“The Good Shepherd.”
John 10:1-21
Jesus as a shepherd is one of the most enduring and endearing images in Christianity. For many, this image of Jesus invokes feelings of security and safety. I have seen several paintings depicting Jesus as a shepherd, and they all have Jesus painted in a serene and calm manor. The problem is that shepherding is not easy. It is difficult and in this section from John, we get a glimpse at some of the dangers that surrounded and plagued 1st century shepherds.
Shepherding required strength, discipline, and diligence. Shepherds were responsible for knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting the sheep. This idea of protection is what Jesus was talking about when He spoke of thieves and robbers. A shepherd was responsible for protecting the sheep from thieves and wild animals including bears, wolves, and lions. To picture Jesus as a shepherd is to understand the lengths to which Jesus went to protect His sheep. This is exactly what Jesus was talking about when He said that He would give His life for His sheep. Jesus was talking about His crucifixion and resurrection.
The greatest enemy that Jesus’ sheep needed to be rescued from was and still is sin. Sin tears us apart from God; it removes us from His presence and makes us God’s enemies. To bring us back into a relationship with God and to give His people eternal life, Jesus laid down His life for His sheep. Eternal life in this section in John is pictured as the sheepfold. The only way to eternal life is belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is what Jesus means by calling Himself “the door.” Doors grant access. For us to be back in the presence of God and to enter eternal life, we must enter through belief in Jesus. He is the only way to salvation. No other religion or amount of work on our behalf can bring us eternal life. Eternal life, salvation from sin, is only available through Jesus Christ.
Jesus provides for us. He gives us what we need. We do not always get what we want, which is why some prayers do in fact go unanswered in the way we think they should have been answered. Jesus provides for us. He does so by providing security in His sheepfold. When the sheep were in the pen, they were safe. The shepherd guarded the way into the sheepfold and chased away predators and thieves. We are secure in Christ. Christ took the punishment for our sins upon Himself on the cross so that we could be brought into the security of the sheepfold. We are His and no one can take us away from Him (see Romans 8:38-39).
As the Good Shepherd Jesus also leads us. Through the witness of the Scriptures, which we believe is the Word of God, we find guidance and instruction, and sometimes conviction to guide us through our everyday lives. God has poured out the Holy Spirit upon His people to help us understand the Scriptures. Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice. Today, we hear Jesus’ voice through the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit as well as in the Scriptures. If we are in His Word, we are continually being fed and satisfied. There are many voices in the world (Jesus would call these false shepherds or thieves) that are competing for your attention. These voices are prolific in our society and all of them will let you down. Why? Because none of them are willing to die for you. Only the Good Shepherd has done that for you. Only the Good Shepherd has offered you eternal life, eternal security, and His eternal presence.
Think of Psalm 23. It says that we can fear no evil, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, because the Good Shepherd is with us. Jesus’ presence is what sustains us, and we are eternally connected to Him by the powerful indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You are never alone because the Good Shepherd is with you. Always.
If you have been feeling lost, like a sheep wandering the wilderness, turn to Jesus in prayer. When we feel like we are far from God spiritually, it is usually because we have stopped communicating and wandered off. God hasn’t left us, we have turned from Him. Go to God in prayer. Study the Scriptures. Seek fellowship with a community of believers in a local congregation and make the effort to be part of the worship and life of that community. We weren’t meant to be alone. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, has called us out of the world and into fellowship with Him and with other believers. Spend time in prayer and Scripture reading today and let that lead you into worship of the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for you.
