“I am the good Shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me, just as My Father knows Me and I know the Father…” – John 10:14-15 (NLT)
Jesus, in a fascinating way, used the Scriptures to point to His own identity as the One Who would fulfill them.
One of the most popular images of Jesus is when He said, “I am the good Shepherd…” (John 10:14-15). But while there is comfort in Psalm 23, Jesus was doing more than evoking a comforting image of Himself in this message; He was also evoking an image of power.
When Jesus confirmed Himself as a “Shepherd” in John 10, He was hinting at His identity as the Messianic King, the ruler of God’s Kingdom. His listeners were astonished and even more stunned when, in Matthew 25:31-32 (NIV), He said, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
Jesus, by using the metaphor of a shepherd sorting his sheep, is reiterating His alignment with God, Who is often called the “Shepherd of Israel.” “The Son of Man” is also a unique name by which Jesus referred to Himself. Here, Jesus is showing great humility, and though divine, He relates to our human condition and His messianic mission.
The Bible gives evidence of Jesus speaking about Himself as the Son of Man Who will come in glory on the clouds (Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27). It is clearly shown that the “Son of Man” becomes a summary of Christ’s entire redemptive mission, speaking of His humanity, His coming glory, and His role as Judge and Saviour of all the earth.
How do you respond to the identity of Jesus? In awe and by exemplifying Him on earth.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for our Messiah. Help us to remain faithful, totally surrendering to Your will, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Read: John 1:12; 1 Peter 2:9
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 30:1-7; Mark 12:13-27; Leviticus 11; Leviticus 12
