Page 82 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

Application John 10:1 – 42
Four Qualities of the Good Shepherd’s Flock
In his discourse with the religious experts, Jesus described 4 qualities of God’s sheep. His
purpose was to show that none of the religious experts bore any evidence of these qualities
and therefore should be regarded as outsiders.

First, good sheep are sensitive to his leading (10:27 a). If
you were to travel the world and hold an informal
conversation with Christians in different countries and
from different cultures, you would eventually hear them
describe a common experience: the inner prompting of the
Holy Spirit leading them to do certain things or go to
certain places. I’m amazed by the similarities in the
descriptions of people living on opposite sides of the globe.

Second, good sheep are eager to obey His commands
(10:20 7b). Sheep follow their shepherd because sheep
without a shepherd die; they fall prey to wild animals, they
wander into danger, they failed to find food and water,
they succumbed to the elements. Obedient sheep live. A
genuine believer wants to obey; he or she is motivated by
love, not fear. Furthermore, genuine believers soon learn
that obedience allows them to enjoy life to its fullest.

Third, good sheep are confident (10:28). Domestic sheep and sheep in the wild behave very differently while
grazing. Wild sheep remain ever vigilant against predators; they chew with their heads up, constantly scanning
their surroundings for danger. Domestic sheep graze with their heads down, popping up only when a noise
draws their attention. When sheep have a good shepherd, they feel secure; they don’t live in constant fear.

Believers rest in the confidence that Christ has done everything to secure their eternal safety for them. Because
He is completely faithful, we may rest in the confident assurance that we may be preserved from evil until evil
no longer exist.

Fourth, good sheep are secure (10:29). This is a fact, not a feeling. Regardless of how insensitive, how
disobedient, or how fearful the sheep choose to be, their place in the flock is secure. This is not to suggest the
believer’s behavior is irrelevant or unimportant. People who willfully resist spiritual growth who evidenced no
change in their values or behavior need to seriously question their spiritual condition. However, eternal security
– like salvation itself – is not based upon the goodness of the believer. We are just as incapable of holding on to
salvation as we were of earning it in the first place.

While holding tightly to the fourth quality, let me encourage you to cultivate the first three as you continue to
follow the Lord. Remain sensitive to His leading, obey him with all diligence and without hesitation, and rest in
the confidence of His power to protect you from all evil. After all, He’s the Good Shepherd, so following Him is
for your own good.

He’s the Good Shepherd, so following Him is for your own good.

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