Scripture Readings: 1 John 3: 18-24 & John 10:11-18
In John’s Gospel, Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd.” Here, He extends beyond the role of a gatekeeper. When Jesus said I am the gate of the sheep in John 10:7, that gate was a door to protect the sheep from thieves. The good shepherd is the caretaker of the entire flock, both within and beyond the fence. As our Good Shepherd, Jesus provides us with salvation and shelter, extending His care to all, even every wandering soul.
In John 10, we hear that “the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus expressed Himself as good shepherd. This verse shows us how the good shepherd who is not working for his own profit differs from that false shepherd who runs away from dangerous situations for himself. Jesus contrasts Himself with the “hired hand” who runs away when trouble comes. Here, the Lord talked about laying down his life for the sheep five times in eight verses. The shepherd willingly becomes the sacrificial lamb.
Central to the depiction of the Good Shepherd is the sacrificial nature of his love. In contrast to the false shepherds who abandon their flock in times of danger, Jesus remains steadfast, offering himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. His love knows no bounds, and his willingness to lay down his life exemplifies the depth of his commitment to us.
In addition to guarding the sheep, the Good Shepherd provides for them unlike thieves who steal and kill and destroy. Jesus told the sheep that he had come to give life so they might live it to the full. The Good Shepherd guards the sheep, provides for them, and cares for them.
Jesus makes an exceptional sacrifice. The Greek word ‘kalos’ which means ‘good’ emphasizes genuineness, value, and truth. Today’s text shows us how the good shepherd differs from other shepherds. In their defence the shepherd loses his life, but by his death the sheep are saved. The good shepherd who sacrifices his life for the sheep relates to sheep in trust and intimacy.
The good shepherd knows his sheep in the same way the Father knows the Son. Not only that, but the sheep know the shepherd in the same way the Son knows the Father. The Good Shepherd protects and provides for those who are intimately known to Him. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (v.14) We who follow Christ are His sheep who know His voice and are known by Him. What an incredible blessing to be intimately loved and deeply cared for by our Saviour!
This intimacy signifies a relationship of trust and closeness, where the shepherd is attuned to the needs of each individual sheep. In turn, the sheep recognize and respond to the voice of their shepherd, finding security and guidance in His Words.
The shepherd’s voice is key, but sheep may follow the voice of a stranger, get lost and fall into valleys. Despite the assurance of the shepherd’s voice, we, like sheep, sometimes stray from the path. We are susceptible to the appeal of other voices and distractions, leading us astray and into dangerous valleys. However, in our moments of weakness and wandering, the voice of our Good Shepherd calls us back, offering forgiveness and restoration. His love is unwavering, and his grace is always sufficient to bring us home.
Even when any other voices and distractions tempt us from the right path, our Good Shepherd, Jesus will never leave us, and His voice will bring us back because we belong to him. Sometimes we are getting into troubles and struggling in difficulties, but we always have opportunities to listen to the voice of our good shepherd in our daily choices. We also have chances to be faithful as the Lord’s sheep. We can say ‘No’ to some tempting voices that are not the will of God and say ‘Yes’ to the Lord because Jesus is here and there going before us and leading us.
Jesus is our good shepherd who willingly died on the cross to save us and offers shelter and security to all who follow Him. He would join the sheep from other pens, and he would die for all of them. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who gathers and saves not only the sheep inside the fence, but also those outside the fence. Our good shepherd does not merely care for the sheep, but also gathers the flock continually.
Jesus said, “I must bring them also…so there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (v. 16) The Good Shepherd’s mission is to seek and save the lost, gathering all peoples to Himself. This reminds us that we who have entered through the gate have a calling and responsibility to go and invite others into the sheepfold of God’s love and protection.
As 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” God’s commandment to us is to believe in the name of Jesus Christ and to love one another. Obedience to God’s commands is a mark of our love for Him. The Good Shepherd will protect at any cost those followers who are intimately known to the shepherd.
As followers of Christ, we are called to follow the Good Shepherd’s sacrificial love. May we all become lifelong followers of the Lord, the Good Shepherd. We are called to love one another, not merely in words but in deeds. It is through our actions that we bear witness to the transformative power of Christ’s love in our lives. May we all be pleasing to God with the love of Christ in our lives.
The Lord is our Good Shepherd who offers us salvation and shelter. The Good Shepherd would quite literally put his life on the line to protect His sheep. This is a perfect picture of Christ’s sacrificial love for us. May we, as a community of believers, strive to follow the example of our Good Shepherd together, embodying the love of Christ in all that we do. Jesus is our good shepherd. No one can tear us away from His sacrificial love. May we find comfort and security in the shelter of his presence, knowing that we are intimately known and deeply loved by the one who gave his life for us.
May we rejoice that we have a Shepherd who loved us enough to lay down His very life for us. Because of His sacrifice, we can be forgiven, redeemed, and brought into intimate relationship with the Father. No enemy can snatch us out of the Shepherd’s loving hand. We are His sheep, known and loved by Him. What a blessing to be led by the voice of the Good Shepherd who guides us into the life of the kingdom of God on earth and eternal life! May we walk closely with Him all our days and faithfully follow our Good Shepherd, believing in Christ and loving one another sacrificially, just as Jesus first loved us.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)