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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_10:11-18
11"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."
Joh_10:11; Joh_10:14 "I am the good shepherd" This was an OT title for the Messiah (cf. Eze_34:23; Zechariah 11; 1Pe_5:4) and for YHWH (cf. Psa_23:1; Psa_28:9; Psa_77:20; Psa_78:52; Psa_80:1; Psa_95:7; Psa_100:3; Isa_40:11; Jer_23:1; Jer_31:10; Eze_34:11-16).
There are two Greek terms which can be translated "good": (1) agathos, which is usually used in John for things, and (2) kalos, which was used in the Septuagint to refer to good as opposed to evil. In the NT it has the meanings of "beautiful," "noble," "moral," and "worthy." These two terms are used together in Luk_8:15. See note at Joh_8:12.
Joh_10:11 "the good shepherd lays down His own life for the sheep" This refers to the vicarious substitutionary atonement of Christ (cf. Joh_10:11; Joh_10:15; Joh_10:17-18). He voluntarily laid down his life for sinful mankind (cf. Isa_52:13 to Isa_53:12; Mar_10:45; 2Co_5:21). True life, abundant life only comes through His death.
Bruce M. Metzger's A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament has an interesting point on this verse:
"Instead of the expression 'to lay down one's life,' which is characteristically Johannine (Joh_10:15; Joh_10:17; Joh_13:37-38; Joh_15:13; 1Jn_3:16), several witnesses (P45, à *, D) substitute the expression 'to give one's life,' which occurs in the Synoptic Gospels (Mat_20:28; Mar_10:45)" (p. 230).
Joh_10:14 "I know my own and My own know Me" This is the Hebrew sense of the word "know" (see Special Topic at Joh_1:10). As the Son knows the Father and the Father the Son, so too, Jesus knows those who trust Him and they know Him. They have "seen" and "heard" (cf. Joh_10:4) and responded (cf. Joh_1:12; Joh_3:16). Christianity is a personal relationship (cf. Joh_17:20-26).
Joh_10:15 "even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father" This is a recurrent theme in John. Jesus acts and speaks out of His intimate relationship with the Father.
The surprising analogy in Joh_10:14-15 is that the intimacy between Father and Son is compared to the intimacy between Son and followers (cf. Joh_14:23). John focuses on the Hebrew connotation of "know" as intimate fellowship, not cognitive facts. Jesus knows the Father; those who know Jesus, know God!
Joh_10:16 "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold" This is an allusion to Isa_56:6-8. The context seems to demand that this refers to (1) the Samaritans (cf. Joh_4:1-42) or (2) the Gentile Church (cf. Joh_4:43-54). This speaks of the unity of all who exercise faith in Christ. The new covenant unites Jews and Gentiles (cf. Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13; also note 1Co_12:13; Gal_3:28; Col_3:11)! Gen_3:15 and Joh_3:16 merge!
▣ "and they will become one flock with one Shepherd" This has always been the goal of God (cf. Gen_3:15; Gen_12:3; Exo_19:5-6). The theological aspects of this unity are discussed in Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13 and Eph_4:1-6.
Joh_10:17 "For this reason the Father loves Me" As the Son was not forced to lay down his life, the Father was not forced to give His Son. This should not be interpreted that God rewarded the man Jesus for his obedience (this heresy is often called adoptionism, see Glossary).
▣ "I lay down My life so that I may take it again" This implies the resurrection. Usually in the NT it is the Father who raises the Son (cf. John 18 b) to show His acceptance of His sacrifice. But here the power of Jesus Himself in the resurrection is asserted.
This phrase is an excellent opportunity to show that the NT often attributes the works of redemption to all three persons of the Godhead.
1. God the Father raised Jesus (cf. Act_2:24; Act_3:15; Act_4:10; Act_5:30; Act_10:40; Act_13:30; Act_13:33-34; Act_13:37; Act_17:31; Rom_6:4; Rom_6:9; Rom_10:9; 1Co_6:14; 2Co_4:14; Gal_1:1;Eph_1:20; Col_2:12; 1Th_1:10)
2. God the Son raised Himself (cf. Joh_2:19-22; Joh_10:17-18)
3. God the Spirit raised Jesus (cf. Rom_8:11)
Joh_10:18 "I have authority" This is the same term used in Joh_1:12. It can be translated "authority," "legal right," or "power." This verse shows the power and authority of Jesus.