Reading Through John Devotionals – Week 10
See all Devotionals: https://graceforohio.org/category/reading-through-john-devotionals/
Day 64
John 10:1-10
This week we will be looking at Jesus’ words in John 10. Some things in life are a little more difficult but so worth the effort. One of those difficult things is to memorize God’s word. There is a powerful statement Jesus makes in this chapter, and what if we would spend time every day this week committing it to memory?
The verse is John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Read that verse a couple more times and try to grab ahold of the opening phrase… try to review this later on today.
Jesus speaks on a topic that is very familiar to the people – caring for sheep. Jesus was a master of telling stories and a genius at using everyday things to make his point. In these verses, Jesus sets the stage talking about a shepherd…let’s read these words, imagining hearing His voice as one gathered in the crowd that day.
10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
QUESTION FOR THE DAY:
Jesus said He came to give us a full life…do you have that? If not, what keeps you from experiencing the full life?
Day 65
John 10:1-14
Are you able to remember parts of John 10:10? Let’s read it through a few more times and try to get a handle on the two statements in the verse… the thief comes, and I have come. Keep reading it throughout the day and trying to commit it to memory.
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
As we read this passage again today, let the narrative draw you in. Imagine the sheep pen (and yes, the “farm fresh” air). Imagine how the sheep respond to the stranger and how they respond to the shepherd. Consider the difference between the shepherd and the hired hand as they care for the sheep.
10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.
QUESTION FOR THE DAY:
What does it mean to you that Jesus knows you and is willing to lay down His life for you?
Day 66
John 10:1-18
How is John 10:10 going for you? Are you able to recall it? Maybe some parts of it? Memorizing is a powerful way to help us grow in our faith. Psalm 1 gives us a great promise for those who meditate on God’s word – the psalmist says that the person who does this will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which bears fruit in season and whatever they do will prosper… wow, what a great promise! Let’s take advantage of this promise and review 10:10 again today
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Jesus makes several bold statements in the story he is telling to the Jewish leaders.
He calls himself the gate – the one who protects the sheep – the one who keeps all the predators and thieves out – the one who offers peace and eternal life inside the sheep pen.
Jesus also says that He is the good shepherd, stopping at nothing to protect His sheep and give them the best life possible…not only here on this earth, but also in heaven. Jesus said He was willing to lay His life down for the sheep – that is the action that distinguishes Jesus from the hired hand.
As you read today, investigate Jesus’ heart for his sheep, the love He has for you and the way He willingly lays down His life for you.
QUESTION FOR THE DAY: How does knowing that Jesus willingly laid down His life for you help you to love others?
Day 67
John 10:19-25
We think we live in a divided world today. The Republicans claiming the Democrats have caused problems in the government, while at the same time the Democrats say the same thing about those on the opposite side of the aisle…often we shake our head at the division that has occurred.
This same kind of division occurred around Jesus’ teaching. Some of the Jewish leaders thought Jesus had a demon while others didn’t think that was the case.
They finally ask Jesus to tell them plainly if He is the Messiah. Jesus simply answered that He has already told them but they just don’t believe.
Before you read from John 10….take a moment and review John 10:10
“10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,
QUESTION FOR THE DAY:
Jesus prayer for us in John 17 was that we (His followers) would be one. In this world, are you helping to heal the division or stirring up more division?
Day 68
John 10:25-32
We have been working on memorizing John 10:10. If you have taken up the challenge and it has gone well for you, how about adding another verse. Take a look at John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
Let’s go through the same process with this one and keep reviewing John 10:10 as well.
In todays reading, Jesus makes an incredible claim – He says that He and God are one, that Jesus is able to give people eternal life, that those who accept Jesus won’t perish and that no one can take them out of His Hand.
Jesus not only claims with clarity that He is God, but that those who believe in Him are eternally secure. Peter echoes these words in I Peter 1:3,4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you!
What a gift and what a promise we have from Jesus!
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
QUESTION FOR THE DAY:
What does it mean to you that our salvation is secure and our eternal inheritance can never perish, spoil or fade?
Day 69
John 10:31-39
There is a difference between saying something and what you’ve said being heard. There was a man who thought his wife was losing her hearing so one day he tried an experiment. He started 30 feet away from behind her and whispered “What’s for dinner?” No answer, so from 15 feet away he asked the same question …no answer and he was beginning to believe his theory to be correct. Finally, from 3 feet away he whispered the question, which he thought would be the proof of his assumption. His wife; however, turned around and said with frustration, “For the third time, we are having lasagna!”
Jesus wasn’t being asked about dinner in this passage, but the Jews had been asking Him who He was. If there was ever a doubt that the religious leaders understood His words, these verses put that doubt to rest. The Jews clearly understood His claim to be God and were picking up stones to kill Jesus, which was the punishment for blasphemy – claiming to be God.
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 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 in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
QUESTION FOR THE DAY:
People will often say that Jesus never said He was God…what does this passage tell you about Jesus’ claim to be God?
Day 70
John 10:34-42
If you took the challenge to memorize John 10:9,10 – how is it going? Please don’t give up. Sometimes it takes a little while for our brains to remember. Keep at it and keep reviewing those verses…If you review them daily for 30 days, and then weekly, you will have a really good shot at remembering them for life.
In today’s passage, Jesus makes a comment that made sense to the religious leaders of His day but for most of us in 2025 comes out of nowhere. Jesus is defending His claim to be the son of God by referencing Psalm 82:6 which reads:
“I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’
But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.”
The Psalmist said that the judges of Israel are called “gods” – essentially arguing that if these human judges were called gods in scripture, then Jesus, as the Son of God, enjoyed a special relationship with God himself. Jesus was also saying that the Jewish leaders are being hypocritical by accusing him of blasphemy while accepting this interpretation of Psalm 82:6.
Jesus goes on to say that even if the Jews don’t believe Jesus, they should believe the works He has done and that would then lead to belief in Jesus. And once again, the frustrated Jews tried to capture Jesus. Despite all the drama, we see many people putting their faith in Jesus.
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 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 in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
See all Devotionals: https://graceforohio.org/category/reading-through-john-devotionals/