I AM - The Good Shepherd
Yahoo! It is Sunday again and our fourth Feast Day!! On this Lord’s Day, enjoy worshiping with your church family, through songs and hymns, through the reading and teaching of God’s Word, through giving cheerfully, and enjoying the blessed gift of food, chocolate, social media, or anything you may have set aside for your Lenten promise.
The Seven I AM’s
Each Sunday of #LentenDaily 2026 we will focus on a specific I AM statement made by Jesus to His followers. Jesus’ I AM statements would have particular significance to the first-century Jewish listener. Just as God had revealed Himself to Moses as the “I AM” when calling him to return to Egypt and lead His people out of slavery, Jesus used the same words to describe Himself throughout His ministry, as recorded by John.More specifically, “I AM WHO I AM” (Hebrew: Ehyeh asher ehyeh) is a profound declaration from Exodus 3:14, where God reveals His name to Moses as the self-existent, eternal, and faithful Deliverer. Signifying that God is not dependent on anything else for existence and is present with His people, this name represents an immutable, self-sufficient, and ever-present being. When “God replied to Moses, “‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.’” (Ex 3:14), He was revealing Himself as the eternal, invincible, covenant-keeping God that He was, is and always will be.
Today we will take a look at the fourth of Jesus’ I AM claims, I AM the Good Shepherd.
Read John 10:11-30
A few years ago our youngest daughter adopted a pitbull mix named Papi. It was a bit of a complicated journey, her taking this highly reactive dog into her heart and home. Papi was unpredictable, one second seemingly happy and content, the next ready to take another dog down. After a violent episode with another dog left Rebecca with puncture wounds, Dale and I felt that he was too much of a risk and wanted her to have Papi put down. But his owner, his advocate, his girl declared boldly, “I would literally give my life for Papi!” While she hasn’t been required to give up her life, Papi’s care has required a life of sacrifice that few others would be willing to offer.
When Jesus declared “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep,” (v 11) He was owning the role of caring, sacrificial leader, the nurturer who knows his followers intimately, protects them from danger, and lays down his life for their salvation. His sacrificial love cannot be compared with a “hired hand” (v 12) who abandons the sheep, emphasizing that Jesus is the ultimate, personal provider for His flock.
The Good Shepherd knows His own sheep by name, and they recognize his voice. This is an important, repeated ability - to hear and recognize Jesus’ voice and speaks to an intimate, relational, and active, rather than distant, relationship. He even mentions having other sheep not of the current fold, who will also “listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd” (v 16) indicating his mission to bring all believers into one unified flock under his care.
Psalm 23
The Good Shepherd
A psalm of David.
“The Lord is my shepherd;I have what I need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life;he leads me along the right pathsfor his name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,I fear no danger,for you are with me;your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue meall the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lordas long as I live.”
As you enjoy the remainder of your Fourth Feast Day this Sunday, please also enjoy this A cappella version of Isaac Watts’ 1719 rendition of Psalm 23, “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need.”
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need - A cappella - Eclipse 6 - Official Video - on iTunes
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, by Isaac Watts, 1719
1 My Shepherd, you supply my need,most holy is your name;in pastures fresh you make me feed,beside the living stream.You bring my wand’ring spirit backwhen I forsake your ways;you lead me, for your mercy’s sake,in paths of truth and grace.
2 When through the shades of death I walk,your presence is my stay;one word of your supporting breathdrives all my fears away.Your hand in sight of all my foes,does still my table spread;my cup with Blessings overflows,your oil anoints my head.
3 Your sure provisions gracious Godattend me all my days;oh, may your house be my abode,and all my work be praise.Here would I find a settled rest,while others go and come;no more a stranger, nor a guest,but like a child at home.
Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 2006
