Jesus: The Good Shepherd Or Just Another Prophet?

By Allen J. Huth, President of the Ezra Project |

Baa! Baa! I admit that I’m a sheep! I don’t know about you, but I’m a sheep. And I am so glad that Jesus is my Good Shepherd. And that He laid down His life for the sheep. He laid down His life for me. You know, I can’t comprehend that, but that’s what the Word of God tells me. And I am so thankful!

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10. What a contrast. Satan, the thief, only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Look around our world today. He’s doing a pretty good job of that. Killing, stealing, and destroying all around us.

But Jesus. But Jesus came that we might have life, but not only life, but have it abundantly. Now, does that mean great possessions? Well, probably not. Not for most of us. But it means that we can have an abundant life in Christ, because He is the Good Shepherd.

And He laid down His life for us. He says, “…I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again.” (John 17-18). Jesus was not killed by the Jews. He laid down His life for us. He had the authority to do so, and He had the authority to take it up again. In other words, to rise from the dead.

That is so powerful. It’s so powerful to see the authority that Jesus has been given by the Father. And then He claims that He and the Father are one. He says it in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” And in John 10:38, “..the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

Jesus cannot be considered a good teacher. He cannot be considered another prophet. He can’t just be put on par with other religious leaders. No. He claims to be God. No other religious figure in history has ever claimed to be equal to God.

And that’s why I claim to be a sheep. John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear my voice…” Yes, I hear His voice. And then He says, “…and I know them.” And I am so thankful that Jesus knows me. “And they follow me.” Yes, I follow Him. And John 10:28 says, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Yes, I’m a sheep. I want to be a follower of Jesus and hear His voice so I cannot be snatched out of His hand, and He alone will provide me eternal life. Hallelujah!