Jesus the True and Good Shepherd

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 10:1-21

 

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 

(NKJV)

 

Seeing a shepherd herding sheep is not something one commonly sees in our modern society but in Jesus’ time, it was common. This is why Jesus chose the imagery of a shepherd herding sheep to illustrate He is the only way to salvation and that He takes care of those following Him. While the imagery is not something most of us can relate to, the lesson teaches us to remember that Jesus is committed to His followers and concerned for their well-being.

 

Jesus begins by telling those listening to Him that anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the door is a thief and a robber (John 10:1). The shepherd who cares for the sheep will enter through the door much like the owner of a home enters through the front door because he or she has a key (John 10:2). The doorkeeper or the one guarding the door to the sheepfold will recognize the shepherd and open the door to him (John 10:3). The sheep know the shepherd’s voice and will follow him when he leads the sheep out to pasture but will not follow a stranger because they do not recognize his voice (John 10:4-5). Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand it, even though seeing shepherds tending sheep was common to them (John 10:6).

 

Because of their lack of understanding the illustration, Jesus provides some more details. He begins by saying He is the door of the sheep indicating that the only way into the sheepfold is through Him (John 10:7). Anyone trying to enter the sheepfold without going through Jesus is a thief and a robber (John 10:8). As the door, Jesus is the only way to enter the safety of God’s presence and provision (John 10:9). A thief trying to come in any other comes to steal and destroy with Jesus interested in providing abundant pasture and protection for His sheep (John 10:10). Jesus is the good shepherd who lays His life down for the sheep and not just a hired hand (John 10:11). A hired hand will flee when danger comes instead of laying his life down to protect the sheep (John 10:12-13).

 

Jesus is the good shepherd who is known by His sheep who knows God the Father and is known by Him, and the one who will lay His life down for the sheep (John 10:14-15). Jesus also mentions other sheep that do not belong to the sheepfold of the Jews that will hear the voice of the good shepherd and become part of the flock, a reference to the Gentiles (John 10:16). God the Father loves Jesus because he was willing to lay His life down for the sheep (John 10:17-18). These words from Jesus caused a division among the Jews listening, with some believing Jesus was mad and demon possessed, and others believing one having a demon could not speak as Jesus does or open the eyes of one born blind (John 10:19-21).

 

All religions claim to have the way to salvation, but only Jesus, the Son of God, is the path to salvation. What is important in one’s life is not their religious beliefs but whether they have a personal relationship with God, their creator. These are the ones who know the voice of their shepherd and do not just know about him academically. The division among the Jews comes from those believing Jesus was a sinner and had a demon because he healed a blind man on the Sabbath (John 9:13-14; 10:19-20). Other Jews heard the words of Jesus and could not believe these words came from a man with a demon. They also could not believe one with a demon could open the eyes of a blind man (John 10:21). The first group of Jews were hung up on their religious traditions and could not get over Jesus’ violation of their religious laws regarding the Sabbath. The latter group of Jews were close to having a relationship with God through Christ because they saw and heard something different in Jesus.

 

Jesus told the Church that if they lifted Him up, He would draw men unto Him (John 12:32). There are those in the Church who teach and believe one must adhere to a moral code and regulations to be saved, ignoring the fact that salvation is provided by the grace of God and not one’s works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Others teach that God’s grace saves all with no need for one to accept the gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Romans 10:9-10 brings balance to these two extremes by teaching one must confess Jesus as their Lord by believing in their heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead to provide salvation for humanity. This is how one becomes a sheep in the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.

 

If you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave but have not made a public confession of this belief like the man born blind, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.