The Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  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.”

John 10:11, 14-15

            Probably one of my favorite farm animals is the sheep.  They are such docile animals and have such a dependent spirit.  I do not think I have ever heard of a “sheep” attack.  Also, their wool makes such beautiful, warm clothes. 

Sheep are also one of the dumbest animals.  If left to their own devices, sheep will continue eating in one spot until there is nothing left in that area.  Sheep will also continue eating in one direction and would eat themselves right off the edge of a cliff without someone stopping them.  Sheep have no defense mechanisms of their own and have no sense of danger.  They will remain in an area even if imminent danger abounds.  For all of these reasons, sheep need a really good shepherd – someone to watch over them, keep them going in the right direction, provide them with all their sustenance, and protect them from danger. 

Can I tell you now (and yes, it is okay to laugh) that I so identify with the sheep?  There are times that I feel like the dumbest animal on earth.  I keep going back and back to the same places (typically places of sin) that eventually prove to have nothing left for me.  At times, I will keep going in the same direction, with my head down, until I fall off of the cliff.  Many times I have no awareness of the danger that waits for me nearby, some scheme that Satan has waiting for me in the brush.  Hence, I am so very glad that I also have a good shepherd in Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

In the gospel of John above, Jesus tells us that He came to be the good shepherd for us.  He indicated that He loves us and was willing to lay down His life for us, much like shepherds must do for their sheep at times.  He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him.  Precious sister, do you know your Good Shepherd today?  In Matthew 18, “What do you think?  If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wondered off?  And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.  In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”  Jesus so desires a relationship with each one of us that He is willing to go and search for us until He finds us.  It does not matter what condition He finds us in either – lost and alone, beaten and battered, starved and thirsty – He loves us all the more. 

God had planned from the beginning of time that we would need this Good Shepherd.  In the Old Testament, He called King David “a man after God’s own heart.”  Why, because David was also once a shepherd and knew how to look after his people.  Throughout history, God has continued to shepherd and look after His people as evidenced in Micah 2:12 “I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.  I will bring them together like a sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people.”  He wanted His people to know that while they were going through tough times, He would be with them through it all and would bring them back together.  I believe He provides us with the same promise.  No matter where we have wondered or been carried off to by our own sins, or even Satan’s schemes for us, God will come and seek us out and bring us back to a place of safety and provision with Him.  He loves us that much!!  

Pray with me:  Precious God, we know that we are truly just dumb sheep in Your presence.  We wonder off and find ourselves in the midst of danger, sometimes before we even realize what is happening.  Thank You for being our Good Shepherd in spite of it all.  Thank You for coming to find us when we have wondered from the fold and bringing us back to a place of safety and provision.  We love You so much and are so thankful that as sheep we have You to guide us through our lives!