The Good Shepherd

John’s gospel tells us of 7 “I am” statements spoken by Jesus. These “I am” statements are incredibly powerful when we link this phrase to the “I am” statement spoken by God to Moses at the Burning Bush in Exodus 3 when God was revealing himself to Moses.

This week we have “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11) spoken by Jesus as a confrontation to the Pharisees, who he had just called blind or useless leaders. Jesus clearly says they don’t know their people, don’t care for them or affect their lives in meaningful ways. Their leadership is about themselves rather than the people.

What a contrast! We have a leader in Jesus who sees, plans, speaks, directs, feeds and protects.

John 10

• v3 He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out
• v4 He goes ahead for the sheep to follow
• v9 He helps the sheep go in and out to find pasture
• v11 He lays down his life for the sheep
• v14 He knows the sheep and they know him
• v28 He gives them eternal life and they will never perish

This has echoes of Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd ...

• v1 so I will lack nothing (no good thing)
• v1 who makes or causes me to lie down in green pastures
• v2 who leads me
• v3 who refreshes me (restores my soul)
• v3 who guides me along right paths
• v4 who is with me in dark valleys (the threat of death)
• v5 who prepares food for me (provision)
• v5 who anoints my head (healing and empowerment)

These are intimate pictures of care. Personal care, not just for the whole flock but attention to the individual, to me personally. This is the Shepherd of whom Peter says “cast your cares on me because I care” (1 Peter 5:7).

This shepherd knows me ... my innermost thoughts ... my secret fears ... my hidden sins ... yet does not pull away nor give up on me. He is the good shepherd, my shepherd.

As the Lord spoke to Moses, hear His words to you today. Hear Him speak these words but put your own name there instead of Moses’ name.

Exodus 22:17 (NIV)      The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

I am the good shepherd ... your good shepherd.