The Good Shepherd & His Not-So-Good Sheep
4/16/25 Bible Thought (John 10)
I’m sure each and every one of us has realized at one point or another that we aren’t quite as good as we think we are. We’re all on a journey of Christian growth, and sometimes it seems that we take one step forward only to take two steps backwards.
The prophet Isaiah once remarked, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way” (Is. 53:6a). Yet, not only have we strayed, but at times we still stray and go after our own ways! That’s the very nature of sin—my way, instead of God’s way. It’s at times like these that I am especially thankful that the Lord Jesus is introduced to us as the Good Shepherd.
Jesus says,
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11).
Now, when the hired hand watches over them, the one who is not their owner, and the wolf comes trotting along? He’s having lamb chops for dinner. The one who doesn’t own the sheep cares more for his own wellbeing than that of the sheep.
Not so with the Good Shepherd. His dedication to the sheep is so strong that their lives are seen as more valuable than His own! He gives His life on behalf of the sheep. Sheep that are undeserving. In the words of Isaiah, ““and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Is. 53:6b).
There is no greater love than this, than that Jesus Christ would willingly give His life (Jn. 10:18) for those who didn’t deserve it, for those who were still sinners (see Rom. 5:8). That’s how much He loves His sheep!
He could have left us to our own devices. He could have let the wolf devour. Instead, He gave His life for us. For me. For you. His sheep are secure in His hand.
Again, the Lord Jesus says,
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (Jn. 10:28-29).
How good He is that not only does He give His life for us, but He keeps us! His power to keep as the Shepherd is greater than our power to stray! The propensity of sheep is to stray, and the job of the shepherd is to keep them.
He says His sheep will never perish. This is a promise. In the Greek, it uses a double negative which contrary to English doesn’t result in a positive but rather strengthens the negative claim. It’s almost as if He’s putting it in all-caps. They will NEVER perish. Ever. Period. Why? Because the Shepherd keeps them.
When my daughter and I cross the road and hold hands, I can assure you that her security isn’t based on her ability or her choice to hang on. She might wander off if left to her own devices. So, when we cross the road, it’s not her holding on to me, but I am holding on to her. She isn’t going anywhere because she’s in her father’s hand. How much greater is our security in the hand of our perfect Heavenly Father!
David once wrote, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1).
If He’s my Shepherd, I have all I need. He takes care of me. He loves me. He gave His very life for me. He preserves me in the Father’s hand. He is good and I am thankful to be in His sheepfold today.
Lovely message today. I especially enjoyed the analogy of holding your daughter's hand and how it is not her who is holding on but you. Thank the Lord He is holding on because left to ourselves I fear we would foolishly let go when the next shiny thing came by.