Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them”
Jesus told the people in Jerusalem that He is like a good shepherd. His disciples, or followers, are like His sheep. The good shepherd loves his sheep. He knows the name of each one.
John 10:3, 14; see also Helaman 15:13
The sheep know the voice of the good shepherd. When he calls them, they listen and obey.
The good shepherd takes care of his sheep. He leads them to green pastures, just as Jesus Christ leads us to eternal life.
When someone else is hired to take care of the sheep, they do not follow him, because they do not know his voice. When danger comes, the hired person runs away. He doesn’t care about the sheep like the good shepherd does.
The good shepherd doesn’t run away when there is danger. He stays to protect His sheep. He is even willing to give his life for them, just as Jesus Christ gave His life for us so that we can have eternal life.
Jesus told the people in Jerusalem that He also had other sheep who lived in other places. Jesus said He would visit them too, and they would hear His teachings. The Book of Mormon tells about Jesus visiting some of His other sheep in the Americas.