Jesus, the Good Shepherd

In John’s Gospel, we find Jesus using concrete images for himself that help us to reflect on who he is and the role he plays in our lives. For example, Jesus calls himself the “bread of life” (6:35), the “light of the world” (8:12), and the “vine” from which his followers grow (15:5). In John 10, Jesus calls himself the “gate” for his sheep (vv 7, 9) and the “good shepherd” (vv 11, 14).

Shepherd imagery in the Bible goes back to the Old Testament. Before leading the Israelites, Moses was a shepherd for forty years in the land of Midian. Before becoming king, David was a shepherd who watched after his father’s flocks. Conversely, Israel’s bad kings were commonly seen as false or bad shepherds. Numbers 27:17 points to the need of God’s people for a good shepherd leader, and Psalm 23 affirms that God is a good shepherd to those who trust in him.

The words God gave to the prophet Ezekiel provide an important backdrop to Jesus’ statements in John 10. Reflecting on the poor leaders of his people, God says to Ezekiel:

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?’” (Ezekiel 34:2).

God laments that because of Israel’s bad shepherds, the people are “scattered” (34:5; see John 10:12). Therefore, God declares that he will remove the bad shepherds from tending the flock and that he himself will be their shepherd:

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered” (Ezekiel 34:11-12).

In John 10, we find Jesus building on these words. Speaking to the Pharisees, who should have been good leaders, Jesus says that he himself is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep (v 11). Notably, John situates this conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees during the Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah. Hanukkah looked back on the Maccabean War, a Jewish revolt against the Greeks. Hanukkah was a season that asked hard questions about failed leadership and false shepherds.

Understanding the Meaning Behind the “Good Shepherd”

What can we learn from reflecting upon Jesus as the “good shepherd”? There are many facets to ponder.

Shepherds Work Hard and Sacrifice Often

For one thing, shepherding is hard work. Shepherds don’t have comfortable offices and regular hours. Shepherds work out in elements of nature, caring for their flock. A shepherd cannot abandon the sheep when the weather is bad or when night falls. A good shepherd stays with and protects the sheep in every situation.

Not long ago I took my son to a birthday party for one of his classmates. While the kids were roller-skating, I struck up a conversation with an elderly Navajo woman (the town where I live in New Mexico has a large Navajo population). Talking about her childhood, she remembers watching after the sheep, specifically how her father made her go find any sheep that went missing even if it was after dark. She remembers how scary it was to search for a missing sheep in the darkness. Yes, shepherding is hard and selfless work. As Jesus says, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Shepherding is self-sacrificial.

Shepherds Build Deep Relationships With Their Flock

Shepherding is also relational. Jesus says, “I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14). In talking to elderly people who grew up looking after sheep, I’ve come to understand the way in which they intimately know their sheep and their various “personalities.” Conversely, the sheep come to know and trust their shepherd’s voice.

Not long ago when preparing a sermon on John 10 I came across a story in Frederick Dale Bruner’s commentary on John’s Gospel that captures this well. East of the Jordan River, about a dozen shepherds pitched their tents in a wide circle. All their sheep gathered in the middle of the tents for the night while the shepherds slept. In the morning, each shepherd set off in a different direction, calling their sheep. From the large mass of animals, the sheep separated themselves out, each following the voice of the shepherd they knew. Sheep know the voice of their shepherd. They have a relationship.

Shepherds Don’t Just Lead—They Also Pursue the Lost

Shepherds must also, at times, pursue their sheep. We find Jesus describing this in his parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7). Shepherds do more than lead their sheep; they also pursue them when the sheep wander off or become lost. Seeing Jesus as our good shepherd means that Jesus is willing to pursue us to bring us back into God’s loving arms. He will not abandon us. As David says of God, his Shepherd, in Psalm 23, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (v 6). The Hebrew word translated “follow” (radaf) can also mean “chase” or “pursue.” A good shepherd pursues the sheep.

When Jesus calls himself the “good shepherd,” he shows us what kind of leader he is. He is a servant leader, a loving leader, one who has a close relationship with his followers and even pursues them when they go astray.

How is being led by a good shepherd a helpful metaphor for the Christian life? When we see Christ as our shepherd, that puts us in the role of being sheep. Sheep are not the brightest animals, and they’re vulnerable. Sheep need someone to lead them to food and water, and to protect them from danger. Christ does the same thing for his people: He leads us to new life through his Spirit and protects us from anything that could separate us from God’s love. Knowing we have a good shepherd reminds us that we are traveling through life alone. Christ is always with us. Praise God for the Good Shepherd!

Adapted from the study material from the NIV Application Bible based on the NIV Application Commentary series.