Ancient Jerusalem Communal Sheep Pens in John 10

In first-century Jerusalem, shepherds practiced a distinctive method of caring for their flocks that reveals profound insights into the personal relationship between Jesus and his followers. Each night, multiple shepherds would bring their sheep into a communal sheep pen, often constructed against the city wall. This pen housed the flocks of several shepherds together, yet each shepherd maintained a unique bond with his own sheep.

At dawn, the shepherds would stand at the gate of the pen and call their sheep by name. Only the sheep belonging to that particular shepherd would respond, recognizing his voice and following him out to pasture. The other sheep, hearing a voice unfamiliar to them, would remain inside the pen. This practice highlights the intimate knowledge each shepherd had of his own sheep and the sheep’s recognition of their shepherd’s voice ([01:13:35]).

Shepherds would often sleep at the entrance of the pen, effectively becoming the gate themselves. This position allowed them to protect the sheep from thieves and predators, reinforcing the shepherd’s role as both guardian and guide ([01:15:23]). This imagery is central to understanding Jesus’ metaphor of the shepherd in John 10, where he is portrayed not merely as a good shepherd but as the great shepherd who knows each follower personally, calls them by name, and leads them with care.

This shepherding practice is deeply rooted in biblical tradition. The Old Testament frequently depicts Yahweh as the shepherd of Israel, calling his people his flock and emphasizing a personal, covenantal relationship ([01:24:20]). Jesus’ metaphor continues this longstanding biblical theme, underscoring the personal and individual nature of his relationship with each believer.

The communal sheep pen and the calling by name vividly illustrate the intimate connection Jesus desires with his followers. He knows each person individually and calls them personally, just as ancient shepherds knew their sheep. This historical context enriches the understanding of Jesus’ words, showing that his audience would have immediately grasped the significance of the metaphor. It reveals the depth of Jesus’ love and care, portraying him as a shepherd who not only leads but also protects and intimately knows each of his sheep.

For further exploration of these insights, see [01:13:35], [01:14:37], and [01:16:14].

This article was written by an AI tool for churches, based on a sermon from Harmony Church, one of 60 churches in Boulder, CO