{"id":14223,"date":"2026-05-18T08:03:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T12:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&p=14223"},"modified":"2026-05-18T08:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T12:03:23","slug":"jesus-fourth-i-am-statement","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/jesus-fourth-i-am-statement","title":{"rendered":"JESUS’ FOURTH “I AM” STATEMENT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11 ESV).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

John wrote his gospel so that people might hear and believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and have life in His name. In this passage, Jesus gave His fourth great “I AM” statement, identifying Himself with the covenant name of God (cf. Ex. 3:14). The image of the shepherd carried deep Old Testament meaning. God Himself was called Israel\u2019s Shepherd, and the prophets promised a coming Shepherd who would gather and care for God\u2019s people. Jesus called Himself the “good” shepherd in contrast to the thieves, robbers, and hirelings described in the surrounding context. The religious leaders had behaved like the failed shepherds of Zechariah (cf. Zech. 11:4-17). After Jesus healed the man born blind, they cast him out rather than care for him. The sequence is striking. Bad shepherds rejected a sheep in John 9, Jesus found him in John 9:35, and then Jesus declared, “I am the Good Shepherd” in John 10. Unlike false shepherds who used sheep for selfish gain, Jesus personally sought and cared for His flock. Most importantly, Jesus said the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He did not merely risk His life. He deliberately gave it. The cross was not tragedy but mission. Jesus later clarified, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18). The Good Shepherd does more than supervise sheep. He knows them personally and cares for them sacrificially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hear many voices today that promise guidance and fulfillment, yet not every shepherd truly cares for the flock. We must learn to recognize the voice of Jesus above the noise around us. We can rest in knowing that Christ does not lead us from a distance. He knows us by name, faithfully leads us, and willingly gave Himself for us. When we feel rejected, forgotten, or alone, we can remember that the Good Shepherd seeks His sheep and draws us near to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRAYER<\/strong>: Dear Father, thank You for sending Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Thank You that He knows us personally, faithfully leads us, and willingly laid down His life for us. Help us recognize His voice above every competing voice and trust His care each day. Keep us close to You and teach us to follow wherever You lead. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11 ESV). John wrote his gospel so that people might hear and believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and have life in His name. In this passage, Jesus gave His fourth great “I AM” statement, identifying<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1310],"scripture-chapter":[1343],"oyb_day":[1665],"location":[],"class_list":["post-14223","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-john","scripture-chapter-1343","oyb_day-may-18"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/14223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14223"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=14223"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=14223"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=14223"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=14223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}