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Imagery of a Shepherd and the Restoration of Justice

Imagery of a Shepherd and the Restoration of Justice

Last updated on: May 7, 2025 at 11:22 am by Herb Montgomery

Imagery of a Shepherd and the Restoration of Justice 2025-05-07T11:22:30-04:00 Herb Montgomery

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Shepherd

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Our imagery this week, is of the Johannine use of the good shepherd. And our reading is from the gospel of John:

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem.

It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

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This is Part 1 of A Shepherd Restoring Paradise

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:22-30)

The context of our reading is the Gate and Shepherd image from John 10. Let’s take a moment to understand that context:

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The 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. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:1-18)

In this chapter, Jesus was not just a gateway, but also the only gateway through which to enter. This was a fitting image for the Johannine community given their proto-gnostic beliefs. It was also meaningful for them to describe Jesus as a shepherd. They used the shepherd imagery like other communities of Jesus-followers (see Matthew 11:28-30). What I appreciate about John’s use is the connection Jesus makes to life and life in its fullest expression. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” We’ll begin here, in Part 2.

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About Herb Montgomery

Herb Montgomery, director of Renewed Heart Ministries, is an author and adult religious re-educator helping Christians explore the intersection of their faith with love, compassion, action, and societal justice. You can read more about the author here.

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Feed My Sheep: Justice Is Sacred Work

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