2011 05 15 Good Shepherd

 John uses many images in his Gospel. This one is of Jesus as a shepherd. Like a shepherd, Jesus is concerned with the welfare and the care of His sheep. The shepherd loves his sheep.

Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd.

He didn’t call himself King Jesus…

He didn’t call himself President Jesus…

He didn’t call himself Commissioner Jesus…

He didn’t call himself Mayor Jesus…

Doctor Jesus…Reverend Jesus…Deacon Jesus…Or Chairman Jesus….
But he called himself a shepherd…

A servant… A caretaker…A watchmen…A provider…

He called himself a shepherd…. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture…
We depend on God, for everything…And just as a shepherd watches over his sheep…So does God watch over his children…
Two caretakers are mentioned in this account, the Good Shepherd, and the hired hand. The hired hand had no connection with the sheep, no relationship with the sheep. He thought of himself first and the sheep last. If a sheep was attacked by a wolf, or lost, oh well.
Then there is the good shepherd.

The good shepherd is the owner of the sheep.

He has a special relationship with them. Most owners didn’t own a lot of sheep. A flock of 100 was huge. Most flocks were no larger than 10-20.

There was nothing about their sheep that the good shepherd did not know. The individual sheep in a flock all look alike to the untrained eye. A good shepherd, however, can tell them apart--often because of their markings or peculiar traits.
These were not just sheep; they were Patch, Limpy, Blackie, Tag, Nosey, and so on.

By day and night the shepherd lived with them. He was always there for them.
You see, a shepherd, in order to know his sheep and care for them, has to live among them.

He has to be close to them. Jesus came from heaven to earth to be close to His sheep.

The Good Shepherd became a sheep, took on our nature, and lived life just like us (except without sin). That’s why He is the good Shepherd.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows the peculiar traits of His flock and watches over us with love and concern.
A cemetery has a tombstone that bears the following epitaph:
Pause Stranger, when you pass me by,

As you are now, so once was I.

As I am now, so you will be,

So prepare for death and follow me.
An unknown passerby scratched the following reply underneath:
To follow you I’m not content,

Until I know which way you went!
Even though flocks may mingle together, each flock knew it’s own shepherd’s voice, and each would follow it’s own shepherd and no other.
 

A man in Australia was arrested and charged with stealing a sheep. But he vigorously protested that it was one of his own that had been missing for many days. When the case went to court, the judge didn’t know how to decide the matter. Finally he asked that the sheep be brought into the courtroom. Then he ordered the plaintiff to step outside and call the animal. The sheep made no response except to raise its head and look frightened.
The judge then instructed the defendant to go to the courtyard and call the sheep. When the accused man began to make his distinctive call, the sheep ran toward the door and that voice. It was obvious that he recognized the familiar voice of his master.

"His sheep knows him," said the judge. "Case dismissed!")
My sheep know my voice. . .
 

After all had been counted and brought into the pen, the shepherd would lay across the doorway so no intruder could enter.

The shepherd thus became the door. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who protects and sustains the life of the sheep. Jesus said, “I am the gate for the sheep.”
The distinguishing mark between the good shepherd and the hired hand is that the good shepherd would lay down his life for the sheep. He was their protector.
When Jesus laid down His life for the sheep He saved us from the destroying wolves of sin and death. He gave His life to kill them and take away their power so they couldn’t destroy the flock.

Our success as followers of Jesus is based on the love of a shepherd who was willing to lay down his life for us.
He loved us enough that our sinfulness became his burden.
He loved us enough that his perfect rightness became ours.
He loved us enough to suffer on the cross for us.

To save us from eternal death.

To prepare us to meet His Father.

He will keep us safe in the sheepfold if we’re smart sheep and follow the Good Shepherd.


Heavenly Father, in Jesus we have a true shepherd.
 We come together as the sheep of his fold to worship you and give thanks for this great gift.
Help us to draw close to you that by your love and our attentive listening we may become so familiar with Christ’s voice that we will not be deceived or led astray by any other.
Nurture and equip us as faithful leaders and ministers of your gospel according to Christ’s example, we pray. Amen