In the book of John, chapter 10, is Jesus' discourse the Good Shepherd...

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

--John 10:1-5

Here we have 4 different persons: The Robber/Thief, The Shepherd, The Porter, and the Sheep (the Stranger is synonymous with the Robber/Thief). I have often heard this parable described as an admonishment to those who would try to come to God by any other way but Jesus, but this is not the case. The focus in this passage is not the Sheep [or the wannabe sheep], but rather, the Shepherd and the Robber/Thief.

The sheepfold is the state of continuing sanctification into the body of what the New Testament calls 'the Church', the Bride of Christ. It only makes sense that if Jesus is the Lamb of God that His Bride would be referred to as 'Sheep'. The Door in this passage, however, is the most significant element. Anyone who doesn't enter in by the door is a thief and robber... and NOT the shepherd. So, who is the shepherd? He who enters in by the Door.

So what is the door? The door is the sum total of prophecy and conditions that a man must meet to BE the shepherd. The door could be said to be the Virgin Birth. It could be said to be the Virgin Birth in the town of Bethlehem. It could be said to be that this Virgin Birth would not only occur in the town of Bethlehem, the City of David, but would also be 'a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch [that should] grow out of his roots' [Isaiah 11:1]. Anyone coming in by any other way is not the Shepherd, but a robber and a thief, and the sheep will not hear his voice.

The Jews were well aware of the prophecies surrounding the coming of Messiah. They even understood the time in which he would come, via the prophet Daniel. The people of Mary and Joseph's day knew the prophecy of the Messiah was close to fulfillment. Many understood this but many probably didn't really believe-- much like today --and those who DID believe were looking for a King, not a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger. But the point is, Jesus is the Shepherd, and the Porter is the Holy Ghost who overshadowed Mary and allowed her to conceive the holy son of God-- God in human form.

But Jesus' disciples didn't understand this parable, so He expounded upon it and added to it...

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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.

--John 10:6-16

All that ever came before Him were theives and robbers, the same is also true of all those who came after Him. By fulfilling the requirements for the birth of Messiah, Jesus becomes the door. He Himself said as much; "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" [John 14:6]. Whereas the Holy Ghost was the door by which Jesus came into the world, So too now is Jesus the Door by which we now come unto eternal life. And "...there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" [Acts 4:12].

The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep, but not the hireling; not the Robber/Thief. This then is what separates Jesus from all other pretenders: His sacrifice, in God's own blood [Acts 20:28], for the lives of His sheep.

But then Jesus says something that makes me wonder if His disciples truly understood... "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" [John 10:16].

OTHER sheep, not of THIS fold.

Now, the Mormons take this verse and base their entire acceptance of Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon-- a false testament if ever there was one --wherein is taught that Jesus came to the America's to preach to "other" sheep. But this is pure fantasy; A myth, and a fable. Looking back at Peter's vision in Acts 10, it is clear that Jesus gave His disciples the word that Gentiles would also be added to the fold; or rather, the Church. It's obvious that they didn't catch on, because Peter had to see the Holy Ghost falling upon the heads of Cornelius and his household and hear them all speaking with tongues and magnifying God, for it all to sink in.

Even when Jesus was working primarily for the benefit of the Jewish people in terms of witnessing and performing miracles, he was thinking about us as well; those of us who are Gentile born. If that's not something to be thankful for this Christmas holiday, I can't imagine what is.