I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Unlike the unfaithful shepherds of Israel in the past who fed themselves and did not feed the flocks, and whom the Lord denounced, Ezek. 34. 2; Jer. 23. 1-4, we have here speaking to us ‘the good shepherd’. Not only was it said of Him, ‘He shall feed his flock like a shepherd’, Isa. 40. 11, but He was also willing to die for the sheep. First, He mentioned the self-seeking thief who comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. By contrast, He had come that He might procure life eternal and abundant to those who trust in His atoning work on the cross on their behalf.

The distinguishing mark of the good Shepherd is His willing­ness to give His life for the sheep, v. 11. Yet the Shepherd’s death must be viewed as the fulfilment of prophecy. The way to life, by faith in the substitutionary death of a sacrifice has been God’s way of salvation in all ages. Ever since Abel offered his sacrifice to God, the hopes of God’s people have hung on a Saviour and His sacrifice. Only the sinless, holy Lamb of God could claim to be able to fulfil their hopes.

He then contrasted the shepherd with the hireling, a mere paid worker who does not own the sheep, and therefore does not have the same care for their safety. At the first sign of danger, he will flee and leave the sheep at the mercy of the wolf that catches and scatters them. In contrast, the good Shepherd will put their safety before His own. He intimately knows every one of His sheep, a knowledge of love and compassion, of pity for their weaknesses and mercy for their infirmities. The sheep, in turn, have knowledge of Him, based on faith and confidence in their Saviour and Friend and they rest in that knowledge, v. 14.

The Lord then speaks of a most endearing relationship between Himself and the Father: an ineffable knowledge, unknowable to man, mutually enjoyed by divine Persons. The eternal Son links His knowledge of the Father to His laying down His life for the sheep, v. 15. His knowledge included acquaintance with the Father’s will which purposed the Son’s death for sinners. However, His death was a totally voluntary sacrifice, for He had power to lay His life down in death and power to take it up again in resurrection, v. 18.