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SubjectFree lesson

Jesus teaching about himself

ClassNotes Team 4 MIN READUPDATED 16 JUN 2026

Christian Religious Studies SSS 1 First Term

Week 1

Topic: Jesus’ teaching about himself

Performance objectives

The student should be able to:   

1. Discuss the qualities of a good shepherd

2. Explain the significance of Jesus as the door and lamb

Content  

Jesus as the lamb, the door, and good shepherd (John1:29-34, John10:1-8)

Jesus as the Lamb (John1:29-34)

As John the Baptist was Baptizing people at river Jordan, Jesus came to him to be baptized. John later identified him and said, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. John as a forerunner of Christ had given the true position of Jesus as the messiah but he himself could not identify him physically. John was baptizing with water so that Jesus Christ might be revealed to Israel, but when Christ came to him, John saw the spirit in Jesus and said:

“I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him, I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, he on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he, who baptizes with the holy spirit. And I have seen and have bore witness that this is the son of God” (John 1:32-34)

Jesus as the door and good shepherd (John10:1-8)

Jesus explained himself as the door or sheepfold:

“All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them, I am the door, if anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”

Thus, Jesus described himself as the door and concludes that anyone that enters by him at any time will be saved. He went further to outline the qualities of a good shepherd and said he was the good shepherd for he would lay down his life for the sheep in his own accord and would take it back.

Significance of Jesus as the door and lamb

1. By Jesus saying He was the door, he showed that he was the only way to salvation

2. By saying He laid down his life, he was referring to his death on the cross; this was the single sacrifice he had to make for the salvation of man.

Jesus as the light of the world (John 3:19; 8:12; 9:4-5; 12:35-36; 1 John 1:5-7)

There are at least three instances in the book of John where Jesus referred to himself as the light of the world. After his encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus said:

“And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evils. For anyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God” 

Again, when Jesus had discharged the woman caught in adultery, he spoke to the people saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of light.”

Significance of Jesus as the light of the word

Jesus as the light of the world means that his way of life is perfect and he is perfect and he is perfectly situated in the right hand of God. The light he brought to the world is the gospel of the kingdom of God which people must embrace to be saved and to inherit eternal life. Anyone who does not embrace the gospel is in darkness and will not inherit eternal life.