Session 57: John 10

Key Points:
Jesus uses the “I am the Good Shepard“ analogy because sheep are not very bright and easily stray, like us.
We must listen for His voice.  The “sheepfold” (v.1) is the Catholic Church.
(It is no coincidence that Jesus tells Peter in John 21:15-17 to “Feed My Sheep!)

There is to be ONE shepherd and ONE flock (v.16), not 35,000 different flocks.
(Denominations.)

v. 22 The Feast of the Dedication is Hanukkah, the reason for which, in the Bible, is only described in 1st and 2nd Maccabees, 2 books that are not even found in most protestant Bibles.  (Luther didn’t like what 2 Maccabees 12 suggests about the existence of Purgatory, so he removed these books, and others, that had not been disputed for over 1100 years!) 

V.28-29 These verses do NOT mean “Once saved, always saved”,  in the protestant sense.  True, no one can take you from God’s hand, not even Satan, but you can take YOURSELF from God’s hand; you must persevere.  (See Mt. 24:13)