The Parable of the Good Shepherd

Throughout his Gospel, John aims to show that Jesus is the Messiah long promised by the prophets. In the Parable of the Good Shepherd in John 10:1–5, Jesus declares that He is God’s shepherd, fulfilling the prophecy of Ezekiel 34.

Through the very simple parable in John 10:1–5, Jesus shows the difference between Himself and all the others who laid claim to religious leadership in Israel. There are two distinguishing characteristics of the Good Shepherd: He enters through the door and is recognized by His sheep, and He will lay down His life for the sheep.

In Ezekiel’s day, the religious leaders were more like predators than shepherds. Ezekiel describes them as eating the sheep rather than feeding them; they were more akin to thieves than caretakers (Ezek 34:2–10). It is against the backdrop of Ezekiel’s prophecy that Jesus declares Himself to be the Good Shepherd whose care for the sheep, including His sacrificial death on their behalf (John 10:11), distinguishes Him from all who have previously come (John 10:8).

The True Shepherd

In contrast to the thief, who must jump over the wall, the true shepherd uses the door to enter the fold (John 10:1). Each night, the shepherd guards the door (compare John 10:12–13). When he calls, his sheep respond because they know him, trust him, and follow him (John 10:3–4).

In Jesus’ day, many shepherds shared the same pasture and even drove their flocks together into a sheepfold at night. In the morning, each shepherd would stand at the open gate and call for his sheep. The flock would recognize his voice and follow him out.

After hearing the parable, the Pharisees were confused. They knew all about sheep and shepherds, but they failed to see Jesus’ point. It was often this way with the parables Jesus told, but on this occurrence He took time to explain it to them.

Jesus said that in addition to being the Good Shepherd, He also acts as the door to the sheepfold (John 10:7, 9). This aspect of the parable calls attention to the unique role Jesus plays in God’s redemptive plan. While there may be other shepherds who care about the sheep, none of them can offer entrance into the fold of God. Jesus states this plainly in John 14:6, saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

As in Ezekiel’s day, many in Israel at the time of Christ were taking unfair advantage of God’s people. They were like thieves who sought to use religion for personal gain. Jesus described them as coming only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:8, 10). They considered the people of Israel solely for their own use. The religious system of Jesus’ day, practiced primarily on the basis of ritual rather than righteousness, placed heavy burdens on the people while ensuring that the religious leaders grew in wealth and power (e.g., Matt 23:2–4; Luke 11:46).

But Jesus—the promised Messiah—came to care for the sheep and lead them back to God. His great concern for the sheep was in His willingness to do what was best for them. Unlike the person merely hired for the job, the true shepherd would act in the best interests of the flock, despite the risks He might face. He came not to take their lives or profit from their lives, but rather so that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

The Shepherd’s Sacrifice

Toward the end of Jesus’ explanation, we find the second distinguishing characteristic of the Good Shepherd: He is willing to lay down His life for the sheep. Jesus makes this astounding statement four times in John 10:15–18. This repetition, a common literary device in the ancient world, shows that this is the main theme of the parable.

That the shepherd would die to save the sheep may be an allusion to another Old Testament passage. In Isaiah 53:6, the prophet gives voice to every repentant sinner’s heart in confessing, “All of us have wandered about like sheep; we have each turned to his own way; and Yahweh let fall on him the iniquity of us all.”

Jesus makes it clear that His sacrificial death was not forced upon Him. Rather, Jesus chose to follow the will of God the Father all the way to the cross. He willingly took upon Himself the task of sin bearer and endured agonizing shame (compare Isa 53:10–12). Now, He has been given His rightful place at the right hand of the Father in heaven (see Heb 12:1–2).

Like sheep, every one of us has wandered away from our Creator, transgressed His law, and rebelled against His right to rule over us. We all deserve the full punishment God’s law requires for our waywardness—death. But God has desired to express His glory by rescuing those who neither deserve rescue nor have the ability to bring themselves to safety.

The Good Shepherd has come to bind up the broken, bring back the scattered, and return the lost to the flock of God. To lavish His love on us while satisfying His divine justice, the Good Shepherd took our punishment upon Himself so that we might eternally be part of His flock.

David W. Hegg