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“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” —John 10:11 (NLT)

John 10:1–21 — When Jesus Shows Us What True Leadership Looks Like

In Jesus’ day, the word shepherd wasn’t just a job description. It was a metaphor for leadership—spiritual, political, and communal. Shepherds were meant to guide, protect, and care for the people entrusted to them. But Jesus wanted His followers to understand something crucial: not every shepherd is genuine. Not every leader deserves trust. Some wear the title but lack the heart.

This becomes painfully clear in the aftermath of Jesus healing the man born blind. Instead of celebrating a miracle, the religious leaders interrogated, intimidated, and pressured the man and his family. They weren’t interested in truth. They weren’t interested in compassion. They wanted control. They wanted the family to deny the miracle so they could maintain their narrative. These so‑called shepherds cared nothing for the sheep—they cared only for their own power.

Into this context, Jesus paints a vivid picture of a sheep pen. It’s more than a pastoral image; it’s a diagnostic tool. It helps us discern the difference between a true shepherd and an imposter.

A good shepherd enters through the gate—the legitimate way. He doesn’t force his way in. He doesn’t manipulate or deceive. He earns the right to lead through integrity, compassion, and courage. His authority is rooted in love, not fear. He treats leadership as a sacred trust, not a platform for self‑promotion. He is willing to sacrifice his own comfort, safety, and reputation for the sake of those he leads.

A fake shepherd, on the other hand, climbs in by another way. He gains influence through charm, connections, credentials, or intimidation. He manipulates. He postures. He uses people rather than serving them. His ambition drives him more than compassion. He is more concerned with the size of his following than the wellbeing of the individuals within it.

Jesus highlights one of the most beautiful distinctions: A true shepherd knows his sheep by name. He sees them. He understands their needs. He recognises their voices and invites them to recognise His. He doesn’t apply a one‑size‑fits‑all approach. He leads with tenderness, wisdom, and presence.

Fake shepherds drive their flocks—pushing, pressuring, demanding. A good shepherd leads—walking ahead, guiding with familiarity and trust. His sheep follow because they know his voice. They have learned its tone, its truthfulness, its steadiness.

And this is where Jesus’ teaching becomes deeply personal. If we want to follow Him faithfully, we must learn His voice. Not the voices that claim to speak for Him. Not the voices that twist His words for their own agendas. Not the voices that try to enlist Him in political battles, financial schemes, or culture wars.

We learn His voice by immersing ourselves in Scripture—by letting His words shape our decisions, our values, our instincts. We learn His voice by spending time with Him, by listening, by obeying, by allowing His Spirit to tune our hearts to His truth.

Finally, Jesus makes the most defining statement of all: “The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” This is not metaphorical. It is prophetic. Jesus didn’t simply risk His life—He gave it. He laid it down willingly, lovingly, purposefully. He proved His identity not by demanding loyalty but by offering His life.

And because He is the Good Shepherd, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose by following Him. His leadership brings safety, belonging, purpose, and life. His voice brings clarity in confusion. His presence brings peace in uncertainty. His sacrifice brings salvation.

He is the Shepherd who never abandons His flock. He is the Shepherd who knows us by name. He is the Shepherd worth following with our whole lives.