John 10 – The Listening Plan

Devotional

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am …

– John 10:7

The Gospel of John is largely built around the great “I am” statements of Jesus. There are seven of them in this great book. Two of them are found here in John 10 (“I am the door” and “I am the Good Shepherd”). But the words “I am” appear 5 times in John 10.

I am the door of the sheep (John 10:7)
I am the door (John 10:9)
I am the good shepherd (John 10:11)
I am the good shepherd (John 10:14)
I am the Son of God (John 10:36)

These are seriously audacious statements from Jesus. Some may say, “I think Jesus was a good man,” or “I believe Jesus to be a good teacher.” Those who do are confronted with the C.S. Lewis’s trilemma. Either Jesus is divine (Lord), or else He was evil (a liar), or He was outright deluded (a lunatic). But just a good man, or a good teacher? I agree with Lewis, those options aren’t available.