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I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD | Gareth Nicholson
- Free Church
- May 25
- 4 min read
I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD | Gareth Nicholson | 24 May 2026
Hearing the Voice That Leads to Life
In John 10, Jesus makes one of the most personal and powerful statements in all of Scripture:
“I am the good shepherd.”
At first glance, being compared to sheep may not feel flattering. Sheep are often seen as weak, dependent, and directionless. But when Jesus used this image, His audience understood something deeper. Sheep were valuable. They were known personally by their shepherd. They depended on the shepherd not only for protection, but for food, water, peace, and life itself.
And maybe that’s more true of us than we would like to admit.
We Are All Following Something
Jesus says:
“My sheep hear my voice… and they follow me.”
The question is not whether we are following something. The question is what - or who - we are following.
Every day, voices compete for our attention:
Fear
Culture
Success
Trauma
Approval
Anger
Social pressure
Past pain
Some voices lead to anxiety, emptiness, and destruction. Jesus describes them as “thieves and robbers” that come “to steal, kill and destroy.”
But the voice of the Good Shepherd is different.
He leads toward life.
Not just survival. Not temporary happiness. But abundant, eternal life.
The Difference Between Good and Bad Shepherds
Jesus contrasts Himself with hired hands and false shepherds.
Bad shepherds:
Exploit people
Protect themselves first
Run when pressure comes
Abandon others in moments of danger
Use leadership for personal gain
But Jesus says:
“The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
This is what makes Jesus unlike every other leader. He does not sacrifice the sheep for Himself - He sacrifices Himself for the sheep.
He protects. He provides. He stays. He leads. He loves.
Even to the point of the cross.
When Hurt Makes It Hard to Trust
For many people, the idea of a “good shepherd” is difficult to believe because life has introduced them to bad ones.
Some have experienced hurt in churches. Others carry wounds from parents, authority figures, leaders, or relationships that were supposed to be safe.
Some know the pain of abandonment. Some know manipulation. Some know anger, addiction, betrayal, or abuse.
And often, those painful experiences become a filter through which we see God.
But human failure is not the reflection of God’s heart.
Jesus is not the abusive shepherd. He is not the absent shepherd. He is not the manipulative shepherd.
He is the Good Shepherd.
And through the healing power of the Holy Spirit, God can remove the barriers that pain has built and restore our ability to trust Him again.
The Shepherd Who Never Runs
In Ezekiel 34, God speaks against the shepherds of Israel who abandoned His people. Then He makes an incredible promise:
“I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.”
Centuries later, Jesus stands in John 10 and declares:
“I am the good shepherd.”
This was more than a metaphor. It was a declaration of identity.
Jesus was revealing that God Himself had come to lead, rescue, and restore His people.
And unlike every earthly leader, He would never abandon His flock.
One Shepherd, One Flock
Jesus also says something deeply important:
“There will be one flock and one shepherd.”
This means the Church belongs to Jesus.
Not to personalities. Not to platforms. Not to denominations.
There is one Shepherd.
And His heart is always to bring more sheep home.
That means the Church should be a place where:
wounded people find healing,
lonely people find family,
broken people discover hope,
and new people are welcomed with grace.
Because every sheep matters to the Shepherd.
The Promise of the Good Shepherd
Jesus promises His sheep:
abundant life,
eternal security,
relationship with Him,
and a voice they can learn to recognize.
“No one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Life may still contain hardship, grief, and struggle. But the Good Shepherd holds His people securely.
He does not abandon them in suffering. He walks with them through it.
And as we learn to recognize His voice above all others, we discover the peace, safety, and purpose only He can provide.
Final Thought
You are like a sheep.
Not helpless or worthless - but deeply in need of a Shepherd.
And the good news of John 10 is this:
You have one.
Jesus is the Shepherd who knows you, calls you by name, protects you, provides for you, and laid down His life so that you could truly live.
The invitation remains open:
Will you trust His voice?
Life Group Questions
If you could choose any animal to describe yourself, what would it be and why?
The message spoke about how past hurt can become a filter through which we see God. Have you experienced that in any way?
Why is it sometimes difficult to trust leadership, authority, or even God?
What are some “voices” that compete for your attention and influence your decisions?
How can we learn to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd in our everyday lives?
Who in your life might need encouragement, care, or shepherding from you this week?
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