The Good Shepherd

• What are some things you know about sheep?

• What would it take to be a good shepherd?

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11

Most people know the beginning of Psalm 23 : “The lord is my shepherd.” Jesus confirmed that claim when he said, “I am the good shepherd.” The question is, why did he choose such a description for himself?

At first glance, a shepherd seems like a tame analogy. What does a shepherd do but stand in the middle of a peaceful meadow, hold a stick with a curved end and watch a flock of sheep munch grass?

It turns out there’s a lot more to shepherding than that. In 1 Samuel 17:34-35, David, who also was a shepherd, gives a brief job description: “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.” Not only do shepherds have a deep concern for the safety of their sheep but they will risk—and even sacrifice—their own lives to keep the sheep safe.

As Christians, we are Jesus’ sheep. He leads us to where we need to be, he watches over us and he protects us. He is the Good Shepherd.

PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus, our Good Shepherd. We praise him for protecting us, searching for us and giving his life for us. Amen.