The Good Shepherd

There’s something profoundly intimate about the relationship between a shepherd and their sheep. It's not one based on distance or command but on a consistent, ongoing connection. The shepherd doesn't stand apart from the flock and shout orders from afar. No, the shepherd is close by, guiding each sheep with personal care, knowing each one by name, and the sheep knowing the shepherd’s voice. There is a kind of comfort in this relationship, an assurance that the shepherd will lead them through whatever comes their way, even in the harshest of circumstances. Jesus captures this deep relationship in John 10:3-4, where He says, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

It is the voice of the shepherd that matters most. It’s not the loudest or most dominant voice in the crowd, but it’s the voice that speaks directly to each sheep’s heart. It’s a sound that doesn’t confuse, but reassures. It’s a sound that has been present since the beginning, one that has guided and protected the sheep through many seasons. They know the shepherd’s voice because it’s not a voice of manipulation or deceit. It is a voice of love, consistency, and protection. The sheep trust the shepherd because they’ve experienced his care time and time again, and so when the shepherd calls them, they follow. This connection between the shepherd and the sheep isn’t just practical; it’s relational, built on trust, care, and a history of guidance.

I once had the privilege of observing shepherds guiding their sheep back from the fields in a museum setting. What stood out to me was the way the sheep immediately responded to their shepherd's voice. The shepherds weren’t distant figures, standing far off barking commands. Instead, they were constantly calling to the sheep, and as soon as the sheep heard their voices, they began to follow, running closely alongside the shepherd. There was no hesitation, no confusion. The sheep knew the shepherd’s voice and, without question, moved toward it. The pace was not rushed or frantic. It was steady, calm, and purposeful. The shepherd moved forward, and the sheep moved with him. It wasn’t a chaotic scramble. It was a harmonious following, a shared movement toward safety and home. There was no fear in the sheep’s eyes; only a sense of peace, knowing that the one who was calling them would lead them home. They weren’t simply following because they had to. They followed because they trusted the shepherd completely. In John 10:4, we read, “The sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

This image from the museum offers a powerful illustration of the deeper meaning behind Jesus’ words. It’s not just about getting the sheep from one place to another. The shepherd doesn’t simply bring them home for the sake of arrival. The shepherd’s voice doesn’t just give direction; it gives assurance. It says, “I’m here. I’ve been with you before, and I will lead you again. You can trust me.” And this isn’t just a practical guide to safety—it’s a relational invitation to move together in trust, toward a place of security and rest. When the shepherd calls, the sheep respond, not out of obligation but out of a deep, relational trust. They are not merely following instructions. They are following someone they know will lead them to what they need.

In this world, we are constantly bombarded with many voices—some are loud, some are subtle, some promising wealth, success, or comfort. The world’s voices can be incredibly persuasive, urging us to go faster, to work harder, to chase after fleeting things. But in the midst of all this noise, there is one voice that calls us to a different kind of life, a life that is deeply rooted in peace and security. It is the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus, our Messiah. His voice doesn’t demand. It invites. It doesn’t push with force; it calls with care. Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The shepherd’s voice is one that calls us to life—not just survival, but an abundant, fulfilling life. This life isn’t based on accumulating more things or running after success by the world’s standards. It’s about walking closely with the shepherd, following His lead, knowing that in His care, we find peace, purpose, and true joy. The sheep follow the shepherd not out of fear, but out of trust in His goodness and care. They follow because they know that His guidance leads them to places of rest and provision, to places where they will thrive, not just exist.

Jesus, in John 10:11, tells us, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” This statement speaks to the sacrificial nature of the shepherd’s love. It’s not about keeping the sheep alive at all costs or protecting them when it’s easy. The Good Shepherd’s love goes deeper than that. When danger threatens, when the wolves come, the shepherd doesn’t run. He stays. He doesn’t just protect the sheep when it’s convenient. He stays in the face of danger because the sheep’s well-being is his responsibility. His love for the sheep isn’t temporary or conditional. It’s selfless, and it’s sacrificial. He is willing to lay down His life for them. This is what distinguishes the Good Shepherd from the hired hand. The hired hand may watch over the sheep for a time, but when danger comes, the hired hand runs. The hired hand has no deep investment in the sheep, no personal stake in their well-being. But the Good Shepherd remains because He loves the sheep, and that love is more than just words—it’s proven in action. Jesus, of course, demonstrated this love in the most profound way possible—by laying down His life for us on the cross. This is the heart of the shepherd’s care: the willingness to give everything for the sake of the sheep.

When I watched those shepherds guiding their sheep, I noticed how they were never far from their flock. They called out regularly, checked in with their sheep, and moved alongside them. They didn’t rush the sheep or force them to follow at a pace that didn’t suit them. Instead, they ran with them, staying close, guiding them with gentle calls and clear direction. This wasn’t a mere task to complete. It was a shared journey. The shepherd was not looking to get from one place to another as quickly as possible. The shepherd was leading them to safety, and the way home was walked together. There was a harmony between the shepherd and the sheep. The shepherd’s actions communicated care, and the sheep followed, not because they were being driven, but because they trusted. This is how Jesus leads us. He leads with love. He leads with care. He leads with sacrifice.

Jesus makes it clear in John 10:14-15 that this relationship is rooted in knowing each other deeply. “I am the Good Shepherd; 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.” Jesus doesn’t just know about us. He knows us personally, intimately, in a way that goes beyond mere acquaintance. He knows the deepest parts of who we are, and in knowing us, He loves us. This kind of knowledge isn’t impersonal. It’s not abstract. It’s the kind of knowing that results in a deep, personal connection. Jesus doesn’t just lead us as a distant figure. He walks with us, calls us by name, and leads us toward life. The shepherd’s voice is not simply directional; it’s relational. The shepherd knows each sheep, and each sheep knows the shepherd.

This is the kind of relationship Jesus offers to us. When we hear His voice, it’s not a voice that commands from afar. It’s a voice that calls us personally, drawing us closer, leading us not just to safety but to life in abundance. When we hear the shepherd’s voice, we are invited to follow—not because we have to, but because we trust the one who calls us. We trust that He will lead us to good places, to places of rest and peace. This is what the shepherd offers. It’s not a life of mere survival or following rules—it’s a life of knowing and being known. A life of trusting and being trusted. It’s a life of following the Good Shepherd, who calls us to a full and abundant life. And that life, no matter what we face, is grounded in the assurance that He will always be with us, leading us safely home. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27).