The 4th Sunday of Easter is also designated as Good Shepherd Sunday.  In the Gospel of John today Jesus identifies with the title, Good Shepherd.  Jesus wants to emphasize the relationship between himself and the flock he tends.

In the Gospel there is a distinction between a good shepherd and a bad shepherd.  There is a closeness that the good shepherd has with the sheep.  The good shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep.  Whereas the bad shepherd has no concern for the welfare of the sheep.  "A hired man who is is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away" (John)

Jesus the Good Shepherd calls each of us by name.  He doesn't take off when things get tough.