The Gospel of John: John 10.1-18

Read and meditate on John 10.11-13.
In claiming to be the Good Shepherd, Jesus drew on a storehouse of prophetic promises. No one who heard Him would have missed the significance of what He claimed.

        ¹¹"I am the good shepherd. As such, I give
My life for all My sheep, that they may live.
¹²The hireling, he who does not own the sheep,
no shepherd is, for he will leave the sheep
and flee to save himself whenever he
the wolf sees coming. Then the sheep will be
exposed and caught and scattered, ¹³for he cares
not for them.”

- John 10.11-13

Reflect
1.  Jesus claimed to be “the” Good Shepherd – not just “a” good shepherd. This suggests that the idea of the Good Shepherd was in the minds of people in Jesus’ day, something everyone understood and perhaps cherished. What was the source of this idea? Can you think of any Old Testament references? Complete this prayer: You are my Shepherd, Lord Jesus, and I am Your sheep. Therefore…

2.  Let’s look at Psalm 23. David referred to the Lord as his Shepherd. In this psalm, what makes the Lord the Good Shepherd? I thank You, my Shepherd, that You do so much for me, including…

3.  In Psalm 100, God is referred to as Israel’s Good (v. 5) Shepherd – or, rather, they are His sheep. This fact appears in the psalm to have worldwide significance. How can you see that? Why should that be the case? How would Jesus’ claim to be this Shepherd have impacted those who heard Him? Is this still true today? Explain. Thank You, Lord, that within Your gates we find…

4.  How would you describe the effects of God’s shepherding as these are presented in Ezekiel 34.10-31? What happens when God shows up to shepherd His flock? Was Jesus announcing the inauguration of something new? Explain. Thank You, Lord, that You gave Your life for us, so that we could live for You and…

5. Who were the “hirelings” Jesus had in mind in these verses? What marked them out as such? What differences can you identify in the relationship between the Good Shepherd and His sheep and the hirelings and the sheep? Do such hirelings exist among the flocks of the Lord today? Explain. Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Suppose someone has sinned—grievously sinned. He ought to be rebuked, excommunicated. However, if he is excommunicated, he will become an enemy and will plot and do as much harm as he can. And so, for the time being, the pastor who seeks his own and not what is Christ’s keeps quiet and does not reprove the person so that he will not have to put up with the annoyances of their attacks or lose what he truly follows after—the advantage of human friendship. But look! The wolf has caught a sheep by the throat; the devil has enticed a believer into adultery. And yet, you are silent—you do not censure. As a hireling, you have seen the wolf coming, and you fled. Perhaps you answer and say, ‘See, I am here: I have not fled.’ You have fled because you have been silent; you have been silent because you are afraid.’” Augustine (354-430 AD)

Do we, though we are the Lord’s sheep, have shepherding responsibilities toward one another? Explain.

Closing Prayer
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 (Taladh Chriosda: Song of the Christ Child)
The Lord my Shepherd is, and I
Shall not want; He makes me lie
In green pastures, leads me by
Refreshing waters, still.

Restore my soul, Lord, day by day;
Lead me in Your righteous way
For Your Name’s sake, Lord, I pray,
According to Your will.

And though through death’s dark vale I go,
I no fear of evil show,
For Your rod and staff, I know,
Shall guard and comfort still.

A table You before me spread
In the midst of those I dread,
And with oil anoint my head;
My cup You over fill.

Thus goodness e’er shall follow me;
Mercy all my path shall see;
Your house shall my dwelling be,
Forever after still.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.