19:17).” Jesus is therefore saying, “I am divine and a spiritual shepherd, unlike human shepherds.” When the word “good is first used in John’s Gospel, it is in John 2 contrasting the good wine contrasted with inferior.
When a man came to Jesus and said unto him, “Good Master…”, Jesus responded, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God…(Matt. The word ‘good’ is also a word that points out that he is divine. Hirelings work only to receive wages and have no love for the sheep. Hirelings are people who are paid to take care of the sheep. Rather they were thieves, robbers, and hirelings. Jesus calls himself “the good shepherd.” Of course he is identifying himself over against the religious leaders of his day who were not the shepherds that they pretended to be. I am God, the shepherd! When Jesus says, “I am’ he is again identifying himself as God. Jesus declares himself to be the Shepherd of the sheep. God is called that also in Psalm 80 and in Isaiah 40. As quoted above, “The LORD is my shepherd.” LORD is put in the text by the translators instead of the name Jehovah. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.” Those who heard him say this could realize that he was saying that he is God. Do you know your need for a good shepherd? They need a shepherd to care, lead, and protect them. Sheep are animals that are foolish, weak, helpless, and love to wander. “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want (I shall not have any lack or need).” The Bible compares us to sheep.
One of the first verses that they memorize is Psalm 23. A shepherd is one of the lowliest occupations possible. We have been looking at the question, “Who is Jesus?” Jesus introduces himself not as a king, nor as a great teacher. “ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10: 11
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