Jesus The Good Shepherd
Perhaps no image in church history is more beloved than Jesus as the good shepherd. This passage from John 10 reveals not just what Jesus is, but who He is—a humble, weathered shepherd unwilling to abandon His sheep, even at the cost of His own life. This shepherd knows each sheep by name and desires to bless them with deliverance from destruction unto abundant life.
The Shepherd's Call
John 10:1-5
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep."
The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. They follow him, for they know his voice.
In the ancient world, multiple flocks shared common folds. Each morning, shepherds would make a specific call—a yodeling or whistling—and their sheep, recognizing their shepherd's unique voice, would separate from the others and follow.
An Image Throughout History
The image of Christ as shepherd has endured for 2,000 years. In the Roman catacombs, where persecuted Christians were buried, the most common symbol carved into rock walls was the shepherd's crook—a simple reminder that Jesus is the good shepherd. These weren't great works of art, just stick figures holding a crook with a lamb, yet they captured everything essential to faith.
Early Church Art
Gems, seals, and glass fragments portrayed Christ bringing home lost sheep upon His shoulders
Philip Schaff's Observation
The shepherd symbol expressed "the whole picture of salvation" in childlike simplicity
Popular Religion
The religion of early Christians was "in one word, the religion of the Good Shepherd"
Beyond Abstractions to the Person
In our day, Jesus the person sometimes gets lost in the background. We can teach the Bible, preach good doctrines, emphasize grace and the gospel—yet if these become abstract concepts rather than pathways to knowing Christ personally, we've stopped short of the goal.
Teaching the Word
The Bible is essential, but it's the means, not the end
Understanding Doctrine
Theology matters, but doctrines flow from Christ's person
Knowing Jesus
The goal is relationship with the living Shepherd
"I have decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." —1 Corinthians 2:2
When we open Joshua's story, we don't stop at leadership principles. We see Joshua as an archetype foreshadowing a greater Joshua—Jesus—who attacks the walls of death and leads God's people into the true promised land of eternal life.
Royal and Biblical Imagery
Ancient Royal Symbol
In antiquity, shepherd imagery carried royal overtones. Kings appropriated the title "shepherd of their people." Egyptian pharaohs held a shepherd's crook and flail—the crook symbolizing care, the flail representing authority.
Fascinatingly, Jesus appropriates only the shepherd's crook. The flail gets appropriated to Him at the cross—a profound reversal of power.
Biblical Foundation
Most importantly, shepherd imagery was applied to Yahweh Himself throughout Scripture:
- Psalm 23: The LORD leads beside still waters and green pastures
- Jeremiah 23: God will gather and bring back the sheep
- Ezekiel 34: The Shepherd God will seek, rescue, and judge
- Zechariah 10: He will strengthen, save, and have compassion
Understanding the Parable
Jesus uses a common illustration to teach profound truth. In the ancient world, sheep were fundamental to survival—providing clothing and food. Multiple flocks shared common folds or paddocks, especially for poorer shepherds who couldn't afford individual enclosures.
01
The Shepherd's Call
The shepherd enters lawfully through the door and makes his unique call
02
Recognition
His sheep, knowing his voice, separate from other flocks and come to him
03
Leading Out
He leads them from the holding pen to green pastures and fresh waters
04
Abundant Life
The fold isn't the destination—life is experienced in the shepherd's care
The shepherd's fold was not the end in itself—it was merely the holding pen. True life for the sheep was out on the pastures, in green meadows and beside still waters, under the shepherd's watchful care.
Threats to the Flock
John 10:1-18 roots us in real-world dangers that threatened ancient flocks. The shepherd faced multiple threats requiring constant vigilance and courage.
Wild Predators
Wolves, lions (including Barbary lions that roamed the Levant), and leopards posed constant danger to vulnerable sheep
Thieves in the Village
Criminals would climb over walls, unlawfully fleece sheep, kill them, and throw bodies over the wall to escape
Robbers in the Wilderness
As shepherds led flocks through wadis and canyons, thieves would wait at the end of the line to grab the last sheep while the shepherd advanced ahead
Against these real threats, Jesus positions Himself as the shepherd who enters lawfully through the door, who calls His sheep by name with particular affection, and who leads them to abundant life.
"I Am the Door"
"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." —John 10:9
When the people didn't understand His parable, Jesus explained explicitly: "I am the door." The door is the only lawful entry point, in opposition to thieves and robbers who jump the wall by unlawful means.
Jesus alone is the access point into the knowledge of God and spiritual nourishment. This is a proverbial way of saying He is the only lawful entrance into life and salvation.
Saved
Delivered from death, destruction, and the enemy
Freedom
"Go in and out"—an Aramaic expression denoting true liberty
Nourishment
Finding pasture—experiencing true life and sustenance
The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus came that we may have life—and have it abundantly.
Life Abundant Beyond Imagination
Jesus distinguishes between two dimensions of life. Everlasting life is life without end chronologically—life that never stops. But what good is life that never ends if the quality is low?
When Jesus promises abundant life, He speaks of qualitative life—life without scope or outer boundary. This is life where you never reach the point of asking, "Is this all there is?"
∞
Limitless Scope
Because God is limitless in eternity, the life we enjoy in Christ is limitless in scope
∞
Infinite Quality
Because God is infinite in depth, the quality of life He gives is without outer boundary
∞
Boundless Wonder
For all eternity, we will say "Wow, worthy, worthy, worthy" without exhausting His glory
Eternal life is not a commodity separate from God—it is participation in the very life of God Himself. It is being united to Christ and bound up in the life of God.
You cannot even begin to fathom the abundant, the fatness, the contentedness, the sweetness, the joy, the wonder, the infinity of life that Jesus Christ has prepared for those who love Him. If human imagination can cause you to wonder in awe, the infinite imagination of God has prepared what you cannot begin to imagine.
What Makes Jesus the Good Shepherd
Unlike every other shepherd in history, Jesus is the good shepherd for five profound reasons that set Him apart and secure our eternal hope.
He Calls His Own by Name
This is not a shepherd who says "I'm here if you want me." He pursues you by name, knowing you from formation in your mother's womb, knowing the number of hairs on your head. He meets you in the mud to draw you into abundant life.
He Is the Only Lawful Access
There is no other life, no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved. He is the way, the truth, and the life—the only door to the Father.
He Gives Abundant Life
He doesn't just give okay life—He gives His own life. He gives us access to call the Father "Abba," to participate in the very life of God Himself.
He Stands His Ground
Against thieves, wolves, enemies, and demons, Jesus stands firm. He looks evil and death in the face and says, "They are mine, and no one can pluck them out of my hand." He doesn't flinch before legions.
He Lays Down His Life
Unheard of—a shepherd laying down his life for sheep. Not because sheep are more valuable than his life, but to communicate how valuable the sheep are to him. He died on the cross to rescue His sheep.
"In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." —1 John 4:10
If you have believed, you have a good shepherd who walks you through valleys of the shadow of death and disarms the enemy. If God is for us, who can be against us? If you have not believed, why not believe today? Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone, that you might have life—and life abundantly.