“I am the Good Shepherd”

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (NIV)

Israel had a long history of bad shepherds—bad leaders, who led the nation for selfish gain instead of for the good of the people. The prophet Ezekiel’s description of the bad shepherds in his day (around the 590sBC) sounds just like some of the Pharisees at the time of Jesus (AD30s). Nothing much had changed over the years.

Ezekiel writes, “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves… The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick… So they were scattered because there was no shepherd” (Ezekiel 34:2-5). This is exactly what the Pharisees had done to the man whose sight Jesus had restored, by kicking him out of the synagogue (in John 9:34)!

But Ezekiel had also prophesied the coming of a good shepherd. This shepherd would not just be a good human leader, but even greater: “For thus says the Lord God: ‘Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out… I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick” (Ezekiel 34:11-16).

In this I AM statement, Jesus claims that He is the Good Shepherd who fulfills Ezekiel’s promise. There is no better shepherd. In Jesus, God Himself lays down His life so that we—His sheep—can live!

SHADOW: In the Old Testament, God judges Israel’s bad shepherds and promises to come Himself as the good shepherd (Ezekiel 34:15).

CONTEXT: Jesus calls out the Pharisees (bad shepherds) for their pride in expelling the formerly blind man from the synagogue for his faith in Jesus

SUBSTANCE: Jesus is the good shepherd, who lays down His life for the sake of His sheep.

Reflect:

As you read John 10:11-42, consider the implications for your own life of Jesus’ claims in this passage. How does the Ezekiel passage shed even more light on the nature of His claims?

Think of some leaders (at church, work, or in your family) who have disappointed you. How has Jesus continued to be your Good Shepherd, even when others failed at the task?