I Am the Good Shepherd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

I Am the Good Shepherd - Essay Example In response Jesus passed judgment on the Pharisees and on the temple itself. Later Jesus and his disciples see a man who was blind from birth. When the disciples asked Jesus if it was the sins of this man or his parents that made this man blind, Jesus responded by saying that neither of this was the case and that this man was born blind so that God’s works might be displayed in him (Jn 9:3). Jesus then restores the sight of this man, thereby giving a sign that bears witness to his claim of being the light of the world. This sign pointed to something beyond itself to reveal who and what Jesus was and what he habitually did (Morris 1989). The Pharisees however condemn this act and state that this man was born in sin (Jn 9:34) which was in complete opposition to what Jesus had said that neither this man nor his parents sinned. They continued to question the man who was healed from his blindness about the manner in which Jesus healed him and tried to disprove that Jesus was sent f rom God. The Pharisees then threw out the blind man from the temple whom Christ had healed (Jn 9:34). Hearing about these discussions Jesus condemns the Pharisees and accused them of being spiritually blind – a condition that is far worse than being physically blind. In John 10 Jesus puts the events of John 9 into perspective by stating that He is the good shepherd who is willing to lay down his life for His sheep. Jesus calls himself as the good shepherd who operates with love and compassion to meet the needs of people and contrasts it with the Pharisees whom he identifies as the evil shepherds who have consistently worked to scatter the sheep of God by their rigid religious rules and regulations, preventing people from encountering the love of God. Jesus separates himself from religious teachers as he invites people to enter into a deep personal relationship with Him as the chief shepherd who takes care of their needs and lays down His life for their eternal salvation (Whit acre 1999) In John 10, Jesus portrays a scene from the village where shepherds take care of their sheep to illustrate the relationship He has with His children. The shepherd has a distinct voice and calls each sheep by its name, which the sheep are familiar with. On hearing this call the sheep can easily separate themselves from the rest of the flocks and follow their shepherd. The sheep respond only to the voice of their shepherd who typically walks ahead of the flock, guiding them to green pastures and protecting them from any possible danger. Jesus says that He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him (Jn 10:14). He also contrasts the good shepherd who promises a life of abundance with the thieves and robbers who are out to steal, kill and destroy the sheep (Jn 10:7). He goes on to contrast the good shepherd who will risk his life to protect his sheep with a hired man who would leave the sheep behind and run away when a wolf comes to attack because he does not care about them (Jn 1 0:12-13). In the Old Testament, leaders like Moses and David were often referred to as shepherds. Ps 77:20 records that â€Å"you led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron†. Again, in Ps 78:70-72 and Ez 34: 23 David is referred to as a shepherd who tended the people of Israel with integrity of heart and skillful hands. Ps 23 is one of the well known scriptures in the entire Bible which portrays the image of