Do you know who it is The Good Shepherd? In this article you will find out what Jesus really meant with this important biblical phrase.
The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd is a parable that Jesus used to preach about the true Savior, Messiah, and Anointed One. We place this simile in the Gospel of John 10:1-42. By reading it we can specify some elements:
- He identifies himself as the door and the shepherd.
- This shepherd is the only one who enters the door.
- The sheep, meanwhile, hear his voice and recognize him.
- He leads them out to fresh pastures and they follow him.
- But, in addition, the biblical passage illustrates the good Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep
Now, in obedience to Jesus, we are going to scrutinize the scriptures (John 5:39) to understand in depth each one of the aspects that the parable referring to the Good Shepherd deals with.
I am
The first thing the parable tells us is the expression I am. This means that Jesus refers to himself, to his person, to his identity. This expression is used for the first time in the Old Testament when God reveals himself to Moses and tells him his name Exodus 3:14
Juan 10: 11
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
Éxodo 3: 14
14 And God answered Moses: I am who I amAnd he said: Thus shall you say to the children of Israel: I am
This name in its translation refers to the infinitive of the verbs: ser and estar. This means that it refers to the omnipresence of God, to the Almighty, Eternal, that God does not depend on anyone. This Name comes from the Hebrew YHWH. In other words, he is the only One who has not been created, he has always existed. In this context, Jesus says that He is the I am. Now, he compares himself to a Shepherd.
The door
Juan 10: 7
7 Then Jesus said to them again: Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the gate of the sheep.
By searching the Holy Scriptures in the Old Testament, we can see that the people of Israel brought the expiatory sacrifices to the door of the tabernacle. This gate was made of twisted linen (Exodus 27:9; 38:18; 29:11; Leviticus 1:3; 17:9: Matthew 7:13-14)
When Jesus refers that He is the door, he is not illustrating that He is the true way to reach the Holy of Holies where the Father is, the door to Salvation (John 14:6).
Phrase: The Good Shepherd
When referring to the activity of grazing, it would be easy for his listeners to understand, since this economic activity was known by the Israelites, who developed it within their culture. If you want to delve into the parables of Jesus, I invite you to enter this link that addresses the Parable of the Prodigal Son, among others List of the Holy Parables of Jesus
Now, in Ezekiel 34:23 it was prophesied that God would raise up a Shepherd who would feed his sheep. Likewise, in the Old Testament we can find various passages that compare God's relationship with Israel with shepherding (1 Kings 22:17; Jeremiah 10:21; and Jeremiah 23:1-2)
When we look for the expression the good shepherd in Hebrew we realize that it comes from two words ro'eh-tzon (ro'eh relating to the shepherd -tzon to sheep). The first term is composed of the root RA: companionship, affection. This same word is used for "your neighbor" (come back).
This means that Jesus is the good shepherd because he deeply loves his sheep. The figure of Jesus portrayed in this parable is a Father's love for his sheep. This responds to the prophecy of Isaiah in 40:11, who describes Jesus as the Shepherd who will carry his sheep in his arms. For those connoisseurs of shepherding, they know that the relationship between the shepherd and his vejas is precisely that of a family.
sheep enemies
Jesus goes on to relate that there are enemies of the sheep (Ezekiel 34:2-4). Reading this biblical passage leads us to identify three types of enemies (thieves and robbers, the employee and the wolf). Next we will learn about each of them:
John 10: 8-13
8 All those who came before me, Thieves are and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved; and he will go in, and he will go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
12 a Mas (typical old farm) the salaryman, and who is not the shepherd, whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and scatters the sheep.
13 So, the hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and he does not care for the sheep.
Thieves
Jesus describes the thieves as those who jump the fences, the fence of the sheepfold and do not enter through the door. He even warns us that all who came before Him are thieves. These characters were the Pharisees and the Sadducees who, taking refuge in their false doctrines, controlled the Israelites. Currently the false preachers of the false doctrines of the faith are all those who manipulate the Word of God and pervert the truth)
These characters are after the sheep for their own welfare, prestige and money. They are after the sheep for their wool. This product was sold and good money was obtained. Likewise, they are the false prophets and preachers of the false doctrine of the faith.
the salaryman
The employee seeks his own benefit. They don't care about the sheep, but what they get from it. As in the previous case, the salaried are the false preachers of the faith, who do not care about the sheep, but rather what they can get from them. Therefore, the soul does not concern them. The hireling has no natural affection for the sheep, just as they did not care that Jesus healed the blind man in John 9, nor for the adulteress, for the sick.
