The Shepherd Owns the Sheep
The Shepherd Owns the Sheep
Christ’s sheep are called “his own sheep” (John 10:3–4) and “my sheep” (vv. 14, 26–27) because He claims them as His flock. They are His because the Father gave them to Him (v. 29; see also John 17:2, 6, 9, 24) and because He purchased them when He died on the cross (10:11, 15, 17–18; see also 13:37–38; 1 John 3:16). “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). But Jesus laid down His life for rebellious sinners who were His enemies (Rom. 5:6–10)! “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:19–20).
Our Lord’s death is mentioned several times in John’s gospel, and each text reveals something special about that death. He died sacrificially: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29). Under the old covenant, the sheep died for the shepherds; but under the new covenant, the shepherd died for the sheep. Who but God knows how many lambs were sacrificed during Israel’s national history? But Jesus in one act of sacrifice died for the sins of the whole world, once and for all!
He died brutally, like a building torn down and left in ruins (John 2:18–22). Crucifixion was the most barbaric form of execution, and Psalm 22:1–21 and Isaiah 52:14 give us some indication of the price Jesus paid to save His sheep. Like the serpent lifted up on the pole (Num. 21:4–9; John 3:14–15), Jesus was lifted up on the cross and died shamefully. Imagine the holy Son of God identifying with a cursed serpent!
But He died willingly (John 10:11–18). He laid down His life. Would you be willing to give your life to rescue a sheep? What driver would risk his life to keep from hitting a sheep on the highway? A human is worth more than a sheep, yet Jesus loved us enough to die for us.
He died triumphantly (John 12:20–29). The seed was planted in the ground, and it produced a beautiful, bountiful harvest to the glory of the Father. He laid down His life that He might take it up again in glorious resurrection (10:17–18)! He did this for us so that we might be His sheep and be able to say from our hearts, “My beloved is mine and I am his” (Song of Songs 2:16; see also 6:3).
Hired hands take care of the sheep primarily because they get paid for it, but they have no personal love for the flock. When wolves and thieves show up, hired hands run away and hide, and the enemies are free to ravage the flock. But Jesus owns us, and He proved His love by dying for us! We belong to Him and therefore ought to follow Him and do His will.
At a time in life when pioneer missionary C. T. Studd should have been planning for retirement, he was heading for Africa. When a newspaper reporter asked him why, he replied, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”
Jesus owns His sheep. If they follow Him, they experience the abundant life He alone can give. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). If they don’t follow Him, they forfeit life to the full and have only emptiness; and the Shepherd must discipline them, which is not a pleasant experience.