Christ Our Shepherd

The kind of relationship Jesus desires to have with his people is one that is familiar, personal and leads to abundant life. Jesus described himself as “the Good Shepherd” calling into our minds Psalm 23 and the promise of God to lead his people to green pastures, still waters and rest. In John 10 Jesus basically said, “I am the God of Psalm 23” in your midst to lead you to life. The problem though is that there were competing voices and Jesus used strong language and called them thieves and robbers who want to steal the sheep. He also pointed out that others are hired hands who take off at the first sign of danger. Disciples of Jesus should consider the question: “who are you following?” We all follow someone or something, and it is not just that somethings are better than others. Rather, whether you follow the Good Shepherd is matter of life and death. Jesus is the Good Shepherd with infinite and intimate knowledge of his sheep, he leads them to life, by laying down his own.

Infinite and Intimate Knowledge (v 1-6)

John 10:1–6 ““Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.”

SHEPHERD (רעה, r'h; ποιμήν, poimēn)

This teaching from Jesus is a continuation of the end of John 9. Jesus had just healed a man born blind but the religious leaders of the day call Jesus a sinner because he healed the man on their day of rest and worship, the Sabbath (John 9:41, 10:20-21). Jesus sets himself up as the one who truly knows and cares for his people, unlike the religious leaders of the day who used the people for their own gain. Jesus is contrasting the way he shepherds with the bad shepherds currently plaguing Israel. Jesus enters the sheepfold with proper authority as the caring shepherd unlike the religious leaders whom he portrays as thieves and robbers (10:1-2). The sheep recognize him and follow him because they know his voice and he knows them by name and he leads them. We cannot take it for granted, the kind of knowledge Jesus has for his sheep is infinite and intimate. A follower of Jesus recognizes his voice and is led by his tender care in relationship. In the ancient near east the shepherd would lead the sheep out to green pastures and water, and then bring them back each night to a protected space called a “sheepfold” that was filled with sheep from various shepherds all mixed together. We’d view this as a problem in our modern world, how would we know which sheep were ours? But in the ancient near east, shepherds used to lead from out front (instead of driving the flock) and they led by calling the names of their sheep. This highlights this relationship built on knowledge and care that Jesus has with his sheep, it is personal and full of love.

They don’t become his sheep because they follow him. They follow him because they are his sheep. The Shepherd, not the sheep, takes the initiative.

Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 215. Followers of Jesus are characterized as listening to his voice. This is incredibly important for us to consider since we live in a time and place filled with many voices trying pinging our phones and devices offering us insights into how to live the good life. It is fine to read widely and look at varying competing sources of info, but we must always come back to “what does the Good Shepherd say?” Jesus’ sheep are eager to hear his voice and to follow where he leads.

Leading to Life (v 7-11)

John 10:7-11 Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd, but the he is also the door to the sheepfold (John 10:8). Sheep would exit through the door to find green pasture and water, but come back in for safety and protection. Jesus gives the invitation to enter through the door to be saved (John 10:9). The pasture that Jesus leads his sheep toward is abundant life. This calls to mind imagery from Psalm 23 where David said that his “cup overflows.” Many in our world today imagine that following Jesus is stifling and harsh. We may think about the things we would need to give up or what he would restrict us from doing. But, this shepherd leads to abundant life, his commandments help us to live in a way that is not only pleasing to him, but joyful for us. The salvation he describes in John 10:9-10 is one that is marked by reconciliation with God through the forgiveness of sin and an eternal life that begins in the here and now and extends on through eternity where we can know and be known by God. Jesus will never lead us to places that rob us of life or end in our ultimate harm. He may lead us through some valleys of the shadow of death, but even then he is with us and the Psalm ends with the promise that the Shepherd pursues his sheep with goodness and mercy all the days of his life (Psalm 23:4, 7). This is the heart of God for his people.

By Laying Down His Own (v 12-21)

John 10:12-21 The Good Shepherd warns of danger and rivals. Jesus warns against the thief and the hired hand. He wanted the religious leaders and the crowds to know that he viewed the Pharisees as thieves and robbers. When it came down to it, the Pharisees would rather seen the man stay blind than have him be healed on the Sabbath. They did not care about life and wholeness of the people. There are people and things we give our lives to at times that are clearly thieves, they rob us of life instead of leading us towards God and godliness. Things like addictions, overt sin and voices that are anti-Christian that we can fill our minds with. Many of us know the thief as a thief, but the second danger is much more difficult to recognize. Jesus warns his people of the hired hand, who looks like they’re caring for the sheep, but at the first sign of danger they run and the sheep scatter. They “care nothing” for the sheep (John 10:12-13). These are things we think give us life, but really they care nothing for us.

Ezekiel 34:11-16

English Standard Version (Chapter 34)

11 “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Perhaps the most disturbing element of the parable in John 10 is the central place of sacrifice. The greatest act of the Good Shepherd—the one that brought to culmination his life of service—was submitting like a lamb to slaughter. The Good Shepherd was, all along, the Lamb of God.

What makes Jesus infinitely better? Four times in our text we’re told that Jesus laid down his life willingly, so that the sheep can have life (John 10:11, 15, 17, 18). Jesus’ shepherding and leadership are characterized by sacrificial love. When the wolf comes, Jesus gets between the wolf and the sheep to preserve and protect life. On the cross Jesus defeated the wolf of sin and death by laying down his life so that his sheep can be led to green pastures and salvation.

If Jesus is the Good Shepherd, then what you need to do is simple: follow Jesus. Don’t look elsewhere. Don’t wander away. Recognize that in him we have everything we would ever need. When we’re tired, he brings us to rest in green pastures. When we’re thirsty, he guides us to the refreshing spring. When we’re uncertain, he leads us on the paths of righteousness. When we’re afraid, he comforts us with his presence. Follow the good shepherd. As you follow him, goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life, and on his timetable he will lead you to his house where you will dwell with him forever.

Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 219. Who are you following and where are you looking for life? Does it truly care about you and know you like our  Good Shepherd? If not, why would you devote time and energy to it? Jesus’ invitation is to follow him towards abundant life and rest, because he knows and cares for you more than you can possibly imagine.

Isaiah 1:18 ESV

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Romans 10:3 ESV

For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Colossians 3:16 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.