Jesus - The Good Shepherd

We probably aren’t too familiar with all that goes into being a shepherd, but to the people of Jesus’ day it was very well known. Anyone who has taken care of a pet, however, has some experience of the relationship that can develop between an animal and its owner.

John 10:14–15 NIV84

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

The image of shepherd and sheep to describe the relationship between God and His people goes back to the Old Testament:

Psalm 100:3 NIV84

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Isaiah 40:11 NIV84

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Relationship

This image portrays a relationship.

Knowledge

A shepherd gets to know his sheep, can tell them apart and knows each one’s name. Just as God the Father and God the Son know each other, so Jesus and His sheep know each other.

Personal knowledge, familiarity, takes a personal interest in

Mutual

In the same way the sheep get to know the shepherd, trusting his leading.

His sheep are those who know Him

Know His voice

Sheep-calling contests are common in Palestine. Several flocks are placed in an enclosure and mixed together. Then shepherds whistle a distinctive tune; some call or shout in a peculiar manner. Some shepherds use a pipe with a particular pitch. Each shepherd’s signal is understood by his own sheep and they respond immediately. They make their way through the crowded enclosure to where their shepherd is waiting. The shepherd who collects a given number of sheep in the shortest time is the winner of the contest.

Do we know Jesus’ voice, can we recognize it when He speaks to us?

Follow Him (John 10:4)

When we do hear Jesus’ voice are we willing to follow, even if we don’t know where it might take us?

Shepherd

Leads

Jesus knows the best path for us to take, even if the way is through dark valleys.

Provides

Jesus knows our needs and we are promised that our needs will be met

Protects

It was not unheard of for predators such as lions to attack a flock of sheep, and there were thieves who would try to steal some. It was the responsibility of the shepherd to prevent these losses, even if it meant losing his life.

1 Samuel 17:34–35 NIV84

But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.

Jesus watches over His sheep and keeps them safe.

Lays down His life

Jesus takes this one step further in saying that He lays down His life for the sheep to protect them from their great enemy, the Devil.

For his own

No greater love

Isaiah 40:11 NIV84

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.