Lesson 10

Jesus The Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."   John 10:11

Read John Chapter 10

In this chapter Jesus talks about being a shepherd. Now some of you may have grown up on a farm but the majority of us haven't, I was a city kid. So I did some research just to help us get a better picture of what Jesus is talking about when he claims to be a shepherd.

In simple terms the shepherd was usually the youngest male in the family who would take care of the sheep, he CARED for the sheep! He wore simple but protective clothing from the elements, carried a leather bag with food supplies for himself such as bread, olives, dried fruit and cheese. A rod which was about 3ft long with a sharp slate embedded in the bulbous end making a pretty formidable formidable weapon (think a longer police officer's truncheon with a spike at the end), a knife and staff for walking and hiking through the mountains & valleys. A water container for himself and a leather bucket for drawing water from the well for the sheep, as well as a sling & stones for directing sheep when straying; also for driving off wolves or predators. He might also have a reed pipe, like a tin whistle for entertaining himself and soothing the sheep.

His days in Spring were usually to take the sheep from the pen near his home to the hillsides and pastures to graze on fresh succulent grass. In summer times he would bring them to cooler pastures on higher grounds and at midday he would bring them to cool pools of water or draw water for them from wells. At night time he would make a makeshift pen out of thorns & briars in a circle with an opening for the sheep to go in and out of. He would count the sheep in and then lay down at the opening so that any predators would have to go through him. Sometimes he would do the same by using a cave with him at the entrance. He grew so close to the sheep that he gave them names. In Psalm 23 David gives a wonderful account of the Lord being his Shepherd and the peace and contentment he experiences. This is the backdrop of Jesus talking about being "the good shepherd." And as Jesus often does he uses earthly illustrations to give us a spiritual meaning.

Some questions to ask:

1: Jesus calls himself "the gate." What does a gate do?

2: Why would sheep or people not listen to a "strangers" voice?

3: Jesus say's he "knows his sheep and his sheep know him." How can we "know" Jesus?

4: Jesus talks about "eternal life." What do you think that means.

5: If Jesus is the Good Shepherd he claims to be, what does that say about the care he has for each one of         us?

6: What does Jesus mean "the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep?"

7: What thoughts and emotions come to you knowing that Jesus lays down his life for You?