I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 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. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and they shall be one flock and one shepherd.
What a wonder and comfort it is for Jesus’ own sheep to recognize him, to listen to his voice, and then be joined with other sheep to make up the one flock (the church eternal) and the one shepherd (Jesus our Savior). We read here how Jesus explains that in similar fashion as to how the sheep know their true shepherd, the Father knows Jesus and Jesus knows the Father. In many passages in the New Testament Jesus prays to the Father and the Father hears him. Jesus speaks to God the Father and he answers him. Jesus knows the voice of his Father and does what he tells him to do. See the parallel here? The Father and Jesus are intimately connected as are the shepherd and his sheep.
Jesus Calls His Own To Himself
Jesus reiterates again how far his love will extend for his chosen sheep. He emphasizes the blessed truth that, “ I lay down my life for the sheep,” before telling them that there are other sheep not yet gathered to him that will be part of the church eternal and they too, will listen to his voice and follow him. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and they shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
What a wondrous lesson this must have been for the disciples and those who were following Jesus to hear him proclaim the depths of his love for each of them. To hear Jesus assure them that he would care for their needs, he would watch over them, he would sacrifice himself for them…how they must have been in awe and wonder as Jesus’ declaration of love for them…his beloved flock.
Jesus Protects His Own
There are so many potential takeaways for us as we ponder the depths of this beautiful message. We take great comfort in Jesus’ promises to rescue and protect his beloved sheep (we who are part of the church eternal). We are encouraged to know that Jesus says we can hear his voice and distinguish from those who are false teachers who would distract us and lead us away from Christ. We also see how Jesus was willing to lay his life down for us while we were yet his enemies and sinners. Like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, the so-called hired hands (false teachers) of today continue to snare and entrap believers with half-truths and empty promises.
Jesus Tells Us To Follow Closely
Jesus knows us and we know him. Jesus as our shepherd and Savior expects us to follow closely after him and to trust him entirely. Consider how Jesus in the role of the good shepherd cares for and safely protects us from all harm. Reflect upon his willingness to lay his life down to save us from our enemies (real time enemies and our greatest foe…our sin nature that Satan continually prods and provokes us to distrust God). As he promised he would, Jesus carried to completion his life’s mission which was to save those who would repent and believe from eternal damnation.
Jesus Reveals His Will Through Scripture
As we contemplate Jesus’ immense sacrifice for us, let us humble ourselves before him and purpose to follow him wherever he leads. How can we know where he wants us to go? We can hear his voice even today by following his command to renew our minds daily through Scripture reading; prayer; meditating; and memorizing his word.
This is how we learn what the good shepherd expects of his sheep. We have sixty-six books in the bible from which to draw all that we need for life and godliness in this danger-ridden world where wolves are circling in hoping to destroy and devour our faith in God. But as Jesus promised, he is as much our good shepherd today as he was to his disciples over two thousand years ago.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In