The Shepherd and the Flock

March 17 The Shepherd and the Flock John 10:1-10

“(I)f we do not want of our own accord to lay ourselves open to wolves and thieves, we must particularly guard against being deceived by false shepherds or sheep. The name “Church” is honorable and rightly so; but the greater reverence it deserves, the more careful and attentive should we be in observing the distinction between the true Church and the false.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 4:258-259

In contrast to the “bad” shepherds, who were leading the people astray, Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd. It was a figure of speech that resonated well with the people of Israel. In the Old Testament, God was sometimes likened to a shepherd, as were the kings and rulers of Israel. King David is the best-known example. As a boy he tended his father’s sheep; as a man he tended the nation. There was a widely held belief that, one day, God would send a new shepherd, a descendent of David, who would care for the people properly, not like hose who had led Israel into captivity and shame. The image was used to emphasize authority. False shepherds looked to their own interests; the Good Shepherd would restore the nation under the sovereignty of God.

Even if they lived in cities, most contemporaries of Jesus must have been familiar with shepherds. Sheep-pens dotted the hillsides of Israel. Constructed out of sturdy materials, often encircled by thorns and brambles, these pens enclosed enough land to accommodate two or three flocks overnight. There would be only one entrance across which a hired man would lay, overnight, to protect the sheep. In the morning, the shepherds would separate the flocks and go off in search of pasture. Usually, a special call or whistle would be used, to which the sheep would respond. It was not unusual, though, for the shepherd to know the sheep by name. they were kept primarily for their wool, not their meat, so the same animals could stay with the shepherd for years. He knew them, and they knew his voice.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. It’s clear, from the text, that Jesus wanted those who followed Him to recognize Him as the leader appointed by God to care for the flock. Unlike the Pharisees, He would not abuse His position. He would go before them, protecting them from whatever dangers might lie ahead. He would not run from danger; He would lay down His life for His sheep.

Changing the metaphor, Jesus then described Himself as the gate to the sheep-pen. This is yet another of the distinctive “I AM” sayings of Jesus in which He deliberately applied the Hebrew name of God to Himself. At this point, the sheep can no longer be understood as simply the people of Israel; the application is much wider. It is not a physical location (the land of Israel) to which the shepherd grants access, it is the condition of being in a saving relationship with God, through Christ.

If Jesus’ words were offensive to some of those who heard Him, they remain offensive to those who suggest that there are multiple entry-ways into the Kingdom of God. Jesus, however, does not compromise; He claims exclusivity. There are no other legitimate entry-ways. Every other self-proclaimed shepherd is an imposter. Everyone else is self-interested. Only Jesus provides the security and the abundant life we seek. There is no other way.

For further reading: Psalm 106:1-24