I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11 (NKJV)

In this passage Jesus calls himself the ‘Good Shepherd’ and differentiates himself from being a ‘hireling’ – someone who is hired to look after a flock

The Good Shepherd is one who protects his sheep, leads and guides them to nourishing pastures, valleys of rest, and hillsides of progress. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of his sheep both individually and as a community, and places them deliberately during a journey in order to help them heal, strengthen and grow. Jesus is our ‘Good Shepherd’ who won’t abandon us in times of peril as a hireling would, but would give His life to save ours.

Note here that in Hebrew culture, a shepherd wouldn’t normally give up his life for his flock… Yes, he would protect and defend them, but at the end of the day every shepherd knew that a flock without its leader was considered lost. So they would often sacrifice a sheep or two if it came to it, to save the rest.

Jesus wasn’t talking irresponsibility when he declared in John 10:11 that he would give his life for his sheep, but was instead prophesying confidently of his coming death, burial AND RESURRECTION. He knew that his sacrifice would not end in abandonment but in rescue.

V12 “But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.” Someone hired as a shepherd would never give himself for the lives of the flock. He’s not invested, its just a job… a paycheque. When evil invades, a hireling runs.

There is no need to be afraid of the ‘wolves’ of life when we know that Jesus is the shepherd we are following. You’ll know if you are behind a hireling: in moments and seasons of darkness, they will flee saving their own skin. But the leading of Jesus is paved with humility and sacrifice, fierce love and loyal commitment. You may at times feel alone, but you will never be abandoned. He is our GOOD Shepherd, who has already defeated evil and now leads us down the path of our destinies.

Trust in Him today.