The story is told about a pastor who enjoyed telling stories to the children. He'd bring all the children to the front of the sanctuary, they would sit on the floor, and he would tell them a story. One day he said: "Boys and girls, I want to tell you a story about someone who likes to live in the woods, but sometimes we can see him in our yards. He has a big bushy tail, and likes to eat nuts. Anybody have any idea what I'm talking about?"

No takers.

He said: "I'm talking about a creature that lives in the woods, sometimes in our yards, big bushy tail, eats nuts, likes to climb trees, jumps from tree to tree now, does anybody know what I'm talking about?"

One kid raised his hand to take him out of his misery. The pastor said: "Do you know what I'm thinking about?"

The kid said: "Yeah. I know the answer should be Jesus, but it sounds like a squirrel to me."

That's a little of how it is with the Gospel of John. Just when you think you know what the answer should be, a different meaning presents itself. As you read through John, you find that it is full of double meanings and multi-layered levels. It's very different than the other three gospels. I heard one pastor say: "If Matthew, Mark, and Luke are Rembrandts . . . John is a Picasso!" That is because they have a different purpose.

John's purpose was to prove Jesus was the Messiah sent from God. But he used symbolism and metaphors to communicate that message. The symbol John employs here is that of a shepherd with his flock.