Jesus Explains Who The Good Shepherd Is

By Mary Vee
John 10 

Peter

The hill where shepherds watched their sheep
overlooking Bethlehem.
Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus. 

The Pharisees joined a crowd of people standing outside of the temple. They'd stood close to Jesus and listened to him talk about the Good Shepherd. These teachers of the law said they didn't understand what Jesus meant by the words Good Shepherd.

So Jesus explained. "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. 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. There will be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I am willing to lay down my life for my sheep then rise up again and return to heaven. No one can take my life from me. I choose to lay down my life on my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down and the authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

The hill overlooking Bethlehem
where shepherds watched over their sheep by night.
Photo by Mary Vee"I am the Good Shepherd."

When he finished speaking these words, the Jews took sides. Many of them said, "Jesus is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"

But the others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon heal a blind man?"

These discussions between the two groups lasted a long time. We left with Jesus before they ended their discussion and traveled back north to Capernaum. 

 

Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.