In the narrative of John’s gospel, conflict with His enemies presented its own opportunity. Some of Jesus’ most profound lessons came out of His battle with His opponents.
John 10 is an example of teaching so clear and deep that, without it, we as God’s children, would be much poorer.
Jesus’ announcement…
John 10:11 NIV
[11] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”…
…links to the prediction of Ezekiel 34, spoken centuries before.
God had a serious quarrel with the shepherds of Israel. He had appointed them to care for His “sheep”. Instead, they had failed in their commission, abused the sheep, and enriched themselves at the expense of God’s people.
Ezekiel 34:2-4 NIV
[2] “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? [3] You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. [4] You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.”
So, the sheep had suffered at the hands of their cruel “shepherds”.
Ezekiel 34:5-6 NIV
[5] “So, they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. [6] My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.”
God’s solution was His promise to take over the shepherd’s task to care for the sheep Himself. When Jesus uttered His words, “I am the good shepherd,” His people would probably have made the connection, but did they understand the implications? What was He saying?
Once again, Jesus was not merely making a random statement. He was declaring, not only that He was fulfilling God’s promise to be their shepherd, but that He was also the God who had promised to come in person to care for His sheep.
Ezekiel 34:15-16 NIV
[15] “I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. [16] I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”
Look what Jesus had to say about the shepherds of Israel in His day. They were not true shepherds. They were “hirelings”, mercenaries doing the job for money, not for love of the sheep.
John 10:8, 12-13 NIV
[8] “All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them…
[12] The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. [13] The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
This was not an indictment against the devil. This was an exposure of Israel’s spiritual leaders, the Pharisees and religious leaders. They were in it for what they could get out of it, for personal gain, not for love of the Father and His sheep.
So, Jesus stepped into the gap, offering the stability of a life anchored in Him. He made big promises…
- He is the way into the safety of the sheepfold.
John 10:7, 9 NIV
[7] “Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep…
[9] I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
What is this sheepfold of which He is the gate? Could He be speaking, in picture language, of the kingdom of God? In the other three gospels, Jesus announced, with great enthusiasm, the re-entry of God’s reign on earth, after centuries of the rebellion of His own people against His rule. So, as Israel’s own true shepherd, entry into the kingdom of God was through Him alone.
John 14:6 NLT
[6] “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
There is a place of safety and security within the boundaries of God’s rule that promise protection in this life and an existence in the presence of the Father in the life to come. The only way to access this realm is through Jesus. He provided the way through His own death which forever removed the barrier of sin that blocked the entrance to eternal life.
- Unlike the hired hands who have no interest in the wellbeing of the sheep, Jesus takes personal care of every sheep within His flock.
John 10:3-4, 9 NIV
[3] “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice…
[9] I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
- Jesus has a personal relationship with His sheep. They recognise His voice. They follow His leading. He protects them from all harm.
John 10:14, 27 NIV
[14] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—…
[27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me…
- The care Jesus gives to His sheep extends beyond this life. He gave His own life to save them from eternal death.
John 10:15b, 17-18, 28 NIV
[15] “… I lay down my life for the sheep…
[17] The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. [18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”…
[28] I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
David’s well-loved psalm, 23, paints the picture of his experience as a sheep in the care of the true shepherd, every need met, every blessing lavishly provided, the future secured because the Lord Himself has pledged to be the shepherd of His people.
It’s this picture that Peter uses to urge his fellow elders to be faithful shepherds of God’s flock, following the example and instruction of the Great Shepherd…
1 Peter 5:2-4 NLT
[2] “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. [3] Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. [4] And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.”
Likewise, the same imagery of the Great Shepherd, the one who laid down His life for the sheep, dominates the benediction blessing and prayer of Hebrews 13:20-21…
Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT
[20] “Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— [21] may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.”
Our Great Shepherd not only signed the New Covenant in His own blood, but He also provides every good thing we need to do His will and produces in us every good work that pleases Him.
What a great Shepherd we have!