Who is Jesus? - Is Christianity for You

Who is Jesus?  Depending on who you ask, you could get a lot of different answers. Some describe him as a pacificist, others a revolutionary, some would say the first hippie, and many have claimed He is God in the flesh.

The best source on this subject is the Bible. There are many passages we could look at to begin to shape our understanding of the real Jesus. One of my favorite passages is John 10:11.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” I love that passage because it conveys so much in just one verse. Jesus says he is the good shepherd. The New American Commentary brings greater understanding of the word “good.”

“The word kalos (“good”) here is used to describe the role of Jesus in the context of self-giving (laying down his life, 10:11, 15, 17–18) and implies much more than the general meaning ascribed to the word by the philosophers, such as “beautiful,” “good,” “useful.”The contrast is between Jesus and the employed watchers of the sheep, or hired hands (10:12), those who take care of the sheep merely in return for monetary compensation (10:13). The term kalos here takes on the implications of “authentic” or “genuine.” [1]

In other words, Jesus is the real deal. He’s not a hired gun. He’s not a hired hand. No, he is the real, totally sacrificial shepherd who cares for his sheep. He loves his sheep. He’ll die (and He did) for His sheep.

So many of us today perform for love, respect, and care. Not with Jesus. Jesus’ love is unconditional. That’s why He’s our good shepherd.

Reflect: Read John 10:10-18. Why does Jesus refer to himself as the good shepherd? How does His death relate to His promise in verse 10? Who are the other sheep? What final claim does Jesus make in vv. 17-18?

Respond: How do you recognize Jesus’ voice? What comfort does Jesus’ presence bring you?