In John 10:16, Jesus states: “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” This verse points to the unity that Jesus desires for his followers, both Jews and Gentiles. Here are 9000 words exploring the meaning behind Jesus’ statement:
Many scholars believe that when Jesus refers to “other sheep” in this verse, he is speaking about the Gentiles (non-Jews). Throughout much of Israel’s history, the Jews saw themselves as God’s chosen people and superior to the Gentile nations around them. They tended to look down on Gentiles and avoided associating with them. The Jews were God’s “flock” and did not believe that the Gentiles could be part of God’s people unless they fully converted to Judaism.
Jesus challenged this notion and made it clear that his salvation was for all people, both Jews and Gentiles. His death and resurrection would break down the dividing wall between these groups and form one united body of believers. The “one flock” in John 10:16 refers to the universal Church that would be established after Jesus’ ascension, consisting of both Jewish and Gentile Christians. God does not show partiality or favoritism (Acts 10:34-35), and the gospel is available to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
When Jesus says there will be “one shepherd,” he is referring to himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). As the shepherd, Jesus cares for and protects his flock. He unites them together into one body, just as a shepherd would gather and lead his sheep together in one flock. This demonstrates the unity and oneness of those who belong to Christ.
There are several other places in Scripture that speak to this idea of Jesus creating one flock made up of diverse peoples:
- Ephesians 2:11-22 discusses how Jesus broke down the barrier and dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles through his death, forming one new people out of the two groups.
- Galatians 3:28 emphasizes that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female – all are one in Jesus.
- Romans 10:12 states that Christ shows no partiality, but that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” His salvation is available to both Jews and Gentiles.
- Revelation 7:9 describes people from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and the Lamb, picturing the diversity of the flock.
Jesus also speaks of gathering together the scattered children of God into one (John 11:52). This likely references bringing in people from diverse backgrounds to form one united body, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy about the nations coming to the light of God (Isaiah 60:1-3).
The Imagery of a Shepherd and Sheep:
It is important to understand the metaphor that Jesus is using here. Describing himself as the Shepherd and his followers as the sheep emphasizes his loving leadership and care for his people. Shepherds had great affection for their sheep, knew them individually, guided them to food and water, and protected them from predators.
Sheep also have the tendency to wander off and get lost if not led by a good shepherd. Isaiah 53:6 states, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” Humans left to themselves often stray from God’s way. But Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came to rescue lost sheep and bring them into his fold (Luke 15:3-7).
Sheep are also dependent creatures who need a shepherd to care for their needs. The psalmist says “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). As a shepherd leads his sheep to nourishment and rest, so Jesus guides and provides for the needs of his people. Ultimately, the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
Implications of One Flock with One Shepherd:
This beautiful imagery of one united flock with one shepherd has several implications for believers:
- Unity – As God’s people, we are to reflect the oneness between the Shepherd and the sheep. Though we come from diverse nations, races, backgrounds and denominations, Christ has formed us into one flock. This should lead us to greater unity with fellow Christians.
- Equality – No one has greater status or worth than another in God’s eyes. Jesus demolished class divisions and welcomes all into his flock. We must not show favoritism or discrimination within the body of Christ (James 2:1-9).
- Submission – As the sheep listen to and follow their shepherd, so we are to listen to Jesus’ voice in our lives. Our obedience and allegiance should be to Christ alone as our Shepherd.
- Provision – We can trust that Jesus will lead us to nourishment and provide for our needs as we follow him, just as a shepherd cares for his sheep.
- Protection – Jesus protects his flock from the spiritual forces of darkness that seek to devour them. We have safety in staying near to the Shepherd.
God’s Initial Covenants with Israel:
To fully understand the significance of John 10:16, it can be helpful to survey Israel’s history and how God set them apart as his flock:
God initially established a covenant relationship with Abraham in Genesis 12, promising to bless him and make him into a great nation. Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites, became known as God’s chosen people.
Later, under Moses’ leadership, God freed Israel from slavery in Egypt and made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-24). He gave them the Mosaic Law to follow and blessed them as his own treasured possession among all peoples on earth (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 14:2).
