Sunday Readings: Acts 4.8-12; 1 John 3.1-2; John 10.11-18
I am the good shepherd. Good shepherds lay down their lives for their sheep (John 10.11).
Good shepherds accompany their sheep night and day, spend their lives finding pasture and water, and lay down their lives to protect them if need be. The whole of chapter 10 in John’s gospel uses the image of a good shepherd to explore our relationship as believers with Jesus, who lived out his love for us unto death.
The image of Jesus as the good shepherd is beloved among Christians, one we return to each year in the Sunday gospels of Easter. It’s an image of belonging and intimacy. Shepherds know their sheep, and sheep recognize their shepherds’ voices. Shepherds lead their flocks in and out of sheepfolds by calling them. Sheep will not follow another shepherd’s voice.
The scriptures of Israel frequently use shepherding as an image of God’s care for the people. God is the shepherd of Psalm 23. For early Christians and for us, the shepherd image expresses closeness and intimacy with Jesus. The verses in Sunday’s gospel emphasize the wholehearted love Jesus demonstrates in loving us unto death.
Jesus contrasts good shepherds with hired hands. The contrast asks us which we are, good shepherds or hired hands.
- What appeals to you about the image of Jesus as the good shepherd?
- Who do you shepherd? For whom are you laying down your life?