Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd. He did so twice in the same teaching, and at each time he gave an explanation why he was the Good Shepherd;

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and I am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:11-15)

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:11-18)

The Good Shepherd is not employed, or a ‘hireling’ as he called it. This means that he is the shepherd on his own commission! Isn’t this a wonderful attitude to have in the service of once fellow man; this is not my job; this is not what I am commanded to do. This is what my heart yearns to do because of my intrinsic charity towards all living! But when Jesus says he is no hireling it has more meaning than this.

Jesus is the owner of the flock. When he says that he is no hireling it means that the Father has given this earth over to him, and he is the master of it. The fact that this earth belongs to Jesus, and that he is the elder brother to every man and woman who will ever live here, fills him with the greatest responsibility, which also springs from that charity, which is the pure love of Christ. He could never desert anyone of us when we are in need, for he is not the hired hand.

It's not what you know – It's who you know! It is interesting to note the importance that Jesus places on the links of personal relationship between man and God; God knows Jesus, Jesus knows God, Jesus knows all good men, and all good men knows Jesus. In two short steps of personal friendship we are in the presence of the Father. And one of those steps, the middle-man, lays down his life for the flock! This is very personal, indeed. Knowing God and his Son is said by Jesus to be synonymous to eternal life.

Jesus said that he knows the sheep, and that the sheep knows him. In another parable Jesus said that the sheep would be gathered on his right hand, and the goats on his left hand side. This clearly shows that there are two kinds of creatures on this earth, sheep and goats. The sheep knows the shepherd!

The goats do not know the shepherd. Obviously they must know the goat-herder. No wonder, then, that some people are filled with the most wonderful feelings of love and spiritual edification at the voice of the shepherd, or the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, while others feel rage and other negative emotions.

Jesus knew a lot about sheep. For one thing, a shepherd walks before the sheep, and the sheep follows. A sheep-herder, on the other hand, goes behind the sheep, pushing them ahead.  

Why do sheep follow the shepherd? The answer is simple; they want food and drink, and they know the shepherd will bring them to food and water! How do they know that? By experience! "I know my sheep, and I am known of mine". A sheep-herder is a hireling.

A shepherd new to the herd is not trusted. A man who has not been schooled in with a herd will not be trusted by the sheep. They know that some people are good to them, and that others ignore them and some even scare and hurt them. When the new shepherd comes, they will run the other way.

A new shepherd will have to prove himself worthy of trust. He can do so by leaving food and drink close to the sheep until they associate him with food and drink. And when they do, they will also come for a cuddle and to play. We must learn why Jesus called himself Shepherd. Why did he ask us to be shepherds and feed his sheep?

People are just like sheep! If we want to help someone, and we go towards them, they will run the other way. We will have to leave the help near by and walk away, until that person associate us with help and love. From that day on we may walk and people will follow. They will follow in order to receive help, affection, and then some fun.