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Jesus the Good Shepherd

John 10.11-18

Good News Translation (GNT)

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11  "I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die
   for the sheep.
12  When the hired man, who is not a shepherd
   and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf
   coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away;
   so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters
   them.
13  The hired man runs away because he is only
   a hired man and does not care about the
   sheep.
14-15  I am the good shepherd. As the Father
   knows me and I know the Father, in the same
   way I know my sheep and they know me.
   And I am willing to die for them.
16  There are other sheep which belong to me
   that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring
   them, too; they will listen to my voice, and
   they will become one flock with one shepherd.
17  "The Father loves me because I am willing to
   give up my life, in order that I may receive
   it back again.
18  No one takes my life away from me.
   I give it up of my own free will.
   I have the right to give it up, and I have the
   right to take it back.
   This is what my Father has commanded
   me to do."

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Commentary taken from
'The Applied New Testament Commentary'
(Kingsway)

The good shepherd

     John Chapter 10:11-18

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd loves the flock. In Bible times, even good shepherds did not usually lay down their own lives for their sheep.

The true shepherd is the owner of the sheep, and cares much more for the sheep than a hired hand.

In every generation there are some among the leaders of the church who are only "hired hands." They do not put their flock first. To them, being a church leader is a means of making a living.

The Lord knows those who are his and believers know whom they have believed. The relationship between the sheep and their shepherd is intimate, like the relationship between God and Jesus.

Jesus is ready to lay down His life for them.

Jesus also had others that were not of this sheep pen. These were Gentile (non-Jewish) believers. They needed to be brought into the church. These Gentiles would listen to the voice of Jesus, and come to Him.

Then there would be one flock, one church, which would include all believers. Jesus does not have many flocks; He has only one.

Let us never be a cause of division in his flock. It was God's will and purpose that Jesus lay down His life for the sheep, but he took His life up again. There could be no resurrection without death.

In order to conquer death and release us from the death penalty, Jesus had to die Himself.

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