Have you ever felt stuck or directionless?
I thought I knew what it meant to feel lost. Then I went to IKEA for the first time. If you’ve never been there, it’s a furniture store built in a literal labyrinth. Without a map and employees guiding me through, I’d probably still be stuck there today.
Maybe you’ve had to make a big choice and weren’t sure which path to take. Or maybe when you tried to make up your mind about a sensitive topic, you’ve been overwhelmed by loud, passionate, and contradicting opinions. You want to decide, but it’s not easy.
We have a lot of choices in life, and we hear a lot of voices telling us where to go and what to do. Who do we trust to lead our lives? In the story we’re going to explore, Jesus gives us a model of a leader worth following.
And, when we understand what Jesus meant by calling Himself the Good Shepherd, we can follow Him with confidence.
What Is Jesus Trying to Say About Himself as the Good Shepherd?
When Jesus said “I am the Good Shepherd,” He was saying that He leads through humble service and sacrifice.
Jesus isn’t making this statement in isolation, though; He’s saying it in contrast to a different kind of leader.
Where Does Jesus Say, ‘I Am the Good Shepherd’?
This statement can be found twice in the book of John:
- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV
- “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me …” John 10:14 NIV
‘I Am’ Statements
In the Gospel of John, Jesus used the simple phrase “I am” at the beginning of seven significant statements, linking everyday human needs—like hunger, guidance, and belonging—to His own identity. With each statement, He invited people to see that the life and closeness to God they were searching for was standing right in front of them.
Get to know the 7 “I Am” statements of Jesus.
What Led up to This ‘I Am’ Statement?
This story starts with Jesus encountering a man who was blind from birth. He struggled daily to live on his own, begging for help, without support from his community.
In Jesus’ day, it was assumed that any disability was the result of sinful behavior. But Jesus quickly squashes that idea, stating, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned … but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him …” (John 9:3 NIV). Then, He heals the man. This point is where things take a nasty turn.
The Pharisees, who were the spiritual guides of the community, were meant to care for people including the blind man. They were supposed to be “good shepherds” who guided people to a God-honoring life. But instead of celebrating with the man whose sight had been restored, they allow jealousy and fear to lead them. The Pharisees interrogate the man, question his parents, and throw him out of the community.
After being thrown out, the healed man meets Jesus again. The man doesn’t recognize Him at first, but Jesus embraces him and explains who He is before confronting the Pharisees and calling Himself the Good Shepherd.
Everything leading up to this moment shows us that Jesus’ “I am” statement is about two very different kinds of leadership. The Pharisees controlled, excluded, and shut people down out of fear, disgust, and self-interest. Jesus moved toward people, told the truth, and laid down His life to care for them.
3 Ways to Apply This “I Am” Statement
So if Jesus is the Good Shepherd, what does it actually look like to follow Him?
1. Jesus Shows Us What a Good Leader Looks Like
The religious leaders question the man, pressure his family, and eventually shut him out.
Jesus meets that same man and moves toward him. He sees him, heals him, and, after he’s been thrown out, finds him again and brings him in.
Then He says:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV
Do you see the difference?
If you’re trying to figure out who to trust or where to look for direction, start here. Jesus shows us what a good leader looks like.
Jesus doesn’t hold onto power at the expense of people. He gives Himself for their good. He stays with them. He takes responsibility for them and is willing to lay His life down for them. If you’re trying to figure out who to trust or where to look for direction, start here: Jesus shows us what a good leader looks like.
2. Jesus Shows Us How to Spot Bad Shepherds
The Pharisees were credentialed, established, and trusted within the community. Their voices and direction were the obvious ones for people to follow. But this story exposes the gap between being qualified to lead and actually leading well.
Today, we’re still drawn to loud, powerful voices that seem credible. Left unchecked, those voices start shaping how we think and live.
Jesus helps us out by asking a simple question: who are you following?
Is it the leader with influence who says the right things but doesn’t live them out? Or the person who is humble, consistent, and willing to give themselves for others? Jesus’ kind of leadership can feel “upside-down,” but when thinking about leaders, it’s worth asking:
- Is this person serving others or themselves?
- Are they building God’s kingdom or their own?
It’s important to note that not everything uncomfortable is bad, and it can be hard to judge motives from a distance. But in Matthew 7:15-18, Jesus does give us permission to assess (judge) people based on their choices. If someone’s leadership leaves people excluded, unheard, or shut down, something’s off. That’s not how the Good Shepherd leads. In those cases, turn to God in prayer and process next steps with trusted friends.
3. We’re Invited to Trust the Shepherd
Jesus knew a shepherd would have two tools available while watching the sheep: a rod and staff.
The rod is a short, thick stick that the shepherd could use as a club, both to attack predators and to discipline sheep, in order to keep the flock safe. The staff is a long, thin stick used to guide the sheep and gently pull them back to the flock if they begin to wander. In the Old Testament, King David describes God as his shepherd and says:
… your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NIV
In other words, the Good Shepherd uses His rod to protect us from things that would pull us away from Him, and He uses His staff as a guide to lead us where He wants us to go. Jesus invites us to stay with the flock under His care and protection.
The Deeper Context of the Good Shepherd
We can get an even better idea of what Jesus is saying by looking at another Scripture behind His statement about being the Good Shepherd. In Ezekiel 34, God refers to the leaders of the day as shepherds; He accuses them of abusing the sheep for self-gain and allowing them to be scattered. But God, caring deeply for His sheep, says this:
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” Ezekiel 34:11–12 NIV
When Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd,” the Pharisees would’ve had this Scripture in their knowledge.
The Pharisees are so focused on outward performance and rule-following, they push aside the very people they were meant to lead, such as the blind man. And they refuse to let Jesus shepherd them, not realizing they themselves are lost. Jesus shakes them awake, warning that their desire to look like they have it all together has blinded them to God’s heart for the flock under their care.
Jesus doesn’t shepherd His people like those leaders—He searches for the lost and guides them back to union with Himself. Are you willing to trust Him?
Reflect or Discuss
- What voices are shaping how you think and live right now?
- When you look at the leaders you follow, do their actions match their words?
- Where might Jesus be inviting you to trust His leadership instead of your own or someone else’s?