SUMMARY
Jesus identifies himself as the good shepherd who knows his sheep by name and lays down his life for them.
ANALYSIS
The image of the shepherd brings together several aspects of Jesus’ identity. First, leaders were often called shepherds. Good leaders were those who cared for people, in contrast to the negligent leaders or shepherds who did not. JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity. fits the role of a good shepherd by caring for others, especially his followers (see EzekielEzekiel was a priest and prophet who was raised in Jerusalem and exiled to Babylon in 597 BCE. 34:1-2). Second, the good shepherd was an image for the MessiahThe Messiah was the one who, it was believed, would come to free the people of Israel from bondage and exile. In Jewish thought the Messiah is the anticipated one who will come, as prophesied by Isaiah. In Christian thought Jesus of Nazareth is identified..., who was to rule over the people of God. Here Jesus identifies himself as the one in whom this promise is fulfilled (see Ezekiel 34:23). Third, God was known as the best of shepherds, who gathered and nurtured the flock. As the good shepherd, Jesus is the one in whom God comes to God’s people (see Ezekiel 34:11-12). Jesus also says that the principal trait of the good shepherd is laying down his life for the sheep. This occurs when Jesus lays down his life first, by giving himself over at his arrest and then in his crucifixion. Jesus as the good shepherd also interprets the healing of the man born blind. When the man born blind is cast out (9:34) Jesus finds him (9:35), just as he found his first disciples, and brings him into the fold of the good shepherd. The blind man first followed the voice of the shepherd and is now one of Jesus’ own sheep.