With this promise in mind, the words of Jesus take on new significance: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus is declaring that he is the Lord God keeping the promise of Ezekiel 34 to shepherd his people. And he will do the opposite of what the bad shepherds of Israel did. They saved their lives at the expense of the sheep, whereas Jesus will save the sheep at the expense of his own life.
