11 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.”

Good Shepherd 

Jesus has set the stage. He has described the sheep and shepherd and their relationship.  These pastoral people fully understand the metaphor. He introduces the hired hand, which is different from the thief and robber. The hired hand runs when trouble comes. He says this to again show contrast. Then Jesus tells them He is the good shepherd. 

The shepherd owns the sheep. He’s the shepherd and we’re the sheep. Jesus owns us. We are His possession. The good shepherd protects his sheep. He is willing to even die for them. He repeats it two more times for emphasis. Indeed Jesus will give His life for His sheep.

“He is giving his life still. The life that is in the man Christ Jesus he is always giving for us. It is for us he lives, and because he lives we live also. He lives to plead for us. [Jesus] lives to represent us in heaven. He lives to rule providence for us.” (Spurgeon)

Other sheep

The other sheep, most believe, refers to us – gentile believers. Funny note, as a new believer reading this, I thought it meant aliens! 😁

Relationship

Jesus pairs His knowing of His own sheep and they knowing Him to His relationship with the Father. His willingness to die for His sheep is another reason the Father loves Him. Of course we do too. He is our means of love. In fact, 1 John 4:19 tells us, “We love because he first loved us.”

Control destiny

Jesus controls His destiny. His life is His own to lay down (die) and to raise up. No man has this self-determination; He must be God! He has this authority, given by the Father.

<- Reflection ->

• Do you have a relationship with the Good Shepherd?
• If you do, are you listening to His voice? What’s He telling you right now?