The wolf
Jesus refers to Satan as the wolf. Another of the adjectives used in the Holy Scriptures to describe the enemy of Christians. The wolf as an animal devours its prey. Also, the wolf comes to destroy the sheep (Matthew 7:15; 10:16; Acts 20:29) Hired workers flee when they see Satan coming, they do not defend their sheep, therefore the soul is at risk.
The sheep
The sheep represent all of us who follow Jesus, we do his will (Isaiah 53:6; Luke 15:1-7) Like the sheep, the human being only tends to go astray and the fact of following Jesus keeps us on the path to reach the kingdom of God. If you want to delve into the subject of how the sheep go astray, we invite you to read the Parable of the Lost Sheep at this link. Among the qualities of the sheep is their submission, and obedience to the shepherd.
The Goalkeeper
Searching the Word of God, theologians have three explanations regarding the gatekeeper. Some affirm that they were the prophets who announced the coming of Jesus (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Malachi, among others).
Others consider that it is John the Baptist who identified Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29; 34). And others believe that it is the Holy Spirit who prepares hearts to believe in the Truth in Christ.
the fold
The sheepfold is a fenced space where sheep are kept at sunset. In the morning the shepherds return and take them out for a walk. The Lord clarifies that from that fold, Israel had a sheep that belonged to Him and others that were not. Therefore, He knows them by name. Likewise, it alludes to other sheep, referring to the Gentiles, who would hear of Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross and would believe that He came to redeem us from sin (Ephesians 2:11:22; Genesis 12: 1-3; Isaiah 42:6; 49:6)
In this way Jesus announces the conversion of the Gentiles and therefore the pact he made with Abraham would reach all the nations of the Earth. Likewise, he announces how the wall that separated Jews and Gentiles would be demolished, forming a single people for God.
Teachings of the parable the Good Shepherd
Just as the Lord shows us that the good shepherd goes before his sheep, it is announced to us that He protects his flock. Every danger will be met by the power of God. Also there is no temptation that the Lord has not faced, therefore He knows what he is dealing with what we as a believer must go through.
Likewise, the Lord tells us that the sheep know his voice. To know him you have to have fellowship with the Shepherd. This demands a disciplined life in the Lord. Pray and read God's Word daily. You can't know someone if you don't get close to them.
By recognizing the voice of the Holy Spirit, it means that we will not listen to false doctrines and we will not do anything that is outside of the will of God.
On the other hand, Jesus says that he knows each of his sheep by name. This means that he knows how many hairs we have, what our thoughts are, what we do. He knows our rising and our laying down (Psalms 139: 1-6)
good pastures
Jesus warns us that those of us who draw close to Him and follow Him will eat the bread of life. Likewise, he assures us that we will never thirst (John 4: 13-14; 7: 37-39; 6:35). Also, this security that we have to follow Jesus guarantees us that we will lack nothing (Psalms 23). Good pastures are the blessings that God gives us daily.
The Shepherd gives his life for the sheep
Many mistakenly think that Jesus was defeated. Well, on the contrary, He knew that within his ministry his purpose was to fulfill the mission of giving himself out of love to redeem humanity from death and sin.
Jesus reiterates in this parable four times that He would give His life for the sheep (John 10: 11, 15,17, 18 and 15). Likewise, there are other biblical passages that attest that Jesus knew that He would die for us (John 13:18: 8). :XNUMX)
In conclusion, Jesus is the Messiah who came to give his life for you and me. If this message touched your heart, make the confession of faith. For this I recommend that you read Romans 10:9-10. If you wish to make the confession of faith, enter this link so that you can follow the Why and for what did God choose the people of Israel?