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The Fine Shepherd and “This Fold” of HisThe Watchtower—1984 | February 15
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8. Who was the figurative doorkeeper of John 10:3, and how so?
8 John the Baptizer was the first one to recognize Jesus as the True Shepherd appointed by the Supreme Shepherd, Jehovah God. Jesus did not come to plunder the sheepfold but came on legitimate business. Honorably he could present himself as a spiritual Shepherd to the sheepfold of the nation of Israel. In line with the prophecy at Malachi 4:5 (compare Matthew 11:12-14; Luke 1:13-17), John had been assigned by the Supreme Shepherd to be the figurative “doorkeeper” of the Israelite sheepfold. (John 1:15, 17, 19-28; 10:3) John recognized the credentials of Jesus Christ as the Undershepherd of Jehovah God and was at once ready to admit him, to identify him as the foretold Messianic Shepherd who would call his sheep by name and lead them out to pasture.
9, 10. How did Jesus fit his own description of a shepherd, and how did Israelite shepherds deal with their sheep?
9 Jesus matched his own description of the True and Fine Shepherd, as stated in these words at John 10:1-5
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The Fine Shepherd and “This Fold” of HisThe Watchtower—1984 | February 15
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The doorkeeper opens to this one, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
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The Fine Shepherd and “This Fold” of HisThe Watchtower—1984 | February 15
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10 The shepherd in ancient Israel became very familiar with his sheep. He would have a general call peculiar to himself by means of which he would call all his sheep together to receive his personal attention. Furthermore, he gave an individual name to each one of his sheep. Obediently each sheep would respond when its individual name was called out. The sheep knew the caliber and timbre of the voice of their own shepherd and so would not respond to the voice of strangers.
11. How should we personally feel about Jesus’ role as a Shepherd?
11 Parallel to this, what a comfort it is to us to be assured that our spiritual Shepherd knows each one of us by name and can give us his personal care and attention!
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The Fine Shepherd and “This Fold” of HisThe Watchtower—1984 | February 15
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12. Who were the “strangers” that Jesus spoke of, and how was that the case?
12 Other Israelites who came and claimed to be the promised Messiah, or Christ, were the ones whom Jesus branded as strangers. They failed to be introduced as Jehovah’s Messianic Shepherd by his appointed “doorkeeper,” who was John, the one to whom Jesus himself came in order to be baptized. In this, Jesus made no mistake. (Matthew 3:1-7; Mark 1:1-7; Luke 3:1-9) It was for the purpose of protecting the people that Jesus now saw good to identify himself as the One whom Jehovah was sending to them as their spiritual Shepherd and to expose the fraudulent shepherds.
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