Jesus – The Great Shepherd
We’ve all seen that picture of a man with a rod and sheep surrounding him that we fondly identify as Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He said it Himself, “I am the good shepherd,” and much more about that in John 10. So, let’s explore this a little bit and understand what it means for us today.
The Prophesied Shepherd
Jesus did not appear suddenly in the New Testament and announce Himself as the Good Shepherd. The law and the prophets talk about Him as the Shepherd and His people as the sheep of His pasture.
When the Israelites left Egypt, He started leading them as their Shepherd through the wilderness. The Bible says, “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people,” (Exodus 13:21-22).
It was so remarkable that psalmists continued to sing and remind Israelites of it (Psalm 78:14; 105:39).
He didn’t deliver them from slavery and leave them to wander through the desert and figure it out on their own. He led the way. He protected them at night, just as a shepherd does for the sheep, and we will talk about it later.
He could have spoken to Moses and given them direction, but He was present with them despite their endless complaints and desire to go back to Egypt.
Even when they made a golden calf for a new god, the cloud by day and fire by night never departed. What a faithful Shepherd we have!
Then we have David, the humble shepherd who was anointed King over Israel as a type of Christ. The Root of David would come forth, not only as the King of the Jews but as their Good Shepherd.
The psalmists sang about it (Psalm 80:1, 28:9). The types of Christ, like Moses and David tending sheep, show us His role as our Shepherd. And then the prophets began to tell of the coming Shepherd.
Micah speaks of a ruler out of Bethlehem, the Messiah, who will shepherd His flock.
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth, (Micah 5:4).
Jacob, in his last days, identified Him as the Mighty One, the Shepherd, and the Rock of Israel (Genesis 49:24).
Jeremiah talks about the Lord gathering and watching over Israel as their Shepherd.
“He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock,” (Jeremiah 31:10).
In the days of Ezekiel, after the shepherds in Israel failed, the Lord promised to shepherd His flock.
‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day,” (Ezekiel 34:11-12).
The Fulfillment
The Great Shepherd came! He was born in a manger, probably with some sheep around somewhere. The shepherds were the first to hear about the good news from the great company of the heavenly host (Luke 2:8-20).
When He comes of age and into His ministry, He boldly declares part of His mission. He is the Good Shepherd (John 10). The one who enters by the gate, and leads His own, for they know His voice.
He leads them consistently. So, they know His voice. A stranger they will not follow. Cloud by day, fire by night…through it all. Consistent. Faithful. True.
He is not a hired hand. He owns the sheep. He made them. He will not abandon them when under attack. He will not abandon you when you are under attack from the evil one, the robber, the thief.
The writer of Hebrews calls Him “that great Shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20). Peter calls Him “the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25) and later “the Chief Shepherd” who is coming back (1 Peter 5:4).
In Matthew 25:32, He is the coming Shepherd who will separate the sheep from the goats.
Here is an interesting one. He is the Lamb of God who will shepherd His people after the great tribulation (Revelation 7:17).
What is His Role as our Good Shepherd?
1. He leads His sheep
He calls His sheep by name and leads them out. He goes ahead, and the sheep follow, just like the pillar of cloud in the wilderness.
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice (John 10: 3-4).
We dare not lead ourselves. We dare not lean on our own understanding but acknowledge Him in all our ways, and He shall direct our paths. We wait for His still small voice to say, “This is the way, walk in it.”
A stranger’s voice will not heed or follow!
2. He leads us to green pastures
He said, I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:5).
He makes us lie down in green pastures, leads us beside quiet waters, and restores our souls (Psalm 23:1).
If you are hungry, if you are thirsty, if you are weary in the journey, let Him lead you to green pastures, to still waters where you can eat, drink, and be refreshed for the journey ahead.
3. He restores us
He not only restores our souls but also searches for our lost souls when we wander off. He leaves the 99 for the lost one and rejoices when He finds the lost sheep. He is not willing that any be lost (Luke 15:3-7; Matthew 18:12-12).
4. He protects us
He is El-Gibbor, the Mighty Warrior, the One who fights off our enemies and protects us from all harm, that no evil befalls us and no disaster comes near our dwelling.
He does not abandon His sheep as a hireling would. He fights back. And wins every time! Who stands up against our God?
5. He is the judge
He knows His own. At the end of the age, He will judge between the sheep and the goats. The sheep to His right to inherit His kingdom, and the goats to the left to the eternal fire.
6. He lays down His life
The Good Shepherd is also the Lamb of God who laid down His life for His sheep. The shepherd’s job comes at a high cost. He lies outside with the sheep, in their mundane lives, and in vulnerability.
And when it comes to it, as it did for our Good Shepherd, He lays down His life for the sheep.
He has made every provision for you and me to be in His fold, to stand on His right on that judgment day, and inherit His kingdom.
Have you embraced His gift of salvation? Today is the day of salvation!
Shalom
