Part II Why Is Jesus called the Good Shepherd?

Have you ever laid down your life for anyone? Jesus, the good shepherd, laid down his life for all who believed in Him.

In John 10:11, Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep. Here sheep are believers and Jesus is the shepherd.

Yesterday, I talked about the characteristics of sheep and why they need a shepherd. Today, I want to talk about the characteristics of the good shepherd, taken from my Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) notes on our study of the book of John.

"Nine characteristics of the good shepherd are:

1) He knows who are his own.
2) His own sheep know Him as their shepherd
3) The good shepherd knows God perfectly
4) The good shepherd dies for the sheep
5) The good shepherd seeks not only Jewish sheep, but
Gentile sheep
6) The good shepherd is loved by His Father
7) The good shepherd always had the Cross and the Resurrection
in mind
8) The good shepherd obeyed His Father's command
9) The good shepherd had unique power over death"

(Taken from the book of John, verses 14-18)

Christ's death on the Cross made all believers a part of one fold, one flock, whether black, white, Asian or American, man or woman, educated or illiterate. He laid down his life so that He could take it up again.

Jesus was always obedient to the will of the father, even when he had doubts, he desired to please the Father, no matter what the cost.

False shepherds only want sheep for themselves and even try to harm them. They don't really care for the sheep committed to them. They are only interested in power, fame, position, and money, most of the time.

Here are some facts: at night, sheep were often gathered into a sheep pen to protect themselves from thieves, weather or wild animals. The sheep pens were caves, sheds, or open areas surrounded by walls made of stones or branches. The shepherd often slept in the pen to protect the sheep. Just as a shephered cares for his sheep, Jesus, the Good Shepherd cares for the flock (those who follow him). In the sheep pen, the shepherd functioned as a gate, letting the sheep in and protecting them. Jesus is the gate to God's salvation for us. He offers access to safety and security. Christ is our protector.

We have to be careful who we follow and whose voice we listen because a true shepherd genuinely cares for the sheep that are entrusted to Him. There are many deceivers in the world and as sheep we can easily be persuaded to follow the wrong shepherd.

Jesus said, "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." John 10:14-15

Thought for Today: As disciples of Christ, we must be committed to lay down our lives for the brethren.