[This year, I am blessed to welcome a group of friends to gather around my table once a month to study “WHO JESUS IS” (NavPress, 2022), an in-depth look at the “I AM” statements of the LORD JESUS recorded in John’s gospel.

I pray this new series of monthly reflections from our discussions will be a blessing and encouragement that reaches far beyond our kitchen table.]

𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝘯𝘰. 𝟺): ⁣⁣⁣⁣
𝘞𝘏𝘖 𝘑𝘌𝘚𝘜𝘚 𝘐𝘚 – 𝘐 𝘈𝘔 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘥

As we have done each month through this study, it is good to consider what we know about shepherds that might help us to fully appreciate what JESUS was saying about Himself when He declared “I AM the Good Shepherd”.  

The dictionary highlights several interesting thoughts:

• noun: a person who tends or rears sheep
• verb: to guide, direct, steer, lead, accompany, attend, carefully manage, watch for enemies who might attack, defend, rescue, tend to the sick, carry, feed

Additional thoughts arise from a few references to shepherds in the Bible:  

• from Psalm 23 – – Our Shepherd leads us to green pastures and refreshing waters, guides us in right paths, protects us from danger, comforts us in darkness, welcomes us to His table, and provides for us a forever home with Him.
• from John 10 – – The Good Shepherd is self-sacrificing, knows His sheep, is known by them, wants what is best for them, and lives in close proximity to them; they know His voice; He purposes to bring the sheep abundant life.
• Although shepherds were despised in certain cultures, the picture of a shepherd is presented in a positive light in the Bible. Several patriarchs were shepherds (for example: Abraham, Jacob, and Moses); several women were also shepherdesses (Rachel, Leah, Rebekah, and Moses’ wife Zipporah).  On the night the LORD JESUS was born, angels appeared to shepherds.
• From Revelation 7:17 – – For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.  And GOD will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

 . . .

How did these thoughts and images frame our study of JESUS as the Good Shepherd in John 10:11-21?  Our little discussion group shared several touching insights about this passage:

OWNERSHIP

To begin our study, a striking contrast was highlighted – between a good shepherd and a hired hand.  While the latter is not concerned for the sheep, neglects them and leaves them vulnerable, running from danger in order to protect himself, a good shepherd is fully invested!  

A devoted, responsible shepherd knows his sheep and is known by them.  He takes full ownership of the sheep, calls them by name and they respond to his caring, comforting voice.  A good shepherd will never abandon his flock.  His sheep belong to him and he takes full responsibility for meeting their needs and keeping them safe from harm. 

“The lot in life of any particular sheep depended on the type of man who owned it.  Some men were gentle, kind, intelligent, brave, and selfless in their devotion to their stock.  Under one man sheep would struggle, starve, and suffer endless hardship.  In another’s care they would flourish and thrive contentedly.”  (W. Phillip Keller – A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23)

JESUS declares that He is the Good Shepherd.  Not simply a good shepherd, but the Good Shepherd.  His shepherding is of the highest standard; no other can compare!  He says that He came to lay down His life for the sheep – His flesh given for the life of the world (John 6:51).  

Our Shepherd gave His life to provide life for us, His sheep.  It is so touching to notice the motivation He specifies – “for the sheep.”  As much as His sacrifice was in obedience to the Father, as much as it glorified the Father and the Son, JESUS laid down His life for the good of His sheep.

The Father’s driving force since before time began has always been redemption.  Our Good Shepherd gave His life to redeem ours – to restore rightful ownership to our Creator GOD.  He now claims us as His own and continues to go to great lengths to care for us.

. . .

RELATIONSHIP

Just as JESUS knows, loves, and obeys the Father, and is known, loved, and guided by the Father, He knows, loves, and guides the sheep and they know, love, and obey Him.  As our Good Shepherd, JESUS is not offering a relationship He does not experience and treasure personally.  What He values and responds to in His own relationship with the Father He now extends to His sheep.  What He has enjoyed with the Father can be fully known and enjoyed by His sheep.

The Father’s care, reflected in the Good Sheperd’s care, is attentive and thorough.  He is always present, in a close relationship with the sheep.  This arrangement is not 50/50.  It is always the Shepherd who does the caring, carrying, and providing – never the opposite.  The Shepherd sees and knows what the sheep do not. He has the ability and power to provide and protect in ways the sheep never could do for themselves.  

Our Navigators study also shared these details: “In JESUS’ day, shepherds often faced danger – they were charged with protecting the sheep from wild animals and thieves.  But in John 10, JESUS goes far beyond the usual standards of a shepherd’s protection: He says that as the Good Shepherd, He lays down His own life to save His sheep.”

In our last study, we saw JESUS as the Gate for the sheep, literally placing Himself as a physical barrier to shield His sheep from attack or danger.  Digging deeper into the demands of a shepherd’s life, we saw how a good shepherd lays down his life on a daily basis.  

A devoted shepherd makes living sacrifices at every turn, with an unwavering commitment to hard, unsavory labor: cultivating grazing crops on his home ranch, scouting out and preparing mountain paths and plateau clearings for summer treks, hunting down predators or removing contaminants from water sources, rescuing hurt or lost sheep, carefully monitoring them for the smallest indication of unrest or disease or parasite infestation, and more!  

This is the level of the Father’s care reflected in our Good Shepherd’s care for us.  The cross proved that He is willing and able go to any length, at any cost to Himself, to provide for us, to position us where we can truly thrive!

