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"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. ... For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father." (John 10:11-15, 17-18 ESV)
What is the main qualification for a good shepherd? You might think it's understanding sheep, or knowing where to take them to find good pasture. You might think of being able to scare wolves away, and bears and lions. All these are good—but Jesus keeps coming back to just one thing. He says, "I am the Good Shepherd, ... and I lay down My life for the sheep." That's it. A truly good shepherd is one who will give his life for the sheep. He loves them that much. He is that faithful.
Frankly, I have my doubts about most shepherds that take care of four-legged sheep. How many of them got the job after explicitly agreeing to lay down their lives if necessary to defend the flock? I don't think many people would take the job if that was a condition of their employment. And Jesus knows this. He says that a hired man will run when the wolf comes. Why? Because the sheep are not his own. He doesn't truly care about them—not beyond all reason. He will work hard and give up his time to take care of them, but not his blood. There are limits to his commitment.
But not with Jesus! When He looks at us, He says, "You are My sheep. You belong to Me." His heart is set on us. Undeserving though we are, we are in fact the apple of His eye, and He will not be happy without us. If some enemy comes against us, Jesus will lay down His life to save us. If the devil threatens to drag us down into hell, Jesus will bar the way. He puts Himself—body and blood—between us and death.
That's what the cross was all about. Our Good Shepherd gave everything He had so that we would survive, would live, would be forgiven and set free and blessed forever. He took the full force of our danger so that we would escape it. He paid in full. And now that He has risen from the dead, we are better than safe—we have our own dear Shepherd back with us again, never to leave us, always to keep and care for us. Who better than the One who loved us into death and back?
We Pray: Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me so much. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on April 18, 2024
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights
Reflection Questions:
1. What would you lay down your life for without hesitation?
2. Why?
3. Why does Jesus value you so much?
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