John 10:1-21
The Good Shepherd and His Flock
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.
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.
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.
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.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Genesis 4:1-2
Able Was One Who Raised Flocks
1 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.”2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.
Genesis 4:20
The Father of the Shepherds
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.
Psalm 23:1-6 (KJV)
a psalm of David
The LORD is My Shepherd
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Sheep provided wool and clothing for their shepherds and meat for food in even the earliest of times...And Jesus would identify Himself with sheep and as the Good Shepherd...He calls Himself the Good Shepherd and identifies with the shepherds of His time...Yet, being a shepherd was not one of much social status during Jesus' day...During the Patriarch's time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the shepherd was more noble profession...In Genesis, we learn that Adah gave birth to Jabal; who was called the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock...So the shepherds either wandered from place to place looking for food and pasture to feed somewhere...And they lived in tents while doing there work...Jabal, I do not think is our first shepherd, even though he was called the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock, in the Hebrew lands...Abel was also a keeper of flocks while Cain worked the soil...So either Adam or Abel probably was our first shepherd...
Living outside, traveling about and in tents would have been a hard life as they kept watched over their flocks...Sheep are timid and require protection...And the sheep might be subject to wild animals, such as wolves or a thief or a robber who would cause them harm...But the Good Shepherd would make His voice known to His sheep...The Good Shepherd calls His own sheep by name and leads them out of any trouble with wild animals or thieves or robbers...When the Good Shepherd has brought out all His own sheep , He would go ahead of them looking out for them and any trouble that might happen...The Good Shepherd's sheep would never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from stranger's because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice...Jesus used this figure of speech about sheep, but the Pharisees did not understand what He was telling them...Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I AM the gate for the sheep...All who have come before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them...I AM the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved...They will come in and go out, and find pasture...The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full...“I AM the Good Shepherd...The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep...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...The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep...“I AM the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me— just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My life for the sheep...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...The reason My Father loves Me is that I lay down My life—only to take it up again...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.”...
Jesus knows God and God knows Him...So the Good Shepherd would lay His life down for the sins of His sheep...And after laying down His own life, He would be able to take it up and be alive again...No one, Jew or Gentile, could have really taken His life, because the Good Shepherd is Divine...His Father gave Him the authority to lay down His life and be crucified and then the authority to take it up and live again...
Shepherding was really not a social acceptable vocation in His day...Yet even having this poor reputation, Jesus, a Rabbi and Teacher identified with the shepherds of His day and called Himself the Good Shepherd...The Messiah would be, a Shepherd, our Good Shepherd...And to further remember a past shepherd with his words, the LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want…He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters....He restoreth my soul: He leadeth 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 Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me...Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over...Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever...