Text: John 10:6-10

Title: Make It Plain

Introduction: A person with a bad understanding can be dangerous.  A person with a bad understanding is hard to reason with.  Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”  Jesus’ goal was, and my purpose in the sermon today is, to make plain a truth about who the authentic leader was.  I don’t want anyone to leave today not clear, not sure of what Jesus can be to him or her.  I want to make it plain that Jesus is the only way to life…and there is no other.

To really get a clear understanding of the text today one must reflect back on the previous chapter and story about a man who was blind from birth.  After he received his sight he was eventually cast out by religious leaders because he did not refute the man who healed him as being God.  So, since his disciples, religious leaders and others were there begin to speak a parable to them regarding those religious leaders’ doctrines.  In verses 1-5 of chapter 10 he told the parable.  But, it is evident in verses 6-7b that he had to make it plain.  In the New Living Translation of the Bible these verses say, “Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them…”He made it plain.

I.                   The Persons (7b-9a)

·        Who He Is…the Door…Access into the Sheepfold

·        Who Others Were…Thieves and Robbers…they bypass the Door

II.                The Promise (9b)

·        How many know that the Bible is full of promises?

a.       “My God shall supply all your needs…” (Phil. 4:19)

b.      “For God so loved…” (Jn. 3:16)

c.      “He giveth power to the faint, and them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young me shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount upon wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40:29-31)

d.      (Thank you Sister Jessie Neal!) “Lift up your heads O ye gates, and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.  Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.” (Ps. 24:7-10)

·        If you enter in through the door, which is Christ, you shall be saved!  No other way. (cp. Jn.14:6)

III.             The Purposes (10)

·        The Thief

a.       Comes from one place to another…

b.      He’s an embezzler; false teachers; he comes to take away, to subtract

c.      Steal – commit a theft…take something that does not belong to him

d.      Kill – to sacrifice to his own selfish end; literally to use.  The enemy wants to use you.

e.      Destroy – put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin; render useless.

·        “I am” – The Door

a.       “…that they may have”; add to, multiply, increase

b.      Life – state of one who is possessed of vitality & vigor… “I am the way, the truth and the life…”

c.      Abundantly – more than is necessary; surpassing. (cp. Eph. 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…”, “Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9)

Conclusion – I am (the door, shepherd, way, truth, life, bread of life, resurrection and the life…)

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