What Does it Mean That Jesus is the Good Shepherd? (John 10)

We continue to consider the many times Jesus used the Greek translation of I AM, which is the name by which God revealed His identity to Moses (Exodus 3:14). In John's gospel, Jesus revealed His true identity to Israel by connecting Himself with the divine name, along with describing Himself as the Shepherd of Israel. The Lord said:

The Divine "I AM" and the Shepherd’s Identity

¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep (John 10:11-15).

In verse fourteen, we see the fourth “I AM” statement, paired with the phrase “good shepherd.” Jesus distinguishes His role as shepherd from that of the false hireling shepherds of Israel, who cared little for the sheep. William Barclay explains the two Greek words translated as 'good.'

More Than Just "Good": The Beauty of Kalos

Jesus describes Himself as the good shepherd. Now, in Greek, there are two words for good. There is agathos, which simply describes the moral quality of a thing; there is kalos, which means that in the goodness there is a quality of winsomeness, which makes it lovely. When Jesus is described as the good shepherd, the word is kalos. In him, there is more than efficiency and more than fidelity; there is loveliness. Sometimes in a village or town, people speak of the good doctor. They are not thinking of the doctor's efficiency and skill as a physician; they are thinking of the sympathy, kindness, and graciousness that he brought with him and that made him the friend of all. In the picture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, there is loveliness as well as strength and power.^[1]

Fully Known: The Omniscience of the Shepherd

Jesus proclaimed, "I know my sheep and my sheep know me," emphasizing His close relationship with us. He is fully familiar with us and understands us completely. Theologians refer to this divine ability as omniscience—God’s all-encompassing knowledge. He is aware of everything at all times, without ever needing to learn or catch up on current events. We can never reveal anything to God that He doesn’t already know. As God, Jesus shares this perfect knowledge, possessing complete wisdom and understanding of all things. Perfect knowledge involves knowing all facts accurately; perfect wisdom is applying those facts correctly; perfect understanding is perceiving and interpreting them fully. Omniscience makes God infallible—incapable of error or omission (Psalm 139:1-10). It’s amazing to realize that even with His complete knowledge, He still loves and cares for us. He truly is the Good Shepherd—the Beloved One!

Personal Application: The Kalos Reflection:

Look for "loveliness" in your day. If Jesus is kalos (winsome/lovely), His presence shouldn't feel like a heavy chore or a cold rulebook. Try to spot one "lovely" thing today—a sunset, a kind word, a quiet moment—and thank the Good Shepherd for being the source of that beauty. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Keith Thomas.

Continue Your Journey…

If you found this meditation meaningful, maybe you’d like to explore: How Do I Become a Christian, what Jesus said about “You Must Be Born Again,” or even How Can I Be Sure of My Faith?

Taken from the series in the Gospel of John, click study 19: Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

YouTube video teachings at: https://www.youtube.com/@keiththomas7/videos

^[1]William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of John, Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh, page 62.