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The Shepherd Who Sacrifices His Life for His Sheep
(John 10:1-18)
Mari Ikeda
Today we are going to begin Chapter 10 of the Gospel of John. The passage we will read today is the story of how we are a flock of sheep being led by Jesus. As usual, we will read a little at a time. First, verses 1-6.
A. A parable (1-6)
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
1. “Thief” “Robber”
We are told that Jesus told this parable to the Pharisees. If we read the concluding part of this passage, verse 21, which we omit today, we can assume that this is the interaction immediately following the event in which Jesus healed the blind man. In other words, Jesus was not speaking this parable out of context, but rather to those who did not understand Jesus’ healing miracle and did not want to open their hearts. Thus, the “thieves” and “robbers” Jesus is referring to here are those who are trying to get rid of Him by refusing to listen to His words and believe in His miracle. They are considered “thieves” and “robbers” because they make those whom Jesus wants to take care of suffer. They are thieves and robbers because they rob people of the love and hope that Jesus wants to give them.
2. The shepherd who calls his sheep by name and leads them
In contrast, Jesus is the shepherd who protects and leads the flock. Particularly noteworthy here is that we are told that “(The shepherd) calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” Then it says, “The sheep hear his voice and follow the shepherd.” I think this condenses what the encounter between each of us and Jesus is like. Jesus is the one who calls each of us by name and makes us part of his flock. We are just members of a larger flock, but Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares about each one of us individually. Sometimes we forget this and feel as if we are one of the “many” and feel trapped and lonely. At such times, what we need is to hear the voice of the Shepherd once again. To hear the voice that is calling our name.
Why we are able to distinguish between those voices is, in fact, a mystery. Sometimes we make mistakes. We’ll see this again in the last part we’ll read today. For now, let’s move on first to the next part, verses 7-10.
B. Jesus as the gate (7-10)
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Most of us have no experience with livestock herding, but we have seen and heard about the nomadic lifestyle. Sheep are in the pasture during the day, but come back inside the fence at night. Part of the fence is a gate that allows them to enter and exit. The gate separates the safe zone enclosed by the fence from the world outside the fence. There is a rich pasture outside the fence, and you have to go out there as well, but it can be dangerous to go out there.
Jesus said, “I am the gate for the sheep,” meaning that the gate is the only way into the safe zone that is fenced off. It means that Jesus is the only way to know God’s love. We know God’s love when we know that Jesus died for us. And when we knew that that love was poured out on us, a safe zone was created in our hearts. It is a place like a water source in our hearts where God’s love always gives us security and hope. Even when we are hurt in the outside world, even when we are full of our own fears and anxieties, there is peace when we enter it.
But at the same time, the gate exists not only for the sheep to get in the fence, but also to get out of the fence. Jesus made it possible for us to be safe inside the fence, but also for us to go outside the fence and have abundant life. This is where the following metaphor becomes necessary. It is the metaphor of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Let’s read verses 11-13.
C. Jesus as the good Shepherd
1. How He is different from hired hands (11-13)
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
The first thing that is said in the metaphor that Jesus is the Good Shepherd is that He is not like an irresponsible hireling. A hired hand takes care of his employer’s sheep on his behalf, but when the wolf comes, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Jesus, on the other hand, is the Good Shepherd who sacrifices himself to protect the sheep when the wolf comes. To Jesus, the sheep are more important than himself, and he does not want to sacrifice even one sheep. And as we saw in the first reading today, verses 3-4, Jesus is the one who calls each of us by name and takes the lead in leading us to a place of abundance.
What we need to consider here is what the metaphor of the irresponsible hireling or wolf actually refers to. It is the same entity as a thief or robber. In verse 10, which we read earlier, we saw that “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” In other words, they are people who exploit the sheep, make them suffer, and throw them away. It is tempting to think that there are not many such terrible people, but the truth is that we ourselves can easily be like that.
We all have the role of shepherd if we desire to follow Jesus. It is the role of protecting and guiding those who are close to us so that we can share God’s love with them and they can have a safe zone in their hearts. It means that we temporarily take on the role of shepherd on behalf of the great shepherd, Jesus. But we often fail in that role. Instead of protecting the sheep, we hurt them; instead of leading them, we lead them astray. We can also be hurt by those we have respected. We become thieves and robbers, hirelings and wolves to one another.
At such times, what we need is to hear the voice of Jesus calling our name once again. We need to remind ourselves that we are Jesus’ sheep and belong to no one else, and that He alone is the true shepherd. We remain Jesus’ sheep whether we are in the position of a substitute shepherd or a sheep being guarded by someone else. Without Jesus as our shepherd, we would go our own ways selfishly, putting ourselves and our companions in danger. Therefore, each of us must listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.
Now let’s read the last part of today, verses 14-18.
2. The shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep (14-18)
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father —and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life —only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
How can we discern the voice of Jesus? I would like to rethink this question that we have been putting off. To know Jesus is also to know that we are known by Him. To know that Jesus knows us well, that He cares about us, that He is interested in us, that He wants to protect us, and that He wants to guide us is to know Him. And we know that Jesus is such a good shepherd because He offered His life on the cross.
Jesus is the Shepherd who laid down His life for us. Jesus loved His sheep so much that He laid down His life to protect them. The amazing thing is that Jesus was the very God who created this world. God gave his life to call us back to the safe zone and to lead us to the land of abundance, even though we are each selfishly walking a dangerous path. He has kept saying, “I am the Good Shepherd and I will never forsake you.” If we hear this voice from Jesus on the cross, we can always hear His voice in our hearts.
Finally, I would like to focus on Jesus’ words in verse 16.
３. He also leads the sheep outside of this “sheep pen” and makes one flock (16)
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
What does “this sheep pen” refer to? Traditionally, it has been interpreted to refer to non-Jews and Gentiles. Then, applying that to the present day, the common interpretation is that this sheep pen refers to the group of people who are already saved, namely, the church. I think that interpretation is not wrong, but I thought it was misleading, so I have spoken of this “sheep pen” as a safe zone in our hearts. I don’t think we should define the intimate relationship between a shepherd and his sheep, Jesus, only by superficial things such as whether or not we attend church, or whether or not we are Christians. What Jesus wanted was to bring and fill the heart of each person with God’s love. And thereby to have a mutual intimate relationship where each person is loved and adored in a one-on-one relationship with God. There are many sheep inside and outside the church that do not have such an intimate relationship. Jesus says, “I must bring such sheep.”
(Prayer) Lord Jesus, you gave your life for us. Through it we have known your love. I know that you died for me, that you died to call my name and to live with me. Jesus, please help us to listen to your voice and to follow you, not to be deceived by other voices, not to go our own way, but to follow you. Guide our hearts with your spirit. We all have times when we are weak, times when we make mistakes. There are times when we want to hear your voice but cannot recognize it. So may we be your agents for one another and do our part to bring your voice to us. We pray in your name, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Summary
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who offers his life for the sheep. The conviction that Jesus offered his life for us unites our hearts to God’s love. Knowing that love also enables us to discern false love. Jesus is also the safe zone of our hearts. We are sometimes led out of it by Jesus on a journey, but it is a journey that promises abundant life. (See also Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34.)
For Discussion
- Why do you think the sheep (we) know the voice of the Shepherd (Jesus)?
- What do you think Jesus meant by “the sheep pen”?