by K.Orr02 » Tue Apr 14, 2026 9:50 pm
The wilderness imagery must have struck me throughout my reading of Laniak's book, "Shepherds After My Own Heart," because, in choosing my reflections, each was written in the wilderness. And John 10, The Good Shepherd, is no exception. In fact, it harkens back to Ezekiel 34. These two passages I have been reading over and over these past few months, and it is through Laniak's book that the theological truths have been brought to light. This second exodus of God's people, where they have been scattered, and the shepherd seeks out his sheep to care for and love them.
This passage is an answer to the promise of Ezekiel 34, where Jesus calls his flock by name. And it echoes Micah 2, where everyone will be gathered together. John loves the image of following. And it is by recognizing the Lamb of God's voice that his sheep will follow, just like sheep to a shepherd. And for the disciples like Peter, this following will lead them to death, just as Jesus was led to his own death. The beauty of John 10 is that Jesus does not just refer to himself as the shepherd but also the door through which the sheep must enter. Our salvation is by the door, Jesus, but then it is Jesus who is the good shepherd and models what a good shepherd is. We as pastors will never be the door, but we can mirror the good shepherd. We must protect our flock from wolves (false teachers) who will come and attack and steal. This feels more prevalent these days, while it has always been an issue.
John models the example of Jesus, who is ultimately training his followers to be like him in life and death. They will eventually take care of his flock and risk their lives like their master. Each of the disciples encounters death, and most do so in a way that is ultimately because of knowing Jesus. "Life for the predator entails death for the flock; life for the flock requires death for the shepherd."(216) In John's gospel, we know the sacrificial lamb is Jesus. This is what I just witnessed from a senior pastor. He sacrificed himself for the sake of the flock. How often does it occur that a shepherd sacrifices themselves for the flock? And how often are these God's call, and how often are they due to a flock choosing what is right in their own eyes? I don't know the answer to this question, but given my circumstances, I wonder.
The wilderness imagery must have struck me throughout my reading of Laniak's book, "Shepherds After My Own Heart," because, in choosing my reflections, each was written in the wilderness. And John 10, The Good Shepherd, is no exception. In fact, it harkens back to Ezekiel 34. These two passages I have been reading over and over these past few months, and it is through Laniak's book that the theological truths have been brought to light. This second exodus of God's people, where they have been scattered, and the shepherd seeks out his sheep to care for and love them.
This passage is an answer to the promise of Ezekiel 34, where Jesus calls his flock by name. And it echoes Micah 2, where everyone will be gathered together. John loves the image of following. And it is by recognizing the Lamb of God's voice that his sheep will follow, just like sheep to a shepherd. And for the disciples like Peter, this following will lead them to death, just as Jesus was led to his own death. The beauty of John 10 is that Jesus does not just refer to himself as the shepherd but also the door through which the sheep must enter. Our salvation is by the door, Jesus, but then it is Jesus who is the good shepherd and models what a good shepherd is. We as pastors will never be the door, but we can mirror the good shepherd. We must protect our flock from wolves (false teachers) who will come and attack and steal. This feels more prevalent these days, while it has always been an issue.
John models the example of Jesus, who is ultimately training his followers to be like him in life and death. They will eventually take care of his flock and risk their lives like their master. Each of the disciples encounters death, and most do so in a way that is ultimately because of knowing Jesus. "Life for the predator entails death for the flock; life for the flock requires death for the shepherd."(216) In John's gospel, we know the sacrificial lamb is Jesus. This is what I just witnessed from a senior pastor. He sacrificed himself for the sake of the flock. How often does it occur that a shepherd sacrifices themselves for the flock? And how often are these God's call, and how often are they due to a flock choosing what is right in their own eyes? I don't know the answer to this question, but given my circumstances, I wonder.