HILLFAITH STUDIES: Jesus’ Fourth Great ‘I Am’ Claim – The Good Shepherd
When Jesus repeats something about Himself in the Gospels, it’s an indication that we should pay particular attention to whatever He says. John 10:11 and 14 are a beautiful illustration of the loving way Jesus views His followers.
Photo by Jaka Škrlep on Unsplash
Here’s the complete passage, which encompasses verses 11 to 15:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
“He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
As wonderful as is the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd — the one who defends and cares for the sheep, tends to their needs and provides their security — it is Jesus’ final statement in verse 15 that makes this such a profound claim about Himself.
Jesus knew that He would die on the Cross (see John 12:20-36 and Matthew 16:21-23), it was the whole purpose of His leaving Heaven and being born into this world as a man, to be the sacrificial lamb who atones for the sins of those who accept Him as their savior.
Why Did Jesus Die?
Why was it necessary for Jesus to do this? Because, as Paul explains at Romans 3:23-26, every human being is born with original sin and is unable to save himself or herself. We each need the Good Shepherd, not just to provide and protect us, but to take upon Himself the punishment we deserve for our sins. His sacrifice makes it possible for us to be with Him forever in Heaven, that’s what “salvation” is all about.
Odds are, if you are reading this now and you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, you are scoffing at the idea of your sin. You may be thinking that, while you aren’t perfect by any means, you are “basically good” and if you try your best to do good as often as possible, then that will make you “good enough” to spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus.
The Good Shepherd comes that we may have life and have it more abundantly through admitting our sin and accepting His sacrifice as our savior. It is His Resurrection three days after dying on the cross that validates everything He said about Himself, and about you and me.
Now, the question is what will you do with this Good Shepherd? Are you one of His sheep, or are you following one of those “hired hands” who flee at the first sight of the wolf?
The Complete Jesus’ Seven Great ‘I AM’ Claims Series
July 6: Introduction – Jesus’ Seven Great ‘I AM’ Claims Series.
July 13: “I am the bread of life.” John 6:35
July 20: “I am the light of the world.” John 8:12 and 9:5
July 27: “I am the door for the sheep.” John 10:7
August 4: “I am the good shepherd.” John 10:11
August 10: “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” John 11:25-26
August 17: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6
August 24: “I am the true vine.” John 15:1
One of our Elders had an interesting take on why Jesus had to die. The Elder’s name is Kevin and I give him all the credit for the following.
June 2021 Devotional
Why did Jesus have to die?- Common answers- To atone for our sins. He died for our sins. BUT- why did he have to die for us to be saved?
He’s God. Why couldn’t he just say:
John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
Done and Done. He completes his ministry and ascends into Heaven.
MOSAIC COVENANT
Exodus 20- The commandments are read to the Jews.
Hebrews 9- Paul fills in the gaps and gives us a little more detail:
For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.
This makes the Mosaic Covenant a Blood Covenant. This changes everything.
The only way to end a blood covenant is for one of the parties to the covenant to die.
Luke 22
The Lord’s Supper
19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
Jesus died to end the blood covenant with the people of Israel and begin the New Covenant. Now anyone can have salvation, not just the parties to the Mosaic Covenant. Without His death, there is no New Covenant.
Why does Christianity have to put ideas into terms that are hard to appreciate? Even by other Christians. Paul says, “We have all made mistakes and fall short of the glory of God.” A statement everyone can easily accept. You translate this into dogma speak, “we are all born with original sin.” This dogma of original sin, a sin going back to Adam, staining everyone, makes God seem very unjust, judging us out of the gate by something we had no control over. Why put our shortcomings in this way?
So Jesus must “take upon himself the punishment we deserve for our sins?” Your first statement about “original sin” undermines this claim. Original sin was not our personal sin. How do we deserve it?
This is not a matter of thinking we are “basically good.” People don’t have to be Rousseau to think justice means paying for your own mistakes. If someone is so deluded to think they never make mistakes, their parents, spouses, and bosses will set them straight. If they can’t, neither can the dogma of original sin.
No, Paul does not say “we have all made mistakes.” The original Greek word Paul used is Hamartia, which means to miss the required mark, a principle or source of action from the heart. Sin is not a mistake, it is a violation of God’s law. Paul uses the same word at Romans 7:10 where he says Hamartia killed him.