3/15/10 John 10
The Good Shepherd
(Jn 10:11)11“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
We do not think to highly of shepherds in our day and age, probably because we do not know any. They are certainly not mentioned in the group of celebrity figures that the world heaps praises and accolades upon. Yet in knowing Jesus we should each aspire to be a good shepherd. Jesus here in chapter 10 makes His fourth I AM statement “I am the good shepherd.” What make him the good shepherd? Well, let’s examine the first few verses.
Jesus is the good shepherd because He enters by the door. In verse two Jesus makes the statement that a shepherd enters through the door. In the Near East the sheep where at times kept in a pen with a door and there was a doorkeeper. The shepherd would have hired a doorkeeper to watch over and keep the sheep while the shepherd was away. It is quite possible that there were different flocks within this pen from the terminology used in the next verse. So the good shepherd would simply engage the doorkeeper and then enter the pen where his sheep where. The contrast is with those bad shepherds or “false shepherds” that would not engage the doorkeeper, because they came to the sheep pen by another way to steal sheep.
Jesus is the good shepherd because there is a personal relationship with each sheep. In verse three the sheep hear his voice, but more importantly He calls them by name. Just as many animal lovers do they have a name for their animals and they speak to them. Jesus knows those who are His and the sheep know Him because there is a personal relationship between the sheep and the shepherd. In verse four is says that he knows all his own sheep, there are none forgotten.
Jesus is the good shepherd because He goes ahead of them. In verse four the shepherd leads His sheep by going ahead of them. He is leading them to what they need. He goes before them to protect them from enemies and predators. Jesus goes before His sheep leading, guiding, directing, and protecting them as they follow Him.
Jesus is the good shepherd because He lays down His life for the sheep. The shepherd leads his sheep out and will fend off ferocious animals or thieves if need be to protect his sheep. In doing this He puts his life in jeopardy and may be injured or suffer death. Verse eleven is clear reference to Jesus laying down His life on the cross for His sheep. He suffered the punishment and wrath that all deserve as sinners and transgressors against the Father, providing salvation to those who repent, believe, and follow Him.
Prayer: Father majesty and glory are due your excellent name. Jesus, I praise you for being the good shepherd who knows me, and calls me out, and leads me, and protects me, and has laid down His life that I may be free from eternal death, condemnation, and punishment forever and ever. I am thankful that I hear your voice and know you and that you know me. As I sang this past Sunday “He leadeth Me” I pray now that you will lead me. I pray that my heart will be one of obedience and submission. You are taking me to places that I would not have gone, but I trust you, because you are the good shepherd and you are leading me to places to meet my needs, in Jesus name. Amen.