“I Am the Good Shepherd”

Jesus told a group of His followers, as well some Pharisees, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).

The fourth of seven “I am” statements in John

This statement, and six others like it, reveal more about Jesus Christ and His role. They help teach us about what He has done and is doing for us.

What should we learn from Jesus’ declaration that He is the good shepherd?

Characteristics of the good shepherd

In John 10, Jesus gave more details about how He is the good shepherd.

• “The good shepherd gives His life to save His sheep” (verse 11).

The Bible reveals Jesus Christ as both the “Chief Shepherd” and the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 13:8). The imagery of Jesus giving His life to save others was foreshadowed at the time of the Exodus by the Passover lamb, whose blood on the doorposts saved the lives of the firstborn Israelites.

The apostle Paul reinforced this by reminding the Church members in Corinth that “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Jesus understood the human condition and had great compassion for people. We see this typology continued in the name “Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36) and “the Lamb” (Revelation 5:8 and 23 other times in the book of Revelation). Jesus willingly took on Himself the role of “the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12) to save us.

We can understand more about God’s love for us by looking at the example of David, who spent years as a shepherd before he became king. David noted that “when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,” he risked his own life to rescue the lamb (1 Samuel 17:34-35). He mirrored the approach of our good shepherd.

• The good shepherd protects and cares for His sheep (John 10:12-13).

Jesus recognized the dangers His people faced from Satan, the roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), and from human wolves seeking to take advantage of them. He assured us that God would protect His sheep:

“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:29; see “Safe in God’s Hands”).

Jesus understood the human condition and had great compassion for people. Matthew 9:36 records that when Jesus saw the multitudes, “He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” Read more about this in the article “Jesus’ Compassion.”

Isaiah painted a word picture of how our powerful God will show this tender care:

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).

Jesus also demonstrated His care for each of us in His parable of the lost sheep:

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:4-7).

• The good shepherd knows His sheep.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:14).

Each of the sheep—each member of God’s Church—is individually called by God the Father and drawn to Jesus Christ. Earlier in the book of John, Jesus explained, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).

Knowing His sheep implies understanding, focusing on and caring about us. It means a close and personal relationship. Jesus wants us to have life abundantly—eternal life in God’s family (John 10:10; see “Life More Abundantly”).

Bad shepherds, hirelings and wolves

Jesus contrasted the good shepherd with the “hireling,” or the hired hand or wage worker.

“But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep” (John 10:12-13).

It’s not that Jesus had a low opinion of all employees, but He was pointing out that it is not natural for them to risk their lives for the sheep. Humanly, it doesn’t make sense to try to fight off a wolf for the minimal wage that a hired hand might make. The temporary nature of the job also meant the hired hand wouldn’t have time to develop a caring relationship with the sheep.

But Christ also had in mind those who are lazy, selfish, cruel or even predatory.

Paul warned the elders from Ephesus that evil shepherds would arise, even in the Church.

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:28-30).

Peter also reminded the ministers of the Church of God to not be greedy, but to follow the caring example of the Chief Shepherd.

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3).

Bad shepherds in the Old Testament

The Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jesus’ day were surely stung by His rebuke of bad shepherds in John 10. But the story of bad shepherds in the Bible begins much earlier.

The judges, kings, priests and prophets of Israel were to care for the people as good shepherds. But too often they used their power and position to selfishly take advantage of the people. God’s prophets had many warnings for the leaders who were bad shepherds.

Here are a few of these prophecies:

• “‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!’ says the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:1).
• “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them’” (Ezekiel 34:10).
• “My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the goatherds. For the LORD of hosts will visit His flock” (Zechariah 10:3).

The good shepherd will rescue His sheep from these evil shepherds and from other dangers and, most of all, from the death penalty we have all earned.

How to be good sheep

How should we respond to our loving good shepherd? Here are five ways:

• Hear His voice (John 10:3; see “Listen Here”). We must make listening to God’s instructions a high priority.
• Don’t listen to other voices (verse 5). There are many voices in society and even in religion that do not match the voiceprint recorded in the Bible.
• Follow Him (verse 4). You can study this in detail in our Discern magazine series “Walk as He Walked.”
• Do His will and please Him (Hebrews 13:20-21). How do we do this? Study the biblical passages in “What Is the Will of God?” and “How to Please God.”
• Praise Him, recognizing His blessings and committing to Him. David demonstrated this in his meaningful 23rd Psalm:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:1-6; see “The Lord Is My Shepherd—and My Host!”).

For a broader study of who Jesus was, what He does for us and how we should respond, see “The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements of Jesus” and “I Am the Door of the Sheep.”