I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about 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. I lay down my life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.” —John 10:11-18

Because Jesus is the Good Shepherd, we must learn to trust His care, recognize His voice, and rest in the security of His sacrificial love.

I. The Good Shepherd Seeks the Lost (Luke 15, John 10:11)

1. Unlike the religious leaders, Jesus goes after the one who is missing.
2. Luke 15 illustrates this with the lost sheep, coin, and son.
3. God counts who’s missing, not just who’s here.
4. Jesus doesn’t seek the lost because they’re pitiful—but because they are precious.
   👉 Application: Are you someone who’s wandered? You are not forgotten. The Shepherd is searching for you.

II. The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep (John 10:14–15)

1. Jesus knows us by name—deeply and personally.
2. Illustration: Shared sheep pens in ancient times—many flocks, but each sheep knew its shepherd’s voice.
3. The only thing sheep need: to recognize and follow the voice of the shepherd.
   👉 Application: Are you tuning your ears to recognize Jesus’ voice in a noisy world? Have you learned to follow Him?

III. The Good Shepherd Welcomes Other Sheep (John 10:16)

1. Jesus includes the “other sheep”—Gentiles, outsiders, the marginalized.
2. This would have shocked His Jewish audience.
3. Reflect on Acts 10 and Peter’s vision of Cornelius: Jesus breaks down every barrier to bring people into His fold.
   👉 Application: Are we welcoming the people Jesus died for, or shutting the door to those He’s calling? Are we open to His inclusive heart?

IV. The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life (John 10:11, 17–18)

1. Jesus is not like the bad shepherds of Ezekiel 34.
2. He does not use the sheep for His gain—He gives everything for them.
3. He lays down His life voluntarily (v.18). He’s not a victim—He’s a Savior.
4. This points us straight to the cross, where the Lamb of God is also the Shepherd who dies for His flock.
   📖 John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
   👉 Application: Do you trust the sacrificial love of Jesus? Have you responded to the Shepherd who died for you?

Conclusion: Recognizing the Shepherd’s Voice (John 10:40–42)

After all the teaching, the miracles, and the confrontation, some people simply said:
📖 “All that John said about this man was true.”
And the Scripture says: “In that place many believed in Jesus.”
🎯 Final Challenge:

In a world full of voices, will you recognize and respond to the voice of the Good Shepherd?
Will you follow the one who seeks you, knows you, welcomes you, and gave His life for you?

Next Steps:

🔹 Spend time in stillness this week—listen for the Shepherd’s voice.
🔹 Reflect on the Shepherd’s love as we prepare our hearts for Easter.
🔹 If you’ve never responded to Jesus—today is the day to follow the Good Shepherd.