Jesus The Great Shepherd

Spiritual growth begins with growing in the knowledge of Christ. The more deeply we know Him, the more clearly we understand not just what He has done, but who He is—Savior, Lord, King, and Shepherd. Every revelation of Christ draws the believer into greater trust, deeper surrender, and stronger obedience, because to truly know Christ is to see His heart and character.

Among the many pictures Scripture gives us of Jesus, one of the most intimate and comforting is the image of Christ as the Great Shepherd. In John 10, Jesus presents Himself not merely as a leader or teacher, but as the Shepherd who calls, guides, protects, and lays down His life for His sheep. This was not symbolic language alone—this was Jesus revealing His very nature, His mission, and His relationship with those who believe in Him.

While on earth, Jesus functioned in the fullness of the fivefold ministry (Ephesians 4:11). He was the perfect Apostle sent by the Father, the perfect Prophet who spoke the words of life, the perfect Evangelist who came to seek and save the lost, the perfect Teacher who possessed all wisdom, and the perfect Pastor who shepherded with compassion and truth. And when He ascended, He distributed these graces to the church—so that His own ministry would continue through His people.

But among all these roles, the image of the Shepherd remains one of the most loved, because in it we see the depth of His care for us. Jesus does not simply save us—He shepherds us.

Images showing live service. Credit: RUBC Media

The Shepherd Heart of Jesus

To understand Jesus as Shepherd is to understand how He leads His people and why He leads the way He does. A shepherd’s role in biblical times was not glamorous. It required patience, endurance, attentiveness, and courage. Sheep were dependent animals, prone to wandering, easily frightened, and unable to defend themselves. The shepherd’s presence was the difference between life and death.

In calling Himself the Shepherd, Jesus is not belittling His people—He is comforting them. He is assuring us that He accepts full responsibility for our care, our guidance, and our growth.

Jesus says:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
— John 10:11

He does not drive His flock; He leads them. He does not force; He calls. He does not abandon; He protects. He does not exploit; He lays down His life. That is the Shepherd we follow.

Marks of a Good Shepherd

The following characteristics describe not only how Jesus shepherds His people, but also how He shapes every leader He raises in the church. The Great Shepherd is the model, and every under-shepherd follows His example.

1. A Good Shepherd Sacrifices

A shepherd’s life is one of sacrifice. Jesus demonstrated this to the fullest. He gave His time, His comfort, His desires, and ultimately His life.

The true shepherd gives of himself for the sake of the flock—not only in dramatic acts, but in the quiet, daily offering of time, presence, prayer, and guidance. Spiritual leadership is costly, and Jesus shows that love is always demonstrated through sacrifice.

2. A Good Shepherd Equips

Sheep must be fed to grow, and believers must be nourished by the Word to mature. Jesus equips His people by giving them truth—truth that cleanses, transforms, renews, and strengthens.

Likewise, every shepherd in the church must ensure the flock is well fed with sound doctrine, Christ-centered teaching, and practical wisdom. A starving church is a vulnerable church; a well-fed church is a strong one.

3. A Good Shepherd Protects

In biblical times, shepherds fought off lions, wolves, and thieves. Jesus protects His people from spiritual predators—false teachers, deceptive doctrines, spiritual attack, and anything that threatens the soul.

This protection comes through His Word, His Spirit, and His continual intercession. Shepherds in the church must guard the flock in the same way—protecting believers from confusion, deception, and anything that attempts to draw them away from Christ.

4. A Good Shepherd Honours

A shepherd honours the dignity, identity, and value of the sheep. Jesus honours His people by calling them His own, by naming them, by giving them access to the Father, and by placing His Spirit within them.

To honour the flock is to treat them with care, love, patience, and respect, recognizing that each one belongs to Christ.

5. A Good Shepherd Establishes the Flock

A flock must be grounded to thrive. Jesus establishes His people through discipleship, obedience, and spiritual stability. He anchors them in truth and roots them in His love so they can withstand storms.

An established believer is not easily shaken, confused, or misled—they stand firm because their foundation is Christ.

6. A Good Shepherd Reconciles

Jesus came to reconcile humanity to God. He restores broken relationships, heals wounded hearts, and brings people back into alignment with the Father’s will.

A shepherd’s ministry is incomplete without reconciliation—bringing people closer to God and to one another.

7. A Good Shepherd Directs

The shepherd leads the flock to pasture, to water, and to safety. Jesus directs His people through the Holy Spirit—guiding decisions, prompting obedience, and leading us in righteousness.

Direction is essential for spiritual growth. Without it, believers wander; with it, they flourish.

Church Growth and the Shepherding Process

Church growth is not accidental; it is spiritual. It follows God’s divine order and timing. Paul illustrates this clearly:

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:6

This verse reveals several important truths about how God grows His church:

1. Every Church Has Seasons

Just as in nature, the church goes through seasons—planting, watering, pruning, strengthening, and harvesting. Not every season is the same, and not every season feels exciting. Yet each one is necessary.

• Planting seasons emphasize teaching, foundations, and discipleship.

• Watering seasons focus on reinforcement, encouragement, and deepening understanding.

• Growth seasons reveal the results of faithful stewardship, but the glory belongs to God alone.

Understanding these seasons helps the church remain patient, united, and focused on God’s timing rather than human pressure.

2. God Assigns Every Believer to a Flock

No believer is meant to grow in isolation. God plants every Christian in a local church where they are fed, trained, and prepared for service. Shepherding does not happen in a vacuum—it happens in community.

A healthy church is one where believers are grounded, equipped, and released to serve the body of Christ. When believers embrace their role, the church becomes strong, mature, and fruitful.

3. True Growth Comes From God

Human effort alone cannot produce spiritual transformation. Leaders plant and water through teaching, prayer, and discipleship—but only God can bring true growth, conviction, healing, and maturity.

This truth protects the church from pride and discouragement. The shepherd works faithfully, but God gives the increase.

Following the Great Shepherd

Understanding Jesus as the Great Shepherd transforms our walk with Him. It shifts our perspective from striving to trusting, from wandering to following, from fear to confidence.

The Shepherd leads, equips, protects, and establishes His flock—not from a distance, but from deep relational closeness.

And as He shepherds us, He also teaches us how to shepherd others—whether in leadership, in families, in ministry, or in our daily influence.

May every believer grow in the knowledge of Christ, follow His voice with joy, and find rest in His care. And may every church embrace the seasons God leads them through, trusting that He who plants and waters through His servants will surely bring the increase.