On The Good Shepherd
Bible Passage: John 10: 1 – 18
The use of a shepherd and his sheep are very apt analogies to the relationship between our Lord and us.
The Sheep – You and I
Using the sheep to analogize us, I think, is not because we are as gentle as the sheep, but it is because we are very vulnerable like the sheep in the wilderness.
Not only we are like sheep in vulnerability, but also of the following nature of sheep (which I have found on the internet):
1. Sheep need full time supervision – sheep are the only animals that require 24-hour-a-day-care.
2. Sheep are not trainable – No sheep will ever perform in a circus. They never learn from their mistakes. Sheep keep doing the same silly things over and over.
3. Sheep are led and not driven – Shepherds walk in front of sheep. Sheep will scatter if you drive them.
4. Sheep will not drink from running water.
5. Sheep fall down and can’t get up – When sheep are on their back, they are not strong enough to pull themselves up on their feet. The shepherd must watch for them to fall.
After reading the above nature of the sheep, do you feel that we are a lot like them, spiritually?
That is the reason why we need a shepherd to protect and to guide us.
But not any ordinary shepherd will do, we need a GOOD Shepherd who can fully understand us.
The GOOD Shepherd – Jesus Christ
Shepherds anywhere in the world are very professional in their job; they are able to recognize every individual sheep by name, and they will put in their utmost to take care of their sheep from the wild beasts.
Likewise, the sheep will only recognize and obediently react to their shepherds’ calling.
Our Lord knows all of us by name, and He indeed laid down His life to save us out of the clutches of the devil.
Therefore, He is no ordinary shepherd, for He is our GOOD Shepherd who knows our every need.
No one is good except our God in Heaven (ref. Matt. 19:17), and He is love.
As a Good Shepherd, He not only know us by name, but He also love us with a deep love that surpasses our knowledge (ref. Eph. 3:19).
All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear
them.
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out
and find pasture.
V8 – 9
The sheep are able to recognize their shepherd’s voice, and this is a safeguard for them from being devoured by wild beasts, or be stolen or led astray by thieves.
Similarly, we who are vulnerable to the “voices” of deceptions and temptations must exercise caution and alertness. Be cautious to the deceptive voices of false teachers and their teachings, and to always be alert not to be drawn into sinning by the voices of temptation that are constantly luring us.
Our focus must be on Jesus, who told us that He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (ref. Jn. 14:6). We can never go astray or be devoured by the evil one when we fix our eyes on the Good Shepherd.
There is only ONE way to the Heavenly Father, therefore our Lord Jesus says that He is the door, and whoever enters by Him will be saved.
The Church is the Body of Christ (ref. Eph. 1:22 – 23), and it is in this Body that one can be saved.
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they
will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
V16
Following the True Shepherd is of utmost importance for all of us, because He is our guide and salvation.
There are also many sheep that belong to God, but they are lost in the world. Our Lord will surely seek them out, calling out to them so that they can also come into the True Fold of God.
May God give us the understanding to follow Him closely, so that we won’t be fooled by the false shepherd’s voice.
And may we also be courageous to go out into the world to seek out the lost sheep for the Lord. Not that our Lord needs our help, but it is a great grace to be in the workforce of our Lord’s business.
Shalom