Of bandits, thieves and hired men

In contrast to the role and function of the Good Shepherd, there are persons and functions mentioned in the Gospel of John 10:1-10, they are the bandits, thieves and the hired man. Listen to what Jesus said:

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep" (John 10:1-2).

Who are the thieves and bandits who come in a different way?

The word "bandit" or robber has the connotation of being a revolutionary, or insurrectionist in the context of the Jewish religion. A revolutionary is one who turns the direction of the sacrificial system. He doesn't transform it; he simply redirects it. The system reovlves, but doesn't transform. A genuine revolutionary can be characterized as those who are willing to die to radically transform the system. There's a truth to this in our contemporary life because there are people who wish to be categorized as "revolutionaries" but are not resolved to radically transform whether sacrificial system of religions or the socio-political systems. Jesus stressed here the difference in intention between the Good shepherd and the bandits and robbers in relation to the flock.

Moreover, thieves are categorized together with the bandits or robbers. The flock knows their shepherd and can easily identify the thieves, therefore they refuse to follow the latter. In fact they run away from the thieves because they don't know his voice. True to every relationship in the world. A familiar voice gives assurance and can be a head turner. For those who knows a particular voice would wait patiently to hear what that voice would say to them. The moment the words are spoken by the familiar and respected voice, the flock listens. The voice of the stranger or thief is easily discriminated and the flock run away upon hearing the voice. Interesting but true. Similarly the hired man would be recognized easily by the flock.

By contrast, Jesus says, (John 10:14-15) "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep." Here Jesus identified himself with the flock--who are victims of various forms of oppression. So shepherding is being in solidarity with the victims of the empire and work with them towards the reversal of system.