Jesus lived in a pastoral society. The images He used to illustrate points were very well known to his listeners. Fortunately for us urbanites, they are simple figures, and easily understood even by us 2000 years later. For example, John records these words of the Lord, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:1-5).
Notice that this image affirms the genuineness of Jesus Christ. He is the true shepherd. During Jesus’ time there were others who claimed to be from God, but were not. Jesus’ bonafides included prophecy, genealogy, miracles, and later, His resurrection from the dead. He is THE shepherd. He is unique. He is the prophesied Christ, the Redeemer of mankind. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me” (14:6).
As such, He knows us intimately. “He calls his own sheep by name.” If we are truly of His flock, He is the only one we follow. Others are thieves, robbers, strangers. As our Lord, we are to listen only to Jesus. As the Father stated, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5).
Later in John 10, Jesus refers to the sacrificial nature of his shepherding. He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (11). This is contrasted with the destructive nature of the illegitimate thief. And the cowardice of the hireling. As Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (10). And, “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” (12).
What Jesus’ claimed for Himself is evident to us today, and yet there are false religions, evil influences, and undependable hirelings that harm Jesus’ flock even today. There will always be false teachers. There will always be compromise. There will always be fallible men who will lead the flock of God astray, if allowed (cf. Acts 20:29-30).
So, it remains for us to listen only to the good Shepherd, the one who laid down his life for us. Heed and obey Jesus!
