Parables Of Jesus Christ

The parable of the good shepherd

John 10:1-16
I Am the Good Shepherd
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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.
This parable "I am the good shepherd" is the fourth of seven "I am" declarations of Jesus recorded only in John's Gospel. These "I am" proclamations point to His unique, divine identity and purpose. Immediately after declaring that He is "the door" in Jesus declares "I am the good shepherd." He describes Himself as not only "the shepherd" but the "good shepherd."
Jesus is "the" good shepherd, not simply "a" good shepherd, as others may be, but He is unique in character. I think Jesus is referencing His inherent goodness, His righteousness, and His beauty. As shepherd of the sheep, He is the one who protects, guides, and nurtures His flock.
Jesus declaring that He is "the door of the sheep" Jesus is making a contrast between Himself and the religious leaders, the Pharisees.He compares them to a "hired hand" who doesn't really care about the sheep. In John , Jesus speaks of thieves and robbers who sought to enter the sheepfold stealthily. In that passage the Pharisees are contrasted with Christ, who is the Door. The hired hands is contrasted with the true or faithful shepherd who willingly gives up his life for the sheep. He who works for wages, which are his main consideration. His concern is not for the sheep but for himself. Investigating this point, i found that the shepherds of ancient times were not usually the owners of the flock. But they were expected to exercise the same care and concern the owners would. This was characteristic of a true shepherd. Some of the hired hands thought only of themselves. As a result, when a wolf appeared the most common threat to sheep in that day the hired hands abandoned the flock , leaving the sheep to be scattered or killed. The sheep totally depend on the shepherd. Sheep are always subject to danger and must always be under the watchful eye of the shepherd as they graze. Rushing walls of water down the valleys from sudden, heavy rainfalls may sweep them away, robbers may steal them, and wolves may attack the flock. Shepherds were frequently subjected to grave danger, sometimes even giving their lives to protect their sheep. Through His willing sacrifice, the Lord made salvation possible for all who come to Him in faith. In proclaiming that He is the Good Shepherd, Jesus speaks of "laying down" His life for His sheep
Jesus' death was divinely appointed. It is only through Him that we receive salvation. "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own". Furthermore, Jesus makes it clear that it wasn't just for the Jews that he laid down His life, but also for the "other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. The "other sheep" clearly refers to the Gentiles. As a result, Jesus is the Good Shepherd over all, both Jew and Gentile, who come to believe upon Him. Jesus is our "good shephard" the great "i am".