In John 10, Jesus portrays himself as both the shepherd of his sheep (10:2, 11, 14) and the door of the sheep (10:7, 9). The Bible pictures the Lord’s people as his sheep (Isaiah 53:6, Matthew 9:36, 1 Peter 2:25). In Bible times sheep and shepherds were familiar to most people. They understood that sheep are vulnerable animals that depend upon a shepherd to provide for them and to protect them. What an apt depiction of God’s people and Christ our shepherd!

Consider several aspects of the relationship of the shepherd to his sheep. Jesus says that he is the good shepherd (10:11, 14) who knows his sheep. He says that he “calleth his own sheep by name (10:3). Jesus also says, “I know them” (10:28). What a wonderful thought. The Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) knows every one of us by name!

Jesus also describes himself as the shepherd who leads his sheep (10:3). In the twenty-third psalm, Jesus is portrayed as the Shepherd who “leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2). In John’s visions of heaven, we are encouraged that Jesus will lead his sheep “unto living fountains of waters” (Rev. 7:17). Praise God for a Savior who is also the Shepherd who leads his people.

Jesus also describes himself as “the door of the sheep” (10:7-9). He is the only way into the sheepfold (John 14:6). Jesus states, “by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (10:9). Recall that the Old Testament tabernacle had just one door that permitted access to the place of God’s special presence. That door pictured Jesus as the only door to God the Father. Truly, he is the one and only way, truth, and life (John 14:6).

Jesus is the door that permits access to the Father because he laid down his life so that we could be forgiven by the Father. In John 10, Jesus twice states that he is the shepherd who gave his life for his sheep (10:11,17). He did that so that his sheep “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (10:10). Jesus came as a man precisely for that purpose (John 1:14). In that sense, he is the Great Shepherd who came as a sheep! He is the one who was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7). He is the “lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19) “which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus is the Shepherd who came as a lamb to save his sheep! Father, help us to be sheep that know our Shepherd’s voice and follow him (10:4).