{"id":26055,"date":"2026-02-20T06:00:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T06:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/?p=26055"},"modified":"2025-11-25T11:24:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T11:24:29","slug":"i-am-the-good-shepherd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/2026\/02\/i-am-the-good-shepherd\/","title":{"rendered":"I Am The Good Shepherd"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each one of the Lord\u2019s seven \u2018I Am\u2019 sayings in John\u2019s Gospel reveals aspects of the Saviour\u2019s holy character and mediatorial work. As the Bread of Life He feeds and nourishes the souls of His people with spiritual food in the gospel. As the Light of the World He reveals divine truth, illuminates the kingdom of God, teaches God\u2019s elect and dispels the darkness of sinful ignorance. As the Door He grants access into His Father\u2019s presence by reconciling us to God. As the Door He also protects His sheep from their enemies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My life for yours<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Now Christ tells His church, \u2018I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep\u2019. Our precious Saviour well knew the purpose for which He had come into the world. He had \u2018come to seek and to save that which was lost\u2019 by shedding His own blood. David bravely faced a lion and a bear to protect His Father\u2019s flock and Christ courageously undertook a greater challenge to save His Father\u2019s flock from the just consequences of their sin and guilt. The church was given to Christ to be loved by Him, redeemed by His precious blood and delivered from the condemning curse of the law.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I know them<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

As the Good Shepherd Christ knows His own flock for whom He died. He distinguishes His own people, all those committed into His care. He names the name of each of those given to Him by His Father in the eternal councils of peace. As sheep He calls each one individually to Himself and leads them providentially, all the days of their lives, guiding and directing their coming in and going out. He has defended His own precious possession to the point of self-sacrifice that He might do His Father\u2019s will and deliver His loved ones from all harm.<\/p>\n

Hirelings<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

In our verses the Lord describes Himself as \u2018the Good Shepherd\u2019 because He is the Shepherd who is \u2018good\u2019. He contrasts Himself with those who are not good; who have no love for His sheep but exploit God\u2019s people for their own gain. These He calls \u2018hirelings\u2019. Hirelings have no vested interest in the spiritual wellbeing of the flock. They are false teachers, career preachers and religious professionals. Their interest is only in personal aggrandisement and self-promotion. They try to mimic genuine gospel preachers but their doctrine is shallow and their guidance superficial.<\/p>\n

\u2018My Sheep\u2019<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

A good shepherd is personally invested in the welfare of his flock and the Lord Jesus Christ is personally invested in His people\u2019s everlasting good and happiness. He owns His sheep. They are known by name in the Lamb\u2019s Book of Life. Here the Lord continues to teach His disciples about the everlasting covenant in which God\u2019s elect are loved, chosen, set apart and committed into the hands of God the Son by the Father. Christ knows His sheep eternally and testifies that they shall all know Him by redemption and conversion in time.<\/p>\n

The Father\u2019s command<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Christ\u2019s knowledge of His sheep under His covenant obligations is linked to His Father\u2019s knowledge of and love for the Son, and the Son\u2019s knowledge of and love for the Father. Again the Lord is emphasising the shared covenant-purpose of the Father and Son (not excluding the Holy Ghost), in the effectual salvation of the elect. He testifies concerning His covenant duty, \u2018This commandment have I received of my Father\u2019. The Son was sent as the Messiah to be Redeemer of the church and to atone for the sins of God\u2019s elect with His own blood. The Son\u2019s willingness to lay down His life for the sheep has earned God\u2019s love for Him as Mediator. \u2018This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Resurrection<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

How clearly and with what assurance does the Saviour speak of His sacrifice, death and resurrection! He has power to lay down His life and power to take it again. \u2018I lay down my life, that I might take it again.\u2019 Christ had this power as God the Son who has power over all life and all death. As the great \u2018I Am\u2019 He would lay down His life and take it again. Many tried to take the Lord\u2019s life without success. The Jews instigated His execution, the Roman\u2019s enacted His crucifixion but the Saviour, by Himself, dismissed His Spirit, then took it again three days later.<\/p>\n

Our inheritance<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Christ\u2019s resurrection power will be explicitly addressed in a future \u2018I Am\u2019 statement but here He tells His disciples and the Jews He will rise again. As believers we receive and share the gift of eternal life from our living Head. These bodies of ours shall rise again to glory. He who laid down His life for the sheep has won our redemption, removed our guilt, secured our liberty and granted us spiritual life as His spiritual body. We who are Christ\u2019s have the promise of everlasting life because He died and rose again.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n