Chart of Roles in Sheep Analogy

Caregivers	Sheep	Invaders and Hired Help
The shepherd uses the door of the sheepfold to access the sheep.	The sheep are inside the sheepfold.	The thief and robber does not use the door but climb up some other way to access the sheep.
The doorkeeper allows the shepherds access to the sheep by opening the door to them.	The doorkeeper has the best interest of the sheep in mind.	The doorkeeper does not give access to thieves and robbers.
The shepherd calls his sheep by name, he leads them out and goes ahead of them.	The sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice. The sheep will not follow a stranger but flee from him because they do not know his voice; it is not familiar to them.	A stranger, thief or robber does not know the sheep by name and cannot trust the sheep to follow them. Their voice is unfamiliar to the sheep.
Jesus is the door of the sheepfold as well as being the good shepherd.	True sheep listen to the Shepherd's voice and go in and out of the sheepfold through the door which is Jesus.	All who came before Jesus were thieves and robbers and do not access the sheepfold through the door.
Jesus is the only legitimate access passageway for the sheep. Jesus came so that the sheep might have life that is abundant and satisfying.	By going through the door of Jesus, the sheep not only are saved but find pasture (nourishment, satisfaction, peace and abundant life).	The thief's only intentions are to steal sheep, to kill both sheep and shepherd and to destroy all that is life-giving.
Jesus is both the Shepherd and the Owner of the sheep. He stays with the sheep when danger approaches because He is good and cares deeply about the sheep. He is willing to risk His life to protect and keep the sheep together at all cost to Himself.	The sheep are abandoned by hired hands when danger approaches leaving the sheep fully vulnerable to be attacked, wounded, killed and scattered. This destroys trust and community.	Hired hands have little motivation to risk their own safety to protect the sheep. They are looking out for themselves are only working for gain, not because they care about the sheep. They view wolves as a threat to themselves and run away from duty.
The Good Shepherd is intimate with His sheep and knows them just like He has intimacy with His heavenly Father and knows Him.	The sheep are intimate with the Good Shepherd and have a similar relationship with Him just like He has with His Father.	Thieves, robbers and hired help share no intimacy with the sheep. At best they just work around them but don't bother to really know them or care about them. At worst they seek to exploit them for their own pleasure.
The Good Shepherd is so passionate about His sheep that He is willing to die for their safety and fellowship. He also knows there are more sheep that are not yet in His sheepfold waiting for the opportunity to recognize His voice so they will follow Him and join His existing sheep.	The sheep appreciate the care and passion of the Good Shepherd who is willing to die for them, so much so that they follow Him wherever He leads them. Even sheep not yet part of His fold are waiting to hear His voice so they can follow Him and join His flock.	All invaders and hired help are only looking out for their own interests rather than the interests of the sheep. They have no desire to risk anything for the benefit of the sheep and certainly don't care about other sheep that need a better shepherd.
Jesus knows His sheep and gives eternal life to them so they will never perish. He holds them secure in His hand. They are also in the Father's hand who gave them to Jesus.	His true sheep hear His voice and follow Him. They receive eternal life; they will never perish; they are safe in His and the Father's hands from being snatched away.	If people do not believe Jesus it is because they are not His sheep. Thieves want to snatch the sheep away from the Shepherd's hand, but cannot because of His protection.