Good Shepherd Blues John 10:14-15

Listen to “The Good Shepherd Blues” once in the dark, volume low enough that you have to lean in like you’re eavesdropping on the apostle himself.
Then play it again, loud enough for the walls to shake.
When that last unresolved chord is still ringing in your chest, ask yourself:
“Who are the sheep Jesus has put in my fold right now?
Who am I willing to lay my life down for, one ordinary, painful day at a time?”
Write their names down.
Call them. Visit them. Feed them the truth, even if it costs you.
Because the Good Shepherd is still calling His sheep by name,
and tonight He might be using your cracked, trembling voice to do it.
Don’t wait for tomorrow.
The wolves never do.
Now go.
Lay it down.
The Shepherd sees.
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The Good Shepherd Blues
(John’s Song – Ephesus, sometime around AD 95)
(Slow 12-bar blues in A minor – play it like an old man who’s seen too much but still got fire in his eyes)
Verse 1
I am the disciple that Jesus loved, they say
Leaned on His bosom that Passover day
But He never promised this road would be kind
Just said, “Feed My sheep, son, and follow behind”
Verse 2
They stoned me in Jerusalem, left me for dead
Blood in my eyes and a price on my head
But the Shepherd reached down when the wolves had their fun
Picked up this broken lamb, said, “Boy, you ain’t done”
Chorus
Oh the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep
Yes, the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep
And now I lay mine down, every night, every day
Till He call me home or the trumpet sounds away
Verse 3
I watched Peter swing upside-down on that tree
James lost his head for the Nazarene
Thomas and the boys, they’re long gone to their rest
But this old heart keeps beatin’ in this weary old chest
Verse 4
I thought He’d spare me the pain, keep me from harm
But He handed me the cup with a nail-scarred palm
Salvation ain’t escapin’ the fire or the grave
It’s knowin’ the Shepherd when He calls your name through the flame
Chorus
Oh the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep
Yeah, the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep
I thought I’d live forever—Lord, I was so green
But dyin’ for the flock is the only life I’ve seen
Verse 5
From Patmos’ rock to this lamp-lit room
I dip this quill in the scars and the tomb
Every word that I write is a lamb that I lead
While the churches keep risin’ like mustard seed
Verse 6 (spoken low over the turnaround)
Young ones, listen close—He won’t always keep you from dyin’
But He’ll walk every step while your flesh is a-cryin’
He knows you by name, every hair on your head
Lay your life down for the sheep… and you’ll never be dead
Final Chorus (soft, then shout it)
Yes, the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep
Mmm, the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep
This old fisherman’s tired, but I’m still in the fold
Glory, hallelujah—behold, the Lamb ain’t never growin’ old
(Turnaround: A7… let it ring… then hush)
Amen, Lord Jesus. Come get Your sheep.
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John 10:14-15 (NKJV)
"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."
Background and Historical Context
The Gospel of John was written by the apostle John around AD 85-95, primarily to demonstrate that Jesus is the Son of God and to encourage belief in Him for eternal life. Chapter 10 follows directly from the events in John 9, where Jesus heals a man born blind, leading to conflict with the Pharisees and religious leaders who excommunicate the healed man. This sets the stage for Jesus' discourse on shepherding, delivered during or around the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, a time commemorating the rededication of the Temple after its desecration.
In historical context, shepherd imagery was deeply rooted in Old Testament symbolism, where God and Israel's leaders were often depicted as shepherds (e.g., Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd"; Ezekiel 34, which criticizes Israel's "false shepherds" for exploiting the flock). The religious leaders of Jesus' time, like the Pharisees, were seen as corrupt "hirelings" who gained power through ambition and manipulation rather than divine calling, much like thieves entering a sheepfold illegitimately. Jesus contrasts this by portraying Himself as the legitimate shepherd who enters through the door, calls His sheep by name, and leads them out—drawing from ancient Near Eastern practices where shepherds knew their flocks personally and multiple flocks shared a common enclosure guarded by a doorkeeper. This metaphor addressed the spiritual blindness of Israel's leaders and affirmed Jesus' messianic role amid growing opposition.
Meaning
In these verses, Jesus identifies Himself as "the good shepherd" (Greek: ho poimēn ho kalos), emphasizing His inherent nobility, righteousness, and beauty—qualities that make Him the protector, guide, and nurturer of His flock, in stark contrast to false leaders or hirelings who flee from danger. The word "good" here implies wholeness and moral excellence, not just competence.
The core idea is mutual, intimate knowledge: Jesus "knows" His sheep (believers) with deep personal acquaintance, distinguishing them individually, acknowledging their needs, and interceding for them, just as they recognize and respond to His voice through faith. This reciprocity mirrors the profound unity between Jesus and the Father—"As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father"—highlighting divine intimacy and shared essence. The "knowing" is not mere intellectual awareness but a relational bond involving love, trust, and covenant faithfulness, akin to how shepherds in biblical times called sheep by name for significant life moments.
Culminating the meaning, Jesus declares He "lays down" His life for the sheep voluntarily, as a sacrificial act of redemption—reversing the typical dynamic where sheep might die for the shepherd's benefit. This foreshadows His crucifixion as a ransom for sin, protecting the flock from spiritual "wolves" like false teaching or eternal peril. The verses extend this care beyond Jews to "other sheep" (Gentiles), uniting all believers into one flock under one shepherd.
Application
These verses offer profound assurance for believers today, reminding us of Jesus' personal, sacrificial love and guidance in a world full of spiritual dangers and false leaders. Practically, we are called to cultivate an intimate relationship with Christ by listening to His voice through Scripture, prayer, and obedience, just as sheep follow their shepherd to green pastures and safety. This mutual knowing fosters trust: believers can rest in Jesus' protection, knowing He intercedes for us as He does with the Father, and that no one can snatch us from His hand (John 10:28-29).
For church leaders (under-shepherds), the application is to emulate Jesus by sacrificing personally for the flock, knowing congregants individually, and standing firm against threats like false doctrine, rather than acting as self-interested hirelings who prioritize comfort or avoidance of conflict. In daily life, this encourages gratitude for Christ's atoning death, unity among diverse believers, and caution against deceivers—urging us to heed His call, follow His lead, and share His shepherding care with others in need. Ultimately, it points to eternal security and abundant life through faith in the Good Shepherd.
https://storiesthatheal.blogspot.com/2016/12/bible-quotes-dec-7th-john-1014-15.html