Good day everyone, and welcome back to our journey through the book of John! 😊 Today we’re diving into chapter 10, and my prayer is that as we reflect together, God’s Word will bring encouragement, guidance, and fresh revelation for our daily walk.

This chapter opens with Jesus speaking to the people about the Good Shepherd. Through this illustration, He reveals who He is and how He relates to those who belong to Him. As I read verses 3–5, a few statements about the shepherd and the sheep stood out strongly to me:

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
(John 10:3–5, NLT)

From this passage, three key truths about the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep emerge. First, the sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice and follow him. Second, the shepherd calls his sheep by name and personally leads them out. Third, the sheep refuse to follow the voice of a stranger because they do not know it.

Many of the people listening did not fully understand what Jesus meant, so He went on to explain how this picture of the shepherd directly pointed to Himself. Throughout this chapter, Jesus makes several powerful “I AM” statements, one of them being in verse 11:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, NLT)

Unlike a hired hand who runs away at the first sign of danger, the Good Shepherd stays. He loves and cares for the sheep so deeply that He is willing to lay down His life for them. This is exactly what Jesus did for us. He gave everything, enduring the cross, despising the shame, and bearing unimaginable pain so that we could be reconciled to the Father and have eternal life. He knew His sacrifice was the only way to restore our relationship with God permanently.

Jesus reinforces this truth again in verse 14:

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.” (John 10:14, NLT)

Jesus truly is the Good Shepherd. He knows us by name, leads us intentionally, goes ahead of us, and steers us away from danger. At this point, I want us to pause and ponder – Is Jesus truly the Shepherd of our lives? Have we learned to recognize His voice? Do we know Him, and are we known by Him? We learn His voice through consistent fellowship—through prayer, studying His Word, and walking closely with Him. When we know His voice, we are also able to recognize the voice of a stranger and run from it.

Later in verses 27–29, Jesus reiterates the security and assurance we have as His sheep:

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27–29, NLT)

It is not enough to simply hear or recognize His voice—we must also follow it. Obedience is key to thriving as His sheep. When we follow Him, we walk in eternal life and security. Nothing and no one, not even the enemy can snatch us out of the hands of our Good Shepherd. That truth alone should bring us great comfort today.

King David understood this deeply, which is why Psalm 23 remains one of my favourite psalms. David knew that as long as the Lord was his Shepherd, he lacked nothing. He experienced rest, restoration, guidance, protection, comfort, and the overflowing goodness and mercy of God. These same benefits are available to us today when we listen to and follow the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd

As I wrap up today’s reflection, I want to leave us with the words of a song I learned many years ago in Sunday school, titled Shepherd of My Soul by Integrity Hossana Music. Its lyrics beautifully capture the heart posture of surrender and trust that this chapter invites us into:

“Shepherd of my soul I give you full control, wherever you may lead I will follow.

I have made the choice to listen for your voice, wherever you may lead I will go.

Be it in a quiet pasture or by a gentle stream, the shepherd of my soul is by my side.

Should I face a mighty mountain or a valley dark and deep,

The shepherd of my soul will be my guide.” (Song by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music and Martin J. Nystrom ‧ 1992)

Here’s YouTube link to song – https://youtu.be/D6HoFektajY?si=KWwB6uH_00FphYV1

I pray the words of this song will truly be the longing of our hearts today and always, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Thank you so much for joining me in our study of John 10. I’d love to hear from you—what stood out to you the most in this chapter? Share your reflections in the comments so we can continue growing together.