John 10:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

NIV: just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.

NASB: just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

CSB: just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.

NLT: just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.

KJV: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

NKJV: As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

This is the third separate analogy Jesus uses in this discussion which relies on the concept of shepherding. In this case, He contrasts His spiritual leadership with that of false teachers, including the hypocritical religious critics of His own era. Jesus previously identified Himself as "the Good Shepherd," saying that He was willing to die for the sake of His flock. This is a very different approach from a typical "hired" shepherd, who is inclined to run when there is danger. Spiritually, Jesus is the ultimate example of a shepherd willing to sacrifice Himself for the safety and health of His flock.

In the prior verse, Jesus echoed an important point made in His first analogy (John 10:1–6). There He referred to the way sheep instinctively learn to recognize the voice of their own shepherd. This reflects the close, knowing, personal relationship a "good shepherd" has with the sheep. Here, Jesus compares that closeness and intimacy with the relationship between God the Son and God the Father. This echoes other statements in the New Testament which imply that salvation through Jesus Christ brings us into an intimate family relationship with God (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:16–17).

John 10:1–21 continues directly from Jesus' encounter with local religious leaders, after giving sight to a man born blind (John 9). Jesus' references here to shepherds and shepherding are pointed barbs at these hypocritical, self-serving figures. In this section, Jesus actually creates three separate metaphors; these are not meant to be understood as a single analogy. The first comes in verses 1 through 6, the second in verses 7 through 9, and the third in verses 10 through 18. In doing so, Jesus explains how He differs from the corrupt leaders He confronts. He also delivers His third and fourth ''I am'' statements, out of seven in this gospel.

This passage continues Jesus' discussion with the religious leaders of Jerusalem, seen in chapter 9. Jesus lays out three separate analogies about His ministry, using the concept of sheep and shepherds. In those statements, Jesus explains why some people refuse to accept Him, declares Himself the only means of salvation, and again predicts His sacrificial death. This leads to controversy. Later, Jesus is cornered by a mob in the temple grounds. They once again try to stone Him as He repeats His divine claims, but He escapes in some way not fully described by the text. After this, Jesus leaves the area and returns to the region where John the Baptist had once preached.

Starting in chapter 7, the gospel of John describes Jesus' preaching at the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem. Through chapters 7 and 8, He debates with critics and attempts to explain spiritual truths. On the way out of the city, Jesus gives sight to a man born blind, as shown in chapter 9. That begins an extended debate which continues in this chapter. Jesus gives analogies of His mission using shepherding as a theme. Months later, He repeats those ideas when cornered by an aggressive mob in the temple. This sets the stage for His grandest miracle, the raising of Lazarus, seen in chapter 11.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.