Day 40 of 49
We are all familiar with the image of Jesus as a shepherd. We often see the picture of Jesus holding a lamb surrounded by sheep. But that image is insufficient to describe the reality of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
The definition of shepherd: One who cares for, guides, and guards sheep. Pretty simple in concept, and includes keeping the flock together, seeking the sheep who go astray, keeping them safe, and providing all they need.
It has been expanded in meaning, in both the OT and the NT to include leadership. The leaders serve in the role of shepherd; caring, guiding and guarding the people who are under their leadership.
John 10:1-10 The Good Shepherd
Jesus gave insight into the role of the shepherd. A shepherd enters by the door. He is not a stranger to the sheep or to the gatekeeper. He goes before the sheep, they follow him and they know his voice. He helps them to find pasture.
The sheep will run from a stranger. The thief and robber don’t enter by the door and come to steal, kill and destroy. No purpose is given to the stranger, but the thief and robber are definitely up to no good as regards the sheep.
John 10:11-18 I AM the Good Shepherd
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may 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 I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Jn 10:11–18.
Jesus became more specific about the role of himself as the shepherd, calling himself the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep. He spoke of his relationship to the Father, who gave him authority to give his life for the sheep.
Jesus compared himself to the hireling. A hireling runs away from danger, for instance a wolf attack. He acts like a shepherd, but cares more for his own life. The hireling is not like the thief, intent upon the destruction of the sheep, but his uncaring actions result in the destruction of the sheep all the same.
We find through this example, the loving care that God and Jesus have for the sheep, not only those found in Israel, but those of the Gentile nations, all the sheep who listen to his voice and follow his lead.
Jesus knows the Father and what the Father desires of him. He knows the sheep and what is best for them. He speaks to his sheep and they hear his voice to follow him, knowing that the shepherd provides food, water and safety.
To better understand Jesus’ reference to himself as the Good Shepherd, we need to go to the OT. The Jews would have been familiar with this passage.
Ezekiel 34:1-31 Bad Shepherds
In this passage, God spoke to the shepherds of Israel, the priests and Levites in charge of caring for the people of Israel. He accused them of:
- Feeding themselves instead of the sheep
- Clothing themselves with the wool from the sheep
- Eating the fat of the sheep
- Not strengthening the weak sheep
- Not healing the sick sheep
- Not binding up the injured sheep
- Not seeking the sheep who were lost or strayed
- Ruling them harshly
The shepherds abused their position, using the sheep for their own benefit.
The sheep, because of the treatment of the shepherds, wandered aimlessly, scattered over the hills and mountains, living as prey and food for the wild beasts.
God promised to seek and rescue them from where they had been scattered. God would return them to Israel with good pasture where they could lay down in peace and rest. He promised to bind up the injured, strengthen the weak, and feed them justice. He promised to set over them a “good shepherd”.
When we look at this passage in relation to the healing of the blind man in chapter 9, we can see a connection between the false shepherds and the leading Jews. The people lived in fear of the Pharisees, worried that they would be cut off from the synagogue…scattered to fend for themselves. The Pharisees had no idea who the blind man was, even though he begged at theTemple gates daily. Instead of rejoicing with him, they complained that it took place on the Sabbath, and kicked him out of the synagogue…at a time when he would finally have been eligible to enter into the Temple to worship in God’s presence.
Jesus as the Good Shepherd healed the blind man’s wounds and sought him out, not waiting for the man to come to him. He spoke to the man. The man recognized Jesus as that promised Good Shepherd and began to follow him.
The OT references to the Good Shepherd:
- Psalm 23
- Provides needs
- Makes lie down in green pastures
- Leads beside still waters
- Restores
- Leads
- Remains in times of trouble
- Provides provisions in front of enemies
- Anoints with oil (healing)
- Leads to the house of the Lord
- Isaiah 40:10-11
- Powerfully saves
- Gathers lambs in arms
- Carries the young
- Gently leads those with young
- Amos 3:12
- Rescued those in need
- Remove the broken pieces from the mouth of the lion
- Micah 5:4-5
- The sheep will be secure
- The sheep will have peace
- Will maintain their life
John 10:19-21 The people respond
The people were divided, some believing him and who he said he was and others thinking he had a demon or was insane. It is important for us to remember that it is the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind (Ps 146:7-8). If God does not open the spiritual eyes, one cannot see.
John 10:22-39 If you don’t believe me, believe the works
Even though Jesus made it plain that he was the One sent from God, the Jews again asked him to state his identity. I’m sure Jesus shook his head, they hadn’t believed before, why would they now?
He spoke about his sheep. They know him (unlike the Jews), they hear his voice (the Jews hear, but don’t choose to comprehend), they will never perish.
And then he said, “I and the Father are one.”
That was what the Jews were waiting for, an explicit, no way to misunderstand statement…in their mind, blasphemy. So they picked up stones to stone him.
In past confrontations, Jesus disappeared from them, but this time he stayed and questioned their action. He referred to his works… they could not argue against any of his works. The actions spoke to his identity and confirmed his words. The Jews were always seeking signs, Jesus provided them and they didn’t believe anyway. But Jesus continued to do what God called him to do, despite the opposition.
The NT contains references to Jesus as our shepherd. They tell us about his identity and his relationship to us.
- Matthew 9:36
- Jesus had compassion on the people, like a sheep without a shepherd
- Lk 12:32
- God wants to give us the kingdom
- The fear not gives us a picture of the shepherd petting and comforting the sheep
- God wants to give us the kingdom
- Jn 15:13
- Greater love, man lay down life for friends
- Hebrews 13:20-21
- Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep
- We will be equipped with all we need
- 1 Peter 2:24-25
- He bore our sins
- We strayed, but have returned to the Shepherd and overseer of our souls
- Reveals his humility and suffering
- 2:22-24 brings out that we are continually straying, not just a one time thing
- Revelation 7:17
- Jesus will be our shepherd
- He will guide us to living waters
- He will wipe away our tears
- Jesus as a human felt as we feel
- He relates to us in a very personal way
Jesus, the Good Shepherd reveals the love and care that Jesus and the Father have for us. He provides all our needs, we need look no farther. As the shepherd, he knows our need better than we do.
Because Jesus said “I AM the Good Shepherd”
- I have_________________
- I can_______________
- I will________________
TRICIA LATHROP 