John 10 has another “I am” statement that draws us closer to him if we trust him and believe his claim. Jesus starts off this chapter by telling the Pharisees an analogy of the sheep entering a gate by the Shepherd. This of course was a figure of speech as the text affirms but Jesus then explains that he is the shepherd and we are the sheep. Often times in my profession of pastoral ministry, the pastor can be called “the shepherd” and congregation can be called “the sheep”. Although this can be true, pastors need to be humble and the church needs to understand that although the pastor has a high calling by God to spiritually lead his flock, the pastor is not the “true Shepherd”. In other words, the pastor is a Shepherd but not the Shepherd. Only Christ is. “The true shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (v. 11) is the following verse. Jesus tells us is John 13 that no greater love is on display than when someone lays down his life for his friends. Not only are we his sheep but we are also his friends in which he, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords ultimately laid his life down.
Later on in this passage, Jesus tells the Pharisees that “the sheep will listen to my voice and they will follow me” (v.27). I think of Peter when he writes “Although we don’t see him we love him” (1 Peter 1:8). Our salvation as believers is rooted and invested in the words of Christ as well as his death and resurrection. A goal for myself would definitely be to follow the one in which I can’t see but know is there through his power and words.