John 10:11-16 (WEL) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 “But the hireling, who is not a shepherd, whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and runs away. The wolf seizes them and scatters the sheep. 13 “The hireling runs away because he is a hireling who isn’t concerned about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd, know my own, and am known by my own sheep. 15 “Just as the Father knows me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 “I have other sheep, which are not of this sheepfold. I must also bring them. They will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
V11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
Jesus is not just a shepherd; He is the good shepherd, that is, Jesus aligns perfectly in every way with God’s standards for a shepherd.
Principle: Those who are under shepherds as church leaders, evangelists, and indeed, any believer are to live life with the general character traits and actions of Jesus Christ.
A good shepherd is willing to die, if necessary, to protect the sheep. Sheep in this sense is firstly Israel (Psalm 100:3) and secondly everyone else (John 10:16).
Remember the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls (1 Peter 2:25-26).
V12 “But the hireling, who is not a shepherd, whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and runs away. The wolf seizes them and scatters the sheep.
The contrast between the shepherd and a hired person. The shepherd has a bond with the sheep (Isaiah 49:16); the hireling does not. The shepherd has commitment and love; the hireling does not.
The wolf is the destroyer; he may be the devil, the unbeliever being used by the devil, or a philosophy, etc.
Compare Matthew 7:22-23.
Principle: Be a shepherd in your marriage, raising your children, and interacting with everyone you meet.
V13 “The hireling runs away because he is a hireling who isn’t concerned about the sheep.
His main concern is himself, his life, his interests. The shepherd cares and has a personal bond with the sheep.
Principle: Beware of false teachers whose main concern is themselves: how many conferences he/she speaks at, books, promotions, social media, persona, money, etc. Avoid these creeps (Genesis 3:1-6, Matthew 7:15, Jude 1:10-13, Proverbs 7:21, and Romans 16:18).
V14 “I am the good shepherd, know my own, and am known by my own sheep.
Jesus states that He is the good shepherd and not a hireling. He has a bond with the sheep, even naming them and knowing their name.
Principle: Jesus has a personal knowledge of and concern for all believers.
V15 “Just as the Father knows me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Jesus reveals 3 things about Himself:
The Father knows me. The Father is God the Father (Luke 1:35). The Father knows His son as any involved, godly father would know his son or daughter and even more so.
The Son knows the Father in the same way.
I lay down my life for the sheep. Sheep here is Israel. Jesus died for all individuals, but His death and the sacrifice are applied to only those who believe in Jesus alone for salvation. See Matthew 10:6 (Sheep refers to Israel. Many Jews were ready believers, so they wouldn’t be the lost sheep). Jesus also seeks other lost sheep (John 10:16—Gentiles, yet some Gentiles were already believers, so they were not lost).
V16 “I have other sheep, which are not of this sheepfold. I must also bring them. They will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
The other sheep are Gentiles who believe. Some examples would be any believer before Abraham, Naaman, Ruth, Rehab, and other examples.
We learn:
- The difference between a shepherd and a hireling.
- The Jesus is the good shepherd.
Questions:
- Are you a good shepherd in what you do and who you interact with?
- Are you a good shepherd in your family?