If Jesus Christ had come to earth only to obey orders, he would have left when things started going south. This is why He contrasts Himself with “a hired hand” in John 10:

“He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.”

How is Jesus the Good Shepherd?

He Saw the Danger and Stayed

In stark contrast with a hired shepherd who sees danger and runs out of self-protection, there stands Jesus—the very good Shepherd of our souls who saw the danger and stayed out of love. He didn’t run in self-protection when He saw the devil prowling like a roaring lion seeking to destroy us. He stayed, not merely risking his life for the sheep, but knowingly giving up his life for his sheep.

I love the contrast Jesus makes here:

“He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10)

Jesus didn’t come to earth just to do a job for God and get out as soon as possible. He is not a distant shepherd only here for the paycheck. He is fully invested; that’s what makes him good. 

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He Knows Us

“I know my own.”

How much does Christ know about us?
The Psalmist says he knows all our activities, thoughts, and our words before we even speak them (Psalm 139). Jesus says he knows every intricate detail about us, down to the number of our hairs (Matthew 10:30). It’s an argument from the least to the greatest. God knows the tiniest, most insignificant-seeming detail about us; he certainly knows everything else.

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He Wants Us to Know Him

“My own know me.”

To what extent does Jesus allow us to know him?
This far: “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:15).

In this life, I will never have a complete knowledge of God. He is so far above me that my mind simply cannot comprehend such beauty and holiness. But it’s as if God is saying, Get as close as you can; I’ll never push you away. And in fact, He does say that in James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” He’s not the sort of leader who believes influence is best achieved by staying unknown and out of reach. He knew we could never reach up to him so he came down to us.

This is the good news of the Gospel. I was a rebellious sinner; Jesus is my generous, perfect Savior. If I think I’m bringing anything to this exchange—my personality and gifts, my marriage and parenting, my humility and depth of emotion—I don’t truly understand the extent of my sin or the full grace that Christ offers. “Nothing in my hands I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling.” (Rock of Ages)

He knew we couldn’t reach him,
so he came to us.

Why did Jesus allow himself to be treated as a criminal when He is the God of the universe? Why does he take an interest in knowing everything about me, and allow me to come close to him?

Because he is the Good Shepherd.

I’m so glad he’s mine.