Anchor My Faith

One Shepherd, One Flock

Scripture: John 10:14-16

In the previous lesson we looked at the hired hand and how they behave when a wolf shows up. We also considered who these wolves were. In this lesson we will learn more about the good shepherd.

^{Jn 10:14} “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.”

As the good shepherd, Jesus knows his sheep; those people who have come to him in belief and are born spiritually. Jesus knows and loves these sheep (these believers) intimately. He knows their characters, has knowledge of their wants, and knows their dangers. As a result, he has a deep interest in their welfare. Since Jesus knows the hearts, the dangers, and the wants of his sheep, his kindness as a shepherd prompts him to defend and aid them.

As his sheep, we know and love him as our savior and friend. We know our sins, and dangers, and wants and recognize our need of a savior, and have come to him and have found him and his teaching to meet our needs. Out of our love for him, we follow and obey him who leads us beside still waters and makes us lie down in green pastures (Psalm 23:1 – 2).

^{Jn 10:15} “Just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Jesus then describes the relationship between him and his sheep in terms of his relationship with his Father. As he knows the Father, he knows us and as the Father knows him, we are to know Jesus. I don’t believe most Christians in the western culture come very close to this intimacy with Jesus. We have allowed friendship with the world to distract us.

Just how strong is the love Jesus has for us? It is strong enough for him to be willing to lay down his life for us by being hung on a cross to suffer and die in our place. If Jesus was willing to do that for us, then how much are we willing to sacrifice as an expression of our love for him? If persecution were to come to us, how much could we endure before our faith fails and we deny Jesus? Have you thought about that possibility and decided to stand with him even if it cost you your life?

^{Jn 10:16} “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

The “fold” that is alluded to here are Jewish believers. The “other sheep” are Gentiles who enter the sheepfold through the door of Jesus. In Ezekiel 34:23 we find the concept of one shepherd: “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.” Here Jesus applies the idea of one shepherd more broadly to bring together Jews and Gentiles as expressed in the command of Matthew 28:18 – 20 ESV: 18 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”’

This concept of one shepherd and one flock is clearly seen in Ephesians 2:11 – 22.

Conclusion

How strong is our love for Jesus and how much effort do we put forth in our walk with him?