I Am the Good Shepherd

Illustration of I Am the Good Shepherd

Jesus contrasts himself with the hireling who abandons the flock: the good shepherd knows his sheep and lays down his life for them. The image gathers up the Old Testament's picture of God as Israel's shepherd (Psalm 23) and points directly to the cross, where the shepherd would die to save the flock and then take his life again.

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Strongest connections in Scripture
John 10

Key Passages

I Am the Good Shepherd

John 10:11-16

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, knowing them by name and gathering even 'other sheep' into one flock.

I11 am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

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Characters

Jesus Jesus is portrayed in the Bible as the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah whose coming fulfilled Oldโ€ฆ David David began his life as a humble shepherd boy in Bethlehem before being anointed by the prophet Samuel toโ€ฆ

Did You Know?

1

The good shepherd 'giveth his life for the sheep' - pointing straight to the cross.

2

It fulfills Ezekiel 34, where God promises to shepherd his scattered flock himself.

3

Jesus mentions 'other sheep' - the Gentiles who would be brought into one flock.

4

David, Israel's shepherd-king, wrote 'The LORD is my shepherd' a thousand years earlier.