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2. The metaphor of God as the good shepherd is then picked up by Jesus in the Gospel of John
In Jesus' times most families kept sheep. In the summer, when pasture was available, all the sheep of the
village were kept at night in one common sheep-fold, in the hills, out in the open. Probably an enclosure
surrounded by a high stone wall with one gate. This way the sheep were protected from predators and from
thieves, and one person could guard all the sheep.
In the morning each owner-shepherd would come to get his sheep and take them out to pasture. I dont
know anything about sheep, but, from what I read, the sheep are capable of recognizing the voice of their
owner, and go to their shepherd when called.
Hence the sentence in the Gospel, I know my own and they know me and they listen to my voice. Here
Jesus contrasts the good shepherd with the hired hand. The entire fortune of the sheep owner was
probably tied up in his animals, so he was prepared to protect them at the risk of his own life.
The hired hands, who did not own the sheep, but were watching them for pay, were not willing to risk their
life, and if the sheep came under attack by predators, they were likely to take off to save their own life, and
let the wolves kill and scatter the sheep.
. So by describing himself as the good shepherd Jesus used an image that his disciples very
very familiar with, from their daily life, to convey his love for us, his dedication, his care, his
passion that led him to sacrifice his life willingly to bring us back to God.