John 10:11-18 – Jesus, the Good Shepherd

In talking about sheep and shepherd in John 10, Jesus had first contrasted Himself with thieves and robbers. In verses 1-6, He showed us how different He was from the thieves and robbers. Unlike them Jesus operates openly. His purpose is to lead His sheep to the right pasture. This refers to His wonderful provision for life. Whereas the purpose of a thief is exactly the opposite – he came to steal, kill, and destroy. In verses 3-5. Jesus then went on to contrast Himself with strangers. False shepherds could put on garments that resemble a shepherd and try to act like one. They could even imitate a shepherd’s voice but they won’t be able to deceive the genuine sheep that belong to Jesus. True sheep of Jesus can recognize the voice of the true Shepherd and will never follow a strange shepherd.     

Now in John 10:11-13. Jesus confidently states that He is the good shepherd. Here He contrasted Himself with hirelings. Being the genuine Shepherd, Jesus cares for us, His sheep. He owns us and would gladly give His life for us. Herein lie the difference between Him and hirelings. Those who are paid to do the job are hirelings and not owners. They take no personal interest in the sheep, hence they would quickly abandon the sheep in time of dangers. When danger lurks, Jesus the genuine shepherd would stay and fend for His sheep. A hireling would do just the opposite. He would flee from the danger and leave the sheep stranded, allowing them to be scattered and devoured.  

From verses 14-18, Jesus gives us a few clear indicators why He is the good shepherd. Firstly, He knows those who are His own. And His own can recognize and know Him. Just as God the Father, knows Him, He also knows us, His sheep. The implication is this: the genuine sheep and the true shepherd acknowledge each other. Secondly, He would willingly lay down His life for the sheep. This is a reference to the cross He would soon go to, to rescue His sheep from eternal damnation. In verse 18, we also see a suggestion of His resurrection when He said, “I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” Thirdly, He came to unite His sheep and bring them all into the same fold. There are sheep that rightly belong to Him but have wandered into the wrong fold. So He came to seek and rescue them, to bring them close to Himself and into the one fold, where they rightly belong. He asserted that those that are His will recognize His voice and return to Him. Fourthly, He is loved by the Father because of His willingness to die for His sheep. His mission to lay down His life for the sheep was the Father’s requirement and Jesus would gladly and obediently comply.    

The whole drift of this passage is to show us the heart of Jesus, our great Shepherd. He had devoted his whole life to us. He is true to us His sheep. This is so clearly seen in His willingness to sacrifice Himself for us. This act sets Him apart from all other would-be shepherds or messiahs. We, His disciples, should recognize and appreciate Him for Who He truly is. Let us truly live for Him!