Jesus the Good Shepherd

My Step with God
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10 Dec. 24

Scripture
Good Shepherd – John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Observation
This is the 4th of 7 occasions in John Gospel where Jesus uses the “I Am” statement which implies He is divine.
John 10:1-21 is a continuation of Chapter 9 where Jesus addressed the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees (John 9:41)., following the healing of a blind man on the Sabbath.
In continuing this theme, Jesus speaks about a good shepherd and his sheep. He uses this pastoral context, knowing this would have been well-known to His audience.
I was reminded that the Old Testament gives examples of both good and bad shepherds.
Isa 40:11 shows God as a caring shepherd who guides and provides for us. (compare Ps. 23:2; Isa. 49:9–10; Ezek. 34:12-15).
Ezekiel 34 Shows despite the failure of human leadership of Kings, civil leaders and spiritual leaders. we see God’s promise to step in as the ultimate Shepherd.
Eze 34 12-17 God promised to come down seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day

John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
The Lord Jesus used this title to help people appreciate that He is the loving, caring, Saviour of the world.
He contrasts himself to the hireling who is just hired to look after the sheep for money and self interest just like the false shepherds and Pharisees.
John 10:14-15 says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I am willing to die to save the sheep.”

Application
As the Good Shepherd Jesus does not just have a general knowledge about sheep, Jesus loves and knows each sheep personally’
Prayer
Jesus, Thank you that you are my Good Shepherd and that you willingly laid down Your life for me. I’m overwhelmed by Your amazing love. Forgive me my sins and for saying the right words but not spending time with You who alone can meet my every need. Amen

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Hi @karen4,

Thank you for this beautiful reflection. I wanted to add Gerald Borchert’s comments in his notes on the passage in the New American Commentary:

Those who have lived primarily in western world settings, where the shepherding of flocks is normally done by driving sheep with dogs, may find it hard to envisage the intimacy of the biblical shepherd passages. There the shepherd is pictured as having a personal attachment to the sheep, and the sheep are portrayed as recognizing the shepherd’s voice and responding accordingly. Having taught in Israel, two illustrations have become seared in my memory concerning eastern shepherds and their sheep.

Of the two pictures, one is that of a shepherd leading his sheep through the city of Jerusalem just outside the Jaffa Gate. Cars were whizzing by while the shepherd sang and gently whistled to his sheep, and they dutifully followed him despite all of the bustling traffic nearby. The other picture is that of an early morning with the Bedouins when the shepherds began to lead their sheep out of the sheepfold, which contained the combined flocks of four shepherds. As each shepherd took his turn and began to sing and call his sheep, they dutifully separated from the larger flock and began to follow him to the hills for their daylight feeding (cf. 10:3–4). Such contemporary pictures of the intimate relationship between shepherd and sheep can provide us with the framework of thinking about the great shepherd texts of the Bible: the beloved shepherd psalm (Ps 23), the parable of the lost sheep (Matt 18:12–14; Luke 15:3–7), the compassion statements of Jesus (Matt 9:36; Mark 6:34), the Old Testament texts likening God to a shepherd (Jer 23; Ezek 34;), and particularly here in this fascinating shepherd mashal.

You might also enjoy this conversation about what “the good shepherd” means:

In the original context, this image that Jesus is our good shepherd is so beautiful: personal, intimate, connected, and caring. But also King and Warrior!

It reminds me of how the Beavers describe Aslan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe:

“Is–is he a man?” asked Lucy.

“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion–the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he–quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver. “If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Both in C.S. Lewis’ work and in the Gospel of John, we have these rich metaphors that communicate the beauty, grandeur, power, and goodness of God.

May we draw close to God in trusting faith!

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Thanks Carson

These were good to read

I always smile when I read the conversation between Lucy and Mr Beaver.

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