John 10:11 I Am the good shepherd. Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15, 22 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He 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. 13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. Isaiah 56:8 I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, Isaiah 53:7-8 that I may take it again. 18 No 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.”
Christ is the shepherd prophesied about by Isaiah.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11
Contrary to the effeminate shepherds that lead many churches today, Jesus fights to save his sheep from predators. The good shepherd loves his sheep so much that he is willing to lay down his life for the sheep.
C.H. Spurgeon describes the fierce nineteenth-century shepherds in the Transjordan area.
The shepherds themselves had none of the peaceful and placid aspect which is generally associated with pastoral life and habits. They looked like warriors marching to battle – a long gun slung from the shoulder, a dagger and heavy pistols in the belt, a light battle-axe or iron headed club in hand…Their fierce flashing eyes and scowling countenances showed but too plainly that they were prepared to use their weapons at any moment. Treasury of David
You are so valuable to Jesus that he willingly died for you. He took your place in death and carries [you] close to his heart. In addition to saving and defending his own sheep he goes on to say that he will save other sheep which are not of this flock.
What is he talking about?
Jesus is referring to the Covenant Promise that he made to Abraham. All peoples of the earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:3 And again in Isaiah God explains, Yahweh, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “I will yet gather others to him, in addition to his own who are gathered.” Isaiah 56:8
Christ is revealing that he will lay down his life and, in rising from the grave, defeat death, offering salvation and abundant life to both Jews and to Gentiles.
Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the Covenants of the Promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:11-13
John 10:19 Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane! Why do you listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?” Exodus 4:11
Again the leaders were in a quandary. Because they had misinterpreted the prophets concerning Christ, they didn’t recognize him when he appeared on the scene. The leaders couldn’t decide exactly who Jesus was. Some thought that he was insane or had a demon to say the things that he said. For others, because Christ’s action of giving sight to the blind man was speaking louder than his words, he could not be ignored. They rightly asked, “It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind?” Demons do not give light, truth, and understanding. Demons bring lies, darkness and confusion because their goal is death. John 8:44