John 10:11, I AM the Good Shepherd

I AM the GOOD SHEPHERD, John 10:11

In HIS fourth “I Am” statement here in v. 11 “I am the good shepherd”

Our Lord’s goodness was inherent in His nature.

• Good: “kal-os”: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable

• The Lord is Good (Nahum 1:7).

• Only one is good (Mark 10:17-18). This reveals the deity of Christ.

Three New Testament titles for Christ the Shepherd

1. The Good Shepherd (John 10:11)

2. The Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20)

3. The Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)

1. The Good Shepherd cares for His Sheep

a. He speaks to His sheep (v. 3)

b. He knows His sheep by name (v. 3)

c. He leads His sheep (v. 3)

d. He goes before His sheep (v. 4)

e. He protects His sheep (v. 12)

f. He stays with His sheep (v. 13)

g. He gives His sheep eternal life (vv. 27-29)

2. The Good Shepherd dies for His sheep (vv. 11-13)

Jesus contrasts Himself to the false shepherds whom He has called “thieves and robbers," and now He calls them “Hirelings.”

a. Let’s look at the “Hireling”

• The Hireling is a coward (v. 12) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep,

The Hireling is cruel “and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.”

• The Hireling’s concern (v. 13) “The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.”

b. Let’s look at the Shepherd

5 times here in Chapter 10 Jesus speaks of the sacrificial death of the shepherd.

v. 11 “giveth his life for the sheep”

v. 15 “I lay down my life for the sheep”

v. 17 “I lay down my life”

v. 18 “I lay it down of myself.” “I have power to lay it down.”

Isaiah 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

3. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep (vv. 14-15)

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep”

Jesus claims omniscience: “He is all-knowing.”

He is a faithful Shepherd. Think of Psalm 23.

“Know and Known” are more than book smarts or intellectual knowledge (ginōskō).

Here it means “to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.”

4. The Good Shepherd and His flock (v. 16). He gathers His flock.

The Gospel Message, John 3:16

“There shall be one-fold “the Church” and one shepherd “Christ”

Romans 10:12-13

5. The Good Shepherd and His Resurrection (vv. 17-18)

Acts 2:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:15; John 19:30; Philippians 2:8; I Corinthians 15:1-4.

6. The Good Shepherd and His Gift (vv. 28-29)

Eternal life and security