Jesus used the image of a shepherd to describe His relationship with those who follow Him: He knows His sheep, calls them, leads them, protects them, and gives His life for them.
“I Am the Good Shepherd”
In John 10, Christ contrasts a true shepherd with a hired servant who abandons the flock when danger comes. The Savior’s claim reaches its deepest meaning in His willingness to lay down His life and take it up again.
Known and Led
The shepherd image also expresses personal care. Christian discipleship is not merely following an abstract moral system. It is learning to recognize the voice of Jesus Christ through scripture, prayer, covenant, and the influence of the Holy Ghost, then choosing to follow where He leads.