they respond to trouble?
2. Jesus says His sheep “know His voice.” In a world full of distracting and “stranger” voices, how do we practically learn to distinguish the voice of Jesus?

Application Questions

1. How does it change your perspective to know that the Shepherd knows you so intimately that even the hairs on your head are numbered?
2. In what specific situation this week do you need to stop “fleeing” in fear and trust the Shepherd to go before you?

Section 3: He’s the Key to an Abundant Life

John 10:10 Galatians 5:22-26

Summary

While the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus came so that His followers might have “abundant life.” This abundance isn’t defined by material wealth, but by a life “super-added” with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, and purpose.

Discussion Questions

1. How does the biblical definition of “abundant life” differ from the world’s version of the “good life”?
2. What are some of the things the “thief” (Satan) tries to steal from a believer’s daily joy or peace?

Application Questions

1. Looking at the “fruit of the Spirit” list (love, joy, peace, etc.), which one do you feel is most lacking in your life right now?
2. What “passions or desires” do you need to “nail to the cross” today so you can experience more of the abundance Jesus promised?

Section 4: He’s the Ultimate Sacrifice

John 10:17-18

Summary

Jesus concludes by clarifying that His death was not a tragic accident, but a voluntary, authoritative sacrifice. He chose to lay His life down and had the power to take it up again, acting in total obedience to the Father out of deep love for His sheep.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it significant that “no one takes” Jesus’ life from Him, but that He lays it down “of Himself”?
2. How does the resurrection (His power to “take it again”) validate the claims He made about being the Door and the Shepherd?

Application Questions

1. When you face tragedy or an unstable world, how does the fact that Jesus is the “Ultimate Sacrifice” provide you with a foundation of stability?
2. The crowd in this passage was divided—some were skeptics and some were followers. If Jesus were to ask you right now, “Who do you say I am?”, how would your life this past week reflect your answer?

Day 1: The Only Way In

• Scripture Reference: John 10:7-9

• Key Focus: Jesus is the Salvation Door.

• Reflection: A door serves as both an entrance and a point of protection. Jesus identifies Himself as “the door of the sheep,” representing the only legitimate way to enter God’s kingdom and find safety. As the Door, He delivers us from “thieves and robbers”—those influences that seek to exploit or mislead us—and provides a place of rest, security, and freedom.

• Application Question: Are there any “other ways” or secondary doors you’ve been trying to use to find security or acceptance lately?

• Prayer Prompt: Lord, thank You for being the Door that leads me to safety. Help me to trust that You are all I need to enter into a relationship with the Father.

Day 2: Known by the Shepherd

• Scripture Reference: John 10:1-4, 14

• Key Focus: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows us by name.

• Reflection: Unlike a stranger or a hireling who flees when trouble comes, the Good Shepherd has an “affectionate regard” for His sheep. He doesn’t just manage a crowd; He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. He goes before us so that we never have to face the unknown alone. If you have trusted Him, you are His, and He is personally invested in your care.

• Application Question: How does it change your confidence today knowing that the Shepherd knows you so intimately that even the hairs on your head are numbered?

• Prayer Prompt: Jesus, I am grateful that I am not just a face in the crowd to You. Help me to listen for Your voice above the noise of the world today.

Day 3: Living the Abundant Life

• Scripture Reference: John 10:10, Galatians 5:22-26

• Key Focus: Jesus is the Key to an Abundant Life.

• Reflection: The enemy wants to steal your joy and destroy your peace. In contrast, Jesus came to give you a life that is “perissos”—meaning super-added or overflowing. This abundance isn’t necessarily about material wealth, but a heart full of the Holy Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, and purpose. It is a life lived on a higher plane because of His guidance.

• Application Question: Looking at the “fruit of the Spirit” list (love, joy, peace, etc.), which one do you feel is most lacking in your life right now?

• Prayer Prompt: Holy Spirit, produce Your fruit in me today. Help me to reject the lies of the enemy and embrace the full, rich life Jesus has prepared for me.

Day 4: The Willing Sacrifice

• Scripture Reference: John 10:11, 17-18

• Key Focus: Jesus is the Ultimate Sacrifice.

• Reflection: Jesus’ death was not a tragic accident or a defeat. He clarifies that no one takes His life from Him; He chose to lay it down voluntarily. He had the unique authority to both lay down His life and the power to take it up again. This sacrifice is the ultimate proof of His love, providing us with stability and hope even in an unstable world.

• Application Question: How does the fact that Jesus voluntarily gave His life for you affect the way you view your own worth and your security in Him?

• Prayer Prompt: Savior, thank You for choosing the cross for me. I am humbled by Your sacrifice and empowered by Your resurrection.

Day 5: A Divided Choice

• Scripture Reference: John 10:19-21

• Key Focus: Responding to the credentials of Jesus.

• Reflection: After hearing Jesus speak, the people were divided. Some were skeptical, but others recognized that His words and miracles were not the work of a demon. We face the same choice today. Those who accept Jesus by faith find eternal life and joy, while those who remain skeptical miss out on the peace of the Shepherd. Every person must eventually decide: Who is Jesus to me?

• Application Question: If you had to describe your relationship with Jesus right now, would you say you are a skeptic, a distant observer, or a dedicated follower?

• Prayer Prompt: Lord, I choose to believe in You. Help my unbelief and give me the courage to live as a true follower of the Good Shepherd every day.