John 10.11-18
And so we come today to another passage in John’s Gospel which points forwards to Jesus’ resurrection. ‘I am the Good Shepherd’. This is the fourth of seven ‘I am’ statements in John’s Gospel, each of which revealing something unique about Jesus’ character and purpose.
‘I am the Good Shepherd’. In just five words, Jesus has revealed something ground-breaking not only about who He is, but also who we are. In this passage, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, the Jewish teachers of the law. By claiming that he is the ‘Good Shepherd’ He is indicating that he fulfills the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah will be a shepherd to the flock of Israel and this would not have passed the Pharisees by. King David wrote in his famous Psalm that ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ and the prophet Ezekiel prophesied in Ezekiel 34: ‘As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep.’ (Ezekiel 34.12). Any Jew listening would have made the connection. Jesus is claiming to be the Messiah.
But He’s claiming more than that. Jesus portraying Himself as the Good Shepherd is a beautiful picture of God caring for His flock, providing for their needs and protecting them from harm. We are His flock. Jesus cares deeply for our needs and He provides for us. Perhaps that’s the truth you need to hear today.
But taking it even further still, Jesus says ‘the Good Shepherd lays his life down for the sheep’. He is so devoted to his sheep that, unlike the hired-hand, he is prepared to lose his own life in order to protect the lives of his sheep. Jesus laid his life down for us, he laid down his life for you and for me, so that we could be free from the bondage of sin and come to the Father.
Next Jesus says in verse 14: ‘I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.’ This is an astonishing statement, but it’s so easy to just let it wash over us. Jesus and the Father are in perfect relationship and know each other so deeply and intimately. And yet Jesus says that in the same way, Jesus knows us and we know Him. We, too, are invited into this beautiful relationship. We too are known deeply and intimately and, even more astonishingly, we know and love the Lord Jesus as well. Verse 16 is a comfort to those of us who are gentiles. We were not of the original flock of the Lord, but we too have heard and responded to Jesus’ voice and are now part of the one flock, with one shepherd.
And now we come to the climax of the passage. This is the bit which would have really ruffled the listening Pharisees’ metaphorical feathers. Jesus says in verses 17-18:
“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Jesus says he has power to lay his life down and also has the power to take it up again. Jesus has essentially claimed to be God, for only God could have the authority to take up his own life again. On his journey to the cross and on the cross itself, Jesus was in control, He knew what He was doing. No one took his life from Him. He willingly, knowingly and lovingly laid His life down for His sheep. But he not only knowingly sacrificed His life, but, incredibly, He had power to take it up again. Jesus defeated death, rose to new life, making the way for us to do the same.
Those listening to this prophecy responded in different ways. Some thought Jesus was a mad man, or was possessed by a demon. But others weren’t so sure, they had seen Jesus’ healing powers, and were starting to wonder whether there might be some truth in Jesus’ words.
How will you respond to Jesus’ words today? Will you take some time to dwell on the truth that Jesus is your Good Shepherd, who knows what you need and will care for you. Will you take time to listen to Jesus’ voice, perhaps spending some time in a quiet place, making room for your Good Shepherd to speak. Or perhaps you want to spend some time praising the Lord Jesus, thanking Him for His perfect, once-and-for-all sacrifice; a sacrifice given willingly, knowingly and lovingly for us. Jesus laid His life down for His sheep and only Jesus had the power and authority to take His life back up again.
Praise be to God!
Let’s take a moment to pray:
Father God, thank you that Jesus is our Good Shepherd but that He was also our sacrificial lamb. Thank you that he laid down his life for us, but thank you that He also had the power to take His life up again. Help us to live each moment of every day in awe and wonder at the indescribable gift given to us through Jesus’ Christ. In His precious name we pray, Amen.