John 10 is one of the great chapters of the Bible. It presents the Lord Jesus Christ as the Shepherd in a fivefold light: He is the true Shepherd (vv. 1-6); the good Shepherd (vv. 7-11); the only Shepherd (vv. 12-16); the obedient Shepherd (vv. 19-42). Still further, as the Head of the Church, He is not only the good Shepherd but also the great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) and the chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4).
The words of John 10:16 serve as the key to the entire chapter. The Lord Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” It should be noted that the word for “fold” is everywhere else in the New Testament translated “flock,” as it should be at the close of verse 16.
At the beginning of verse 16 an entirely different word is used which is correctly rendered “fold”–“other sheep I have which are not of this fold.”
The Saviour came into the world especially on behalf of Israel, but in this text He spoke of “other sheep.” These “other sheep” were the Gentiles who would believe on Him. They were not of Israel’s fold, but His heart of love embraced them as well. The Lord spoke these words in anticipation of the Church, wherein believing Jews and Gentiles would become one flock with Christ as the Shepherd over the flock.
Referring to John 10:16, Harry A. Ironside commented, “You see, Judaism was a fold, a circumference without a center, but Christianity is a flock, where we have a center without a circumference. We have no wall about us, but we are gathered about Him, our Good Shepherd.”1
There is a deep practical lesson in the word “other” which tells us of our Saviour’s love. In a deserted place near Capernaum the people virtually pleaded with the Lord to stay, but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent” (Lk. 4:43). Here in John 10:16, He spoke of “other sheep,” while in Matthew 27:42 the chief priests indeed spoke the truth when they mockingly said of Christ on the cross, “He saved others.”
Guy H. King tells of Sir Bartle Frere who was returning home from India. He was to be met at the railway station by a newly hired footman who asked how he would recognize Sir Bartle. His aged mother said, “Look out for somebody helping someone else.” Sure enough, when the London train had drawn in, the footman observed a gentleman assisting an elderly lady to the platform and then jumping back into the railway car to fetch her luggage. Going right to him, the footman enquired, “Sir Bartle?” Yes, it was he. What a delightful reputation to have, and how like our Lord! 2
To think that Jesus died for me
Upon the Cross of Calvary
Should move my selfish heart to pray,
For others, Lord, I’ll live each day.
As a result of Christ’s “otherness,” the middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles has been broken down. Through faith in Christ we are one flock, one new man, and one body (Jn. 10:16; Eph. 2:14-18).
ENDNOTES:
1 H. A. Ironside, Addresses on the Gospel of John, p. 424
2 Guy H. King, Joy Way, pp. 70-71