John 10: The Shepherd’s Voice in a Noisy World

“The average person views Christianity as a set of chains—something that restricts and constrains. But Jesus, in contrast, brings not limitation but abundant, eternal life.” — Martin Loyd-Jones.

1. The Good Shepherd… John 10:1-6

““Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.” John‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭

In John 10, Jesus paints the picture of Himself as the Good Shepherd.

Yet His disciples, like us, often missed the depth of His words. They heard Him speak, but they didn’t always listen.

That is the tension of the Christian life.

We have the details laid before us in Scripture, yet we so easily veer off course because we are distracted by other voices.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Loyal, trustworthy, and steadfast.

He does not take from us, but adds to us.

He lays down His life so that we might truly live. His voice is not manipulative or self-serving; it is the voice of love, truth, and integrity.

But the reality is, not everyone recognizes that voice. Some are too busy listening to the noise of culture, of self, of temporary desires.

They mistake the thief for the Shepherd. They confuse fleeting promises for eternal ones.

The call of John 10 is clear: Jesus’ sheep know His voice, and they follow Him.

To be His disciple is not simply to admire Him from a distance, but to draw near, to listen deeply, and to trust that His way leads to life, life abundantly.

2. The Sheperds Door… John 10:7-21

“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬-‭18‬

Jesus leaves no room for misunderstanding: “I am the door.” There is no other entrance into God’s flock.

The sheep who enter by Him find salvation, protection, and true pasture.

In a world full of thieves and robbers, voices that promise life but lead to emptiness.

Jesus promises life, and not just life, but abundant life.

As brother Lloyd-Jones said, people think Christianity limits life, but it is Christ who actually frees and fills it.

Jesus is not a hired hand, indifferent to the fate of the sheep. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for them.

Here is the staggering difference between self-serving leaders and Christ.

He gives, He suffers, He protects. This is the gospel: salvation comes not through our striving but through His sacrifice.

Jesus knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him.

And the flock is larger than the disciples could imagine.

His mission stretches beyond Israel to “other sheep,” bringing one flock under one Shepherd.

The unity of believers across every tribe and nation flows from His voice.

The cross was not a tragedy of fate, but an act of divine authority.

Jesus lays down His life willingly, and by the same authority He takes it up again.

The Father’s love rests upon this obedience. Resurrection was not an afterthought, it was always part of the Shepherd’s mission.

And just like today, His words divided the people. (verses 19-22)

Some dismissed Him as mad or demon-possessed. Others heard and believed.

3. The Shepherds Voice… John 10:22-30

“So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”” John‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭30‬ ‭

The crowds press Jesus, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Yet He had already told them, not only in words but in works.

The problem wasn’t lack of clarity but lack of belief. The Shepherd’s voice had spoken, but they refused to listen.

Jesus makes the dividing line clear: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

His voice is not just noise; it is lovely, true, and faithful.

It cuts through the distractions of life and directs us home.

His sheep know the difference between the voice of a thief and the voice of their Master.

This is the security of belonging to Christ: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

The Shepherd holds His flock with a grip that cannot be broken. Our salvation rests not in our strength but in His.

And then Jesus declares the unthinkable: “I and the Father are one.”

This is no mere teacher or prophet, but God Himself. Eternal, mighty, and awesome.

Just as Deuteronomy 6:4 proclaims, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one,” Jesus stands as the living fulfillment.

The Shepherd is the Lord.

Those who have a master know their master’s voice.

Those who belong to Christ cannot mistake His call.

4. The Call To Believe… John 10:31-42

“The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”” John‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬-‭38‬

The crowd picks up stones to kill Him. Why?

Not because of His good works, but because of His claim: “You, being a man, make yourself God.”

Yet this is the very heart of the gospel, that the eternal Son took on flesh, consecrated and sent by the Father to bring salvation.

Jesus points them back to Scripture itself: “The Scripture cannot be broken.”

If they will not accept His words, then let them at least consider His works.

The blind now see. The lame now walk. The dead rise.

These are not random acts of power, but signs revealing the Father’s presence in the Son: “that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

The same call comes to us today.

How could we deny His wonders?

How could we ignore the miracle of the resurrection?

Jesus, who said He was God, proved it by raising Himself to life again!

Who wouldn’t follow Him?

Only those who love their sin more than His light.

But for those who listen, believe, and follow. His voice is life, His hand is secure, and His flock is forever.

The Shepherd’s voice still cuts through the noise, and the question remains the same: Which voice are we listening to?