The Good Shepherd

(Gospel of John 10:1 - 10:21)
"Truly I tell you, anyone enters the sheep pen not by the gate, but by surreptitious means is a thief and a rustler.  He who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to his voice.  He summons his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has gathered all the sheep belonging to his flock, he walks ahead and leads them.  They follow because they recognize the sound of his voice.  They can’t be led by a stranger.  They will run away from him because they won't heed his voice." 

Jesus used this analogy in his preaching, but his listeners didn't know what he was talking about.  Therefore, he explained furthered, "Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.  All those who came before me were thieves and robbers, and the sheep never listened to them.  I am the gate: those who enter by me will find safety.  They may come and go and find good pasturage.  The thief comes to steal, to kill and destroy.  I come so that they may live and prosper."

"I am the Good Shepherd.  He is one who will sacrifice himself for his sheep.  A hired hand will run away when he sees a wolf.  He'll abandon the sheep, for the sheep don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd.  The wolf will then attack and scatter the flock.  The hired hand flees because he has no personal interest in the sheep he tends.

"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 will sacrifice myself for my sheep.  And I have other sheep who are not of this flock.  I will bring them along as well.   They will listen to my voice.  Then there will be one flock and one shepherd. 

"The reason my Father loves me is because I am willing to sacrifice my life -- only to reclaim it.  No one can take my life from me; I will give it voluntarily.  I have the authority to sacrifice my own life and reclaim it when I wish.  This is what the Father has commanded me to do.

The people who heard these things were divided in their reaction to them.  Some declared, "He's possessed by a demon and raving mad.  Why listen to him?"  But others opined, "These aren't the words of someone possessed by a demon.  Can a demon cure a blind man?"

Notes
1.  In an analogy, Jesus identifies himself as the gate of the sheep pen, as the true shepherd, and as the Good Shepherd.  Although Jesus makes more than one identification and more than one analogy here, the people being the sheep and the preacher/prophet/Messiah being the shepherd is a simple and obvious analogy, one famously used in the familiar 23rd Psalm.  Yet, his allegorically challenged audience of oh-so-literal simpletons don't seem to catch the meaning and he has to elaborate.

2.  Others who have preached to the Hebrew people, who have perhaps claimed to be a prophet or the Messiah are dismissed by Jesus as frauds, those who intend to steal the sheep, that is, steal the people's trust and lead them astray.

3.  The hired hands who, unlike the Good Shepherd, run away when a wolf appears are probably meant to represent the religious leaders of the time who lacked a total commitment to their flock and placed their own interests above that of their congregation. 

4.  Jesus makes an intriguing reference to gathering other flocks that will be eventually merged to a larger flock with him as shepherd.  Does he simply mean converts from other cities and regions, from Gentile nations, or something more?

5. Again Jesus alludes to his death and crucifixion.  He clearly states that that will occur only because he wishes it, that he will give his life willingly; no one will take his life, or be able to take his life, except in accordance with his will, and that he has been given the authority from God the Father to choose when he will die -- also that his death will not be permanent, but that he will regain his life, be reborn, be resurrected.