Sometimes the simplistic read it and pray over it approach is so much more appealing!
OK, so now, having looked at a couple of adequately reputable commentaries I am more, not less, puzzled on how to proceed!
It seems that we begin with one sheepfold and many flocks (John 10: 1-6) since the only reason for the gatekeeper to be present is if this is some kind of communal fold in which various flocks can be accommodated when it is unsafe for them to be out at night. The shepherd comes along, is recognised by the gatekeeper, calls the sheep and leads them out to the pleasures and perils of open pasture.
Next we have one sheepfold with one flock (John 10: 7 - 13 or thereabouts) where the shepherd acts as the gatekeeper or even the gate to protect the sheep of their own flock. There may be hired helpers but they are not committed to this flock and will run away when danger comes.
Lastly we have one flock and many sheepfolds (John 10: 14-ish - 16-ish). Now I am well confused! I can get my head around the other two images but this one is more tricky. Are all the sheep to be gathered into one pen - and if so who will guard it while the shepherd is out gathering? Or is the flock just too big to fit into one pen and so the shepherd has to take them all out and gather them all on the hillside? I understand the metaphor as alluding to the Nations (Gentiles) but it gets more than a tad confusing to set alongside the others.
Was the writer of John just infinitely cleverer than I am or this actually a very tricky passage to decipher? It feels like one step forward and two back at the moment as I try to build a coherent picture of a good shepherd. Maybe Andy is right (see coment on last post) - this shepherd is naughty, not playing by the rules at all. As for me, I'm just confused.
Comments
In his book God's Companions, Sam Wells describes how he brought the themes of Ps 23, Luke 15 and John 10 together in an exercise of godly play and wondering. It may gives some lines of thought. Here's some of what he says:
Bring together themes from Ps 23, Luke 15, John 10, the presentation displayed the safe sheepfold, the good pasture, the refreshing water, and the places of danger where a sheep could get lost. The members of the congregation shared their experience of the church and the neighbourhood and whether each felt safe, good, refreshing, or dangerous ... I wonder what it was like for the 99 sheep when the shepherd left them on their own; i wonder whether the shepherd ever gets bored of looking after the sheep; i wonder whether all the sheep recognize what the shepherd does for them; i wonder whether sometimes it is good for the sheep to go through places of danger sometimes; i wonder if there is anything the shepherd can do to make the valley of the shadow less dangerous; i wonder what the shepherd would do if more sheep arrived; i wonder whether there is good enough pasture for all the sheep; i wonder how the water stays fresh; i wonder what the sheep talk to each other about ...
I think you have to treat them as different images, not one continuous illustration with a single interpretive key.
Is Jesus the shepherd or the gate? Who is the doorkeeper? Does it matter? John's doing his usual trick of creating confusion as a prelude to enlightenment - if you get it, you do. If you hear his voice, you recognise it. The whole debate with the Jews in this passage is built around this theme of in-out (shake it all about?).
What a naughty shepherd!