Joh 10:11-18 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for John 10:11-14: 10:11-14 I am: See study note on 6:35. The good shepherd leads his sheep, finds food and water, and locates paths in the wilderness (see Ps 23 ). The good shepherd stands between his sheep and danger (John 10:11 ) and fights to protect them. The Old Testament describes God as Israel’s shepherd (Pss 23 ; 80:1 ; Isa 40:10-11 ). The leaders of God’s people should shepherd their flock as God does (Ezek 34:23 ). However, the leaders of Israel in Jesus’ time were bad shepherds. Summary for John 10:11-13: 10:11-13 Small villages often created communal flocks and employed a hired hand to tend the sheep. However, an employee lacked the commitment of a true shepherd. The wilderness of Judea had many predators. When a wolf or other predators attacked, the hired hand would run rather than defend the sheep. Jesus will never do this; he will always stand between his sheep and danger.

Summary for John 10:11-14: 10:11-14 ^a I am: See study note on 6:35. The good shepherd leads his sheep, finds food and water, and locates paths in the wilderness (see Ps 23 ^b). The good shepherd stands between his sheep and danger (John 10:11 ^c) and fights to protect them. The Old Testament describes God as Israel’s shepherd (Pss 23 ^d; 80:1 ^e; Isa 40:10-11 ^f). The leaders of God’s people should shepherd their flock as God does (Ezek 34:23 ^g). However, the leaders of Israel in Jesus’ time were bad shepherds.
Summary for John 10:11-13: 10:11-13 ^h Small villages often created communal flocks and employed a hired hand to tend the sheep. However, an employee lacked the commitment of a true shepherd. The wilderness of Judea had many predators. When a wolf or other predators attacked, the hired hand would run rather than defend the sheep. Jesus will never do this; he will always stand between his sheep and danger.
Summary for John 10:14-17: 10:14-17 ⁱ I sacrifice my life for the sheep: Jesus was alluding to his crucifixion (ch 19 ^j).
10:15 ^k The Father and the Son share a profound intimacy, which Jesus shares with his sheep through the Holy Spirit (14:23-31 ^l; 15:1-11 ^m).
10:16 ⁿ other sheep: Believers outside Judaism would one day join Jesus’ sheepfold (see 11:52 ^o). In Jesus’ vision for his people, Jewish and Gentile believers from diverse cultures would become one flock with one shepherd (17:20-23 ^p).
10:18 ^q No one can take my life from me: The Son’s death was voluntary. Jesus was not a martyr or a victim. His decision to die was freely given in obedience and intimate relationship with his Father (see Acts 2:23-24 ^r).

• Jesus’ resurrection was not an afterthought in which God rescued his Son from tragedy. God could not be contained by a tomb, and since Jesus and the Father are one, Jesus possessed the authority to rise from death.