“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We understand what it means to be good and we understand what it means to be a shepherd, but what does it mean to be a “Good Shepherd?” It doesn’t just mean that Jesus is good at the task of shepherding (which he is of course), but that he is the archetype of all shepherds. He’s morally and ethically superior, and even beautiful in the way that he cares for the sheep. John 10:11 makes it clear that the Good Shepherd is not just willing to defend the sheep, but to lay down his very life for his sheep. He cares for the sheep in a way that the hired hand cannot. He seeks out the lost sheep and brings them in to his fold. He knows his sheep and his sheep know him. They follow him, and nothing can snatch them awayfrom his care.  

What an amazing thing to be cared for by such a Good Shepherd! What amazes me even more is the way that Jesus restores us when we fall away. Jesus shepherded his disciples right up to the very end. Peter was very close to being snatched away. When Jesus was seized and taken to be killed, Peter’s faith waivered and nearly failed. He was not the strong and steady rock, but he was unstable and denied Jesus when the moment of trial came. For Peter the shame was too much to bear. He had not just been a follow of Christ; he was a leader. He was bold and had made brash statements about his faith that all proved to be hot air. When Jesus came to Peter on the beach following Jesus’ resurrection, Peter was a broken man, not fit to lead anything or anyone. 

Peter could not match Christ’s love, but Christ condescended to Peter’s level, took him where he was at, and restored him to where he needed to be. Not only did he remind Peter of his love for him, but he restored Peter to a place of meaningful ministry. “’Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.^’” Jesus is the Good Shepherd, because he lays his life down for us, he knows us, he leads us, he protects us, but he also restores us. 

Many people let past failures keep them serving Jesus now. They let shame keep them from true fellowship with Christ and his people. Christ not only took our guilt upon himself on the cross, he also took our shame. There is nothing left to keep us from being free and open to serve Jesus Christ. What can someone bring against you that he doesn’t already know? What new sin can they discover that he hasn’t already covered with his blood? Give it to Jesus. Give it all to him. Let him bear you up, heal you, and restore you to the place of ministry he has prepared for you. 

A special thank you to Pastor Tae Kim for his charge on Sunday from John 21.