Sheep

Jesus our shepherd

The Bible contains many illustrations of common everyday activities that help us to understand the messages that are there for us. One that we often see is the reference to sheep and to the shepherd. We read that shepherds were not well regarded in the social scale in Bible times and yet many of God’s servants were shepherds; Moses, David, I often think that being a shepherd prepared them for working with people, (the sheep were probably easier to work with.) Another example would be Jacob when Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.” one of the things that we can picture as we read further in this account is the fact that several flocks belonging to different owners all came to that same well to water their flocks. When all had arrived the stone that covered the well to keep the water clean was removed and all the sheep drank. When they were finished the well was covered again. The shepherds would then call to their sheep and the flocks would separate and follow their shepherd and return to pasture. the sheep knew the voice of their shepherd. Perhaps the shepherds had a different call that would distinguish them. I do know from growing up on a farm that we had different calls for different kinds of animals. Different for cows and different for their calves, we had sheep and pigs when I was real young my experiences with them were limited but I remember the calls.

We read in

Psalm 23 (NIV A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

David referred to the Lord as his shepherd. He knew the shepherds voice. Again in Psalm 100.3 we read.Psalm 100:3 (NIV)

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

people, the sheep of his pasture.

The Apostle John records Jesus’ words in John 10.11 Where Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd

Again in verse John 10.14

John 10:14 NIV

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

John 10:27 NIV

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

We have an invitation from Jesus Matthew 11.28

Matthew 11:28 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 26:26–30 NIV

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Luke 22:19–20 NIV

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NIV

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.