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The Good Shepherd - John 10
The Good Shepherd - John 10
John 10 is the good shepherd chapter. God was the good shepherd throughout the Old Testament period as He led, guarded, and watched over His people. The lovely picture of Him as a loving shepherd in the 23rd Psalm is a favorite of many bible readers. YET, the sheep were not faithful. Thus, we see the coming of the Good Shepherd in Jesus to save his sheep.
First, just some notes from this chapter:
His Claims
- I am the door -
- I am the good shepherd
His relationship to the sheep
- I know my sheep - 3, 14
- he calls his own sheep by name 3
- He leads them - 4
- He goes before them - 4
The sheep’s relationship with the Shepherd
- They know HIM - 14
- His sheep follow him - 4
- The sheep hear his voice - 3
- they know His voice - 4
- They will NOT follow a stranger - 5
- They will FLEE from a stranger - 5
- They do NOT know the voice of strangers - 5
- They do not listen to ‘them’ (thieves / robbers)
His complete care for His sheep.
- The good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep - 11, 15, 17, 18
- a WILLFUL choice - 18
- BUT - power to take it up again - 17, 18
As Peter wrote, “We were all like sheep were going astray, BUT…” (1 Pet. 2:25). Jesus as the good Shepherd died / arose for us. HE has our best interest at heart, even above his own well-being. Thus, He is NOT like the hireling who cares nothing for the sheep but only are looking for what he might gain from any relationship with them. Jesus loved us and gave his life - Eph. 5:25. He knows each of us. He leads us having gone down this path himself. He not only our savior and shepherd, he also is an example (cp. 1 Pet. 2:21).
WE are His sheep - but not all ‘sheep’ are HIS sheep. We KNOW Him, we hear his voice, we follow Him. This is a one-man situation. There is NO other.
Concerning false shepherds / teachers - we do NOT follow them, we do NOT know their voice, and we do NOT listen to them. This is based upon 1) KNOWING the truth and 2) absolute fidelity to our shepherd.
He truly is the good shepherd, are we good sheep?
Hugh DeLong
