Some people go through life feeling like they are anonymous, that no one knows them, cares about them, knows their name, or that they even exist. They feel like they don’t belong, that they are nothing, just an unknown face in the crowd. Maybe that might describe you, perhaps some of the time, or maybe even all of the time. In our Scripture passage today from the Gospel of John we read about Jesus and one of the most well known Names that He has, the Good Shepherd, and how He knows each and every one of the sheep of His flock. Let’s take a look at this familiar passage.
Jesus was speaking, teaching His disciples and the people who have gathered around Him, when He gave what has become one of the better known titles that He is known by - the Good Shepherd. Today’s population has become much more urban than in the days of Jesus, but in His day people would have been very familiar with shepherds and their role. The shepherd would guide the flocks of sheep out into the fields to graze. They would need to know the area, whether there was any danger around. They needed to know if there were any plants which would make the sheep sick, if there were any ravines or hidden holes in the ground which a careless sheep might fall into or trip over and break a bone. The shepherd needed to keep a careful eye on the sheep to see that none of them wandered off and became lost, and most importantly to keep alert for wild and dangerous predators. Jesus has called Himself the Good Shepherd, as He cares for His flock in just such a way.
The good shepherd is in contrast to a hired hand, a hireling, who only cares for himself, and not the sheep (vs. 12-13). The hireling represents religious leaders who will perform their duties in good times, but do not truly care for their flock. When times get tough they flee. The hireling also tends the sheep for money. The Good Shepherd cares for His sheep for love. False teachers and false prophets do not have any such commitment.
Jesus described how He, as the Good Shepherd, would give His life for the sheep (vs. 11, 15). This is a reference to Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross. A good and loving shepherd will take risks for the sheep under his care, especially when he has to come up against a dangerous wolf or bear. Do you know someone who would be willing to lay down their life for you? Perhaps a spouse or a parent might, but that isn’t always the case. Like I described at the beginning, there are some who go through life so alone and feeling unloved, never believing that anyone would love them, let alone die for them. Yet that is exactly what Jesus, as our Good Shepherd, did (vs. 15). As John 3:16 says, God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for us, so that if we accept Him as our Savior, we might be able to spend eternity with Him.
Another trait of a caring shepherd is that they know their sheep well. They know exactly how many they have, and very often they have named each of their sheep. They keep track of them, and will notice right away when one of them goes missing. Because of the love and care they have for each individual sheep, when one wanders off and gets into danger, the shepherd will go in search of them, sometimes at a risk (Luke 15:3-7). Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, bringing them into His fold (Luke 19:10).
The shepherd knows the name of each of his sheep, and the sheep knows their shepherd and his voice. Likewise, Jesus, our Good Shepherd, knows each and everyone of His children. He knows our name, and cares deeply for every believer. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, comes when we call, just as a shepherd comes when the sheep start bleating. Jesus will walk with us through the dangers, like a caring shepherd does with his flock. He hears our cries and will lead us to safety. Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and because of His loving care, we will have all that we need (Psalm 23:1). He promises to always be with us, and to keep watch like a shepherd caring for his sheep.
For those who feel like no one knows or cares about them, I point to the Lord Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd. If the Savior knows our name, we are certainly loved (vs. 14). Life is not meaningless. Turn to Jesus, accept Him as your Savior, and come into His fold.
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