The Good Shepherd (John 10:1-12)
Rev. Kim Seong-hun (Grace Gospel Church, Daejeon)
Scripture: John 10:1-12
1. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The Good Shepherd
Today Jesus shows us a picture that is warm and familiar to our hearts: a shepherd standing against the backdrop of a wide-open pasture, with sheep following after him. Through this peaceful parable, the Lord reveals the most fundamental truth of who He is and who He is for us. Through today’s word, may we come to know deeply Jesus, the one and only Shepherd of our lives, the true door to life.
1. The True Shepherd Enters Through the Door
There are two kinds of spiritual leaders in the world: the true shepherd, and the false shepherd wearing the shepherd’s mask. Jesus explains the fundamental difference between the two with one very clear standard: the “door.”
The false shepherd is not honest. He always comes in by some other way, some abnormal passage. He does not love the sheep but is a thief and a robber, coveting only his own gain. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1). But the true shepherd is different. He does not avoid or hide. Because he is the owner of the sheep, he always enters boldly through the one, rightful way — the door. “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep” (John 10:2).
The relationship between the true shepherd and his sheep is deeply personal. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice precisely. The shepherd does not call his many sheep all at once as one indistinct group. He calls each sheep by name, one by one, and leads them with intimacy. The sheep hear that voice of love and safely follow him. “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice” (John 10:4). The sheep, by contrast, instinctively reject the voice of a stranger, for they know that voice holds no love and no truth. And so they do not follow a stranger, but are afraid and flee. “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:5).
We need spiritual discernment. The world tempts and confuses us with countless voices. Amid all that noise, we must listen only for the voice of the true Shepherd, Jesus, who calls us by name. Following His voice alone is the only way to life.
2. Jesus Is the Only Door That Leads to Salvation
When the disciples could not grasp the deeper meaning of the parable, Jesus explained it to them directly. Without hesitation, the Lord declared His identity in the plainest possible words. “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7).
Jesus is the only door into the sheepfold. Apart from this door, no one can enter into God’s safe protection and salvation. Anyone who claims there is another way of salvation besides Him is nothing but a false shepherd seeking to plunder souls. “All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them” (John 10:8).
We are saved only through the door that is Jesus — not by our own effort or qualification, but only by believing in Jesus do we enter the fold of eternal life. “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9a). And not salvation alone: through that door we are supplied with the pasture of an abundant life. The Lord daily grants us true rest, peace, and freedom. “and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9b).
The thief’s purpose is destruction alone. He steals our faith, kills our hope, and ultimately seeks to destroy our souls. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10a). But Jesus’ purpose is the exact opposite. The Lord came to give us life — and came so that this life would become ever more abundant and beautiful. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b).
3. The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life for the Sheep
Here Jesus goes a step further and reveals His greatest identity of all. The Lord declares that He Himself is the “good shepherd.” “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11a).
What makes a shepherd “good”? Not his words. Not his ability. Only his sacrifice proves him to be the good shepherd. The good shepherd freely lays down even his own life for the life of his sheep. “The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11b). This is the love of God that transcends the calculations of this world.
The hireling, the false shepherd, is entirely different. He is not the true owner of the sheep. He works only for wages. So when the crisis comes and the wolf attacks the sheep, he does not protect them, but flees to save his own life. “seeth the wolf coming… and fleeth” (John 10:12). To the hireling, only his own safety matters. He has no concern at all that the sheep are torn apart and killed.
Our Lord is never a hireling. He did not avoid the greatest danger that threatens us — the power of sin and death. Instead, He faced all of it in our place. At last, on the cross, He willingly laid down His own life. Through that holy sacrifice, we have obtained eternal life.
Every day we stand at a spiritual crossroads. We could follow the sweet-sounding whisper of a false shepherd’s temptation. But the end of that road is nothing but ruin and destruction.
We must follow Jesus Christ, the good shepherd. We must listen to His true voice and trust His sacrificial love. Jesus is the only door that saves us. He is the one and only good shepherd who laid down even His life for us. Only in Him can we enjoy true life, unshakable peace, and a life eternally abundant.