They claim to lead, and protect, and feed, and care for the sheep, but they instead cannibalize, dissipate, eviscerate the flock. This is not your friendly, delightfully, warm fuzzy passage. So, I have to tell you this passage makes me nervous. Shepherd of this flock. I am sometimes called pastor.
Pastor is the Latin word for shepherd.
John is relentless. And, you know, although John certainly speaks to me, he speaks to you too. But you are shepherds, you know. Shepherds, in Christ's name, you are. Pledged to listen, to care, to open, to bear heavy loads dutifully and compassionately, to open new opportunities, to succor the loser, to grant at least another chance to the failure.