Jesus: The Good Shepherd
“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD”
The Good Shepherd is one of the many names of Jesus Christ in the Bible and is the subject of John Chapter 10. When speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus refers to himself as the good shepherd in a parable that’s hugely important to an understanding of salvation and the gospel.
The below verses are from John Chapter 10, with the words of Jesus in red.
- Salvation by Jesus alone: Jesus tells us that he’s both the good shepherd and the door of the sheep, and that “by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (Verse 9)
- Jesus gave his life for our salvation: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (Verse 11) And, “I lay down my life for the sheep.” (Verse 15)
- Jesus is the Savior of all and we are all one in Christ (there is neither Jew nor Greek; Galatians 3:28): “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (Verse 16)
- Salvation is eternal and secure: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Verses 27-28)
- Jesus and the Father are distinct: “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (Verse 29)
- Jesus is God in the flesh: “I and my Father are one.” (Verse 30)
As saved Christians, we are Christ’s sheep. Jesus is the door, the way to salvation, and as a good shepherd he leads us through the door to green pasture, a single fold in which we all gather as one body of believers.
Psalm 23 in the Old Testament also refers to Jesus as the shepherd — a shepherd that leads us to still waters and in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
John 10:1-30
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
Psalm 23 (A Psalm of David)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
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