The Lord shepherded Israel through the wilderness and promised to dwell among them once they entered Canaan, their promised land (Exodus 29:45-46). King David, Israel’s model shepherd-king, expressed God’s gentle care for his people (Psalm 23).
So historically, Israel saw themselves as God’s special flock among the nations. He set them apart, delivered them from Egypt, guided them to a land of their own, established them as a great nation, and ruled as their king. They had a unique covenant relationship with Yahweh as his chosen people.
Israel’s Rebellion and Divisions:
However, Israel continually rebelled against God and failed to keep his covenant commands. Their spiritual adultery and idolatry are depicted as a straying flock in passages like Isaiah 53:6, Jeremiah 50:6, Ezekiel 34:6, and Hosea 4:16. Their disobedience led to exile and scattering.
After they returned from Babylon, divisions fractured God’s flock. The Samaritans and Jews despised one another. Many different Jewish sects squabbled, including the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots. Israel was marked by inner strife and segregation between different people groups.
By the first century AD, Jews typically saw Gentiles as outside the flock of God. Gentiles were viewed as “sinners” and “unclean.” Strict Jews avoided contact with them. The temple even had a dividing wall to keep Gentiles separate from Jewish worshippers. So Israel was far from the unified flock God intended them to be.
Jesus as the Promised Shepherd:
Against this backdrop of division, Jesus came as Israel’s long-awaited Shepherd-King. God had promised that one day he would come and shepherd his people himself:
“I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:15-16).
Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by coming to seek the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24). He healed the sick, befriended outcasts, brought back the strays, and laid down his life for the sheep. He gathered God’s flock as a shepherd gathers his lambs into his arms (Isaiah 40:11).
Jesus as the Good Shepherd for All Peoples:
Yet Jesus came not only for the lost sheep of Israel, but also to bring in other sheep that were not of that fold. As Israel’s Messiah, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies that the nations would stream to God’s mountain and come to the light of Zion (Isaiah 2:2-3, 60:1-3).
Jesus commissioned his disciples to make disciples of panta ta ethne – all nations (Matthew 28:19). The Greek ethnos refers to ethnic groups, races, and people groups. His gospel of peace tore down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile and reconciled believers into one body through the cross (Ephesians 2:14-18).
The Book of Acts documents the initial fulfillment of John 10:16, as the Good News spreads beyond Jerusalem to Samaria, Asia Minor, Greece, Rome, and the ends of the earth. The Church expands to encompass people from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5). Jesus gathers his sheep from diverse backgrounds into one united flock.
Paul and Peter repeatedly emphasize that salvation is not just for Jews, but for all who believe in Jesus. For example:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
“In [Christ] there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11).
God “shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35).
So while Israel saw themselves as God’s exclusive flock, Jesus expands the flock to believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation. As the Good Shepherd, he lays down his life for both Jew and Gentile sheep.
Implications for the Church Today:
What implications does John 10:16 have for the Church today? Recognizing ourselves as one flock under Christ’s shepherding should lead to:
- A commitment to unity despite diversity. We must seek to preserve the oneness of the Spirit across racial, socio-economic, national, and denominational lines. Division in the body is contrary to Christ’s desire for one flock.
- Inclusion of Christians from all backgrounds. The Church should be a welcoming community that embraces our differences and treats everyone as equal members of God’s family.
- Partnership in advancing the Gospel. The task of reaching all nations with the good news and making disciples is a responsibility for the global Church. We must collaborate across cultural bounds.
- Avoiding an exclusive mindset. No nation or ethnic group has superiority in Christ. There is no place in the Church for racism, prejudice, or ethno-centrism that excludes brothers and sisters from the fellowship.
- Listening to our unifying Shepherd. Dissension often arises when we fix our eyes on each other and not the Lord. As we submit to Christ’s voice, it keeps us walking in unity as one flock.
Conclusion:
Jesus beautifully summarizes his mission to bring diverse sheep into one flock through his sacrificial death and resurrection. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:13-16:
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…that he might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross.”
May the Church worldwide strive to exemplify the reality of one flock under one Shepherd, for the glory of God and the furtherance of the Gospel.