As deeply intimate as the Good Shepherd’s relationship grows with each of His sheep, it is not exclusive.  JESUS stated in John 10 that He has other sheep not yet brought into His fold.  He promises to bring them in, that they will hear His voice and join the others in one flock (John 10:16).  

We can be sure He will tirelessly pursue these other sheep, to win their hearts and draw them near.  Although we are created uniquely and individually, with differing backgrounds, nationalities, and life experiences, it has always been our Good Shepherd’s plan and purpose to bring all of His sheep into one fold with One Shepherd, in the beauty of harmony and unity.

 . . .

RESURRECTION POWER

A few questions in our study expanded our discussion about the Good Shepherd who came to lay down His life for His sheep.  JESUS’ greatest act in doing so was at the cross of Calvary – He gave up His life, shed His blood, and commended His spirit into the Father’s hands to save us from the power and penalty of sin.  

No one forced JESUS to fulfill the will of the Father in this plan of redemption.  The Father gave authority to the Son to lay down His own life.  JESUS stepped forward willingly.  He allowed Himself to be bound, to be falsely accused, to be sentenced, to be crucified, to bare the wrath of Almighty GOD against our sin, to die, and to be buried.  By His death, we are set free; by His wounds, we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Praise GOD there is more to the story!  The Father also gave the Son the authority to take His life up again.  JESUS died a real, physical death.  His body was prepared for burial and laid in a tomb, which was sealed with a massive stone and guarded by Roman officials.  On the third day, the stone was rolled away to show that He was no longer there, just as He had said.  The wrappings from His body remained, but JESUS was no longer in the tomb.  He was no longer dead.  He was alive – raised to die no more!

Why is JESUS’ resurrection so important?  A few scripture passages offer a few answers:

[JESUS said] Because I live, you will live also. (John 14:19)  … He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.  Just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another Man.  Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, NLT)

The unavoidable result of sin is death.  This is a sobering reality.  Our Savior bled and died to pay our sin debt. He also entered death to conquer it.  Resurrection power would not be realized if He had not overcome death.  

Because of His endless life, death is not final!  When JESUS declared, “it is finished!” from the cross, He triumphantly declared: the debt is paid in full, the sentence has been served, and the battle over death is won!  Our Good Shepherd was the only One who could lay down His own life to secure life for us, to eradicate the result of sin and offer eternal life instead.

. . .

RESPONSE

John tells us that GOD so loves the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes on Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life (John 3:16).  How does the world He loves respond to His costly (to Him) but free (to us) gift of eternal life?

In this passage, we saw a divided response.  While some received the good news of the gospel with open, grateful hearts, others found every reason to discount its truth and work hard to convince any Christ-follower that they were crazy to believe what seemed foolish to them.  

Later in the New Testament, we learn that the word of GOD is hard for finite minds to accept – we consider these truths foolishness and cannot understand them unless the Spirit of GOD helps us (1 Corinthians 2:14).  The Holy Spirit is our translator!  He helps us understand what we cannot make sense of on our own.  He touches our hearts and draws us to acknowledge GOD, to want to know Him and be reconciled to Him.  Praise GOD He never tires of pursuing hearts to win them for Himself!

As believers, how do we respond to all we are learning about our Good Shepherd?  How does a new level of appreciation for Him motivate us to follow Him?  Several touching reflections were shared around the table:

• He comes to us, to rescue us.  I am grateful I can trust Him!
• I am inspired by His heart for missions, that He seeks out “other sheep.”
• He is the way to abundant life.
• He already knows.  He knew me before I was able to recognize Him.  He was always there, standing, waiting to welcome me in, to care for me.
• My old nature will always be present, but my Shepherd’s watchful eye will always be here too, looking out for me and redirecting me when I need to be guided back to His path.
• He is all I need.  I don’t need to fear hard or dark places because He is with me.
• I am encouraged to follow His example in reaching out to others, regardless of the cost to me.  Unbelievers may think I am foolish to believe in JESUS, but I pray they see me as a true friend.  Maybe I can help them understand there is no better friend to them than JESUS.
• He is faithful!  “Yesterday, today, forever, JESUS is the same.  All may change but JESUS never, glory to His Name!” (Albert B. Simpson, 1843-1919)

We are needy sheep.  How grateful we are for the Good Shepherd!  We would be lost without Him.  His care touches us deeply and reassures us that even when we can’t see or understand that His best is in the works, we can settle those doubts and truly rest.  His Spirit helps us to recognize His voice and respond in obedience, confident that He loves us and will abundantly provide for us.  

Our Shepherd claims us as His very own.  He keeps us close by His side.  He tirelessly steps in to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  He will go to any length necessary to protect us and to nurture our growth so we can truly thrive.

. . .

So far in our study of WHO JESUS IS, we have learned:

• JESUS is the Bread of Life, the One who satisfies our souls’ deepest hunger.  
• JESUS is the Light of the World, the One who illuminates our darkness.
• JESUS is the Gate for the sheep, the One who calls us by name to welcome us into His fold.

This month we gained a deeper appreciation for JESUS as our Good Shepherd, the One who lays down His life in countless ways to care for us, His sheep.

For any who are interested in further study, I highly recommend a great resource on this topic:

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, by W. Phillip Keller, Zondervan, 2007.