John 10:7-18: a reflection

7Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture. 10The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. 17Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”

Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd, and two things stand out in his description. First, his intimate knowledge of his own: I am the good shepherd; I know my own, and I'm known by my own, even as the Father knows me. He knows his sheep personally, individually, as intimately as he and the Father know each other. And second, his sacrifice: The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He does not flee like a hired hand when the wolf comes; he lays down his own life for them. He knows his own intimately, and gives his life for them.

Notice these two marks of the good shepherd: intimate knowledge and self-sacrifice. Christ knows his own personally, individually, as intimately as the Father knows him; you are not one of an anonymous flock to him, but known. And he does not merely tend his sheep at a distance; he lays down his own life for them, unlike the hired hand who flees when danger comes. The good shepherd both knows his sheep intimately and gives his very life for them; his care is personal and it is sacrificial, to the point of death.

That care of the good shepherd, intimate and sacrificial, is worth resting in, for it means we are known and loved by Christ personally and at great cost. You are not anonymous to Christ, one of a faceless crowd; he knows you personally, individually, as the good shepherd knows each of his own. And his care for you is not distant or cheap; he laid down his very life for his sheep, for you. When you feel unknown, overlooked, or uncared for, remember that the good shepherd knows you by name, as intimately as the Father knows him, and laid down his life for you. Rest in being known and loved by Christ, the good shepherd, who knows his own personally and gave his life for them; you are not anonymous to him, but known, and not cheaply loved, but loved at the cost of his own life, laid down for the sheep.

Lord Jesus, you describe yourself as the good shepherd, and two things stand out. First, your intimate knowledge of your own: I know my own, and I'm known by my own, even as the Father knows me. You know your sheep personally, individually, as intimately as you and the Father know each other. And second, your sacrifice: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. You do not flee like a hired hand when the wolf comes; you lay down your own life for them. Show me these two marks of the good shepherd: intimate knowledge and self-sacrifice. You know your own personally, individually; I am not one of an anonymous flock to you, but known. And you do not merely tend your sheep at a distance; you laid down your own life for them. Your care is personal and it is sacrificial, to the point of death. Let me rest in that care, for it means I am known and loved by you personally and at great cost. I am not anonymous to you, one of a faceless crowd; you know me personally, as the good shepherd knows each of his own. And your care for me is not distant or cheap; you laid down your very life for your sheep, for me. When I feel unknown, overlooked, or uncared for, help me remember that you know me by name, and laid down your life for me. Help me rest in being known and loved by you, Lord, the good shepherd, not anonymous to you but known, and not cheaply loved but loved at the cost of your own life.