Jesus drew a contrast between how his followers were to display a spirit or attitude of authority and leadership and world’s leaders, but this does not imply that Jesus or his disciples weren’t leaders. His leadership was characterized by being a Servant to all, by being a Good Shepherd.
The passage we have today gives us
1) a contrast in leadership styles;
2) some characteristics of His leadership and finally,
3) a conclusion we must draw.
A contrast in leadership style
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep (John 10:11-13, NIV).
“As a leader, Jesus intended to come to die for others.”
This sacrificial act defines who He is, why He was born and embodies His leadership style. He came for those whom he loves.
In contrast, Jesus describes a hired man
Money or gain is the motive, not concern for others.
At the sign of danger, it is every man or sheep for himself. Self-preservation is main priority of this kind of leader. It’s all about me.
Hired man doesn’t own sheep so there is no concern about losing them.
What Jesus is actually contrasting is himself with an absentee owner who is not present. The implications are all negative as far as the sheep are concerned.
Jesus describes some of his positive characteristics as a good shepherd or leader.
“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. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” The Jews who heard these words were again divided (John 10:14-19, NIV).
Jesus describes himself again as a moral or virtuous shepherd/leader. Repetition is used to emphasize what Jesus wants to stress.
Second,
“Jesus offers an intimate, personal relationship;”
He knows his sheep and his sheep, my sheep know me. Not facts about but knowledge that leads to trust. We can build trust only through time, shared experiences, getting to know another deeply.
And so, in verse 15, Jesus compares His Relationship with Father, intimate, deep as same kind in quality He desires with his followers, his sheep.
Another characteristic that Jesus speaks of is his responsibility for other sheep in a different field/fold and he is going after them also. The end result is that there will be just ONE flock under ONE shepherd/ leader.
“A leader with no favorites but all together in one flock, one body, one universal church.”
In talking about other sheep, Jesus is referring to the Gentiles.
The promise that God made to Abraham, is that through him, many nations would be blessed.
In Romans 4:16 we read,
Therefore, the promise comes by faith so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring (Romans 4:16).
One final characteristic that Jesus mentions is that he is a shepherd/leader who is under authority to his Father, willingly, lovingly without strife or competition. Rather,
“the Trinity lives in love, in perfect agreement, in peace and harmony.”
Perhaps there are some who have difficulty trying to understand the relationship that exists within the Trinity. This is completely understandable.
The ancient Greek writers like Homer and Euripides, wrote of petty gods who fight with each other, are jealous, and have weaknesses and flawed characters like mankind. The Relationship of Father, Son and His Son is completely harmonious
Jesus is saying he is willingly, lovingly, and caringly dying for others. It was the Father’s plan and Jesus willingly agreed to it.
“Harmony would be an accurate description of their relationship.”
And finally, John leaves us to draw a conclusion, about who Jesus is.
For the Pharisees, Jesus can’t be God or from God because he doesn’t do or act or provide as they wanted him to. He didn’t fit their categories. They totally rejected what Jesus said about himself and the acts he did to support his claim.
Another group of witnesses of Jesus acknowledge the facts, a man born blind was healed. Who can do that but God? They are confused, curious but undecided.
A third group responds to Jesus, recognizing He is the Good Shepherd they have needed and decided to follow Him.
And Jesus, now just like then, calls to all
I am the good shepherd/leader. I lay down my life to offer you forgiveness and eternal life with me and my Father.
I am calling to all to Follow me.
Will you respond to His call, the call of the GOOD SHEPHERD to follow Him? My sheep know me and I know them, each of them by name.
