Jesus The Good Shepherd
Who is “The Good Shepherd,” and what doe the name mean? Steph Nickel shares the truth that Jesus Christ is our shepherd and cares for us very deeply.
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The Words of Jesus
In John 10:1-5 (ESV), we read these words of Jesus Christ:
“’Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.’ This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.”
Those who lived in Bible times were very familiar with sheep and how they were cared for, though shepherds occupied a low rung on the social ladder and were looked down upon.
But God obviously had a different perspective. The fact that later in the passage, Jesus goes on to say that He is “the door of the sheep” and “the good shepherd” speaks volumes—not to mention the fact that these “lowly members of society” were the first humans to proclaim the Messiah’s birth some 30 years earlier. Think about that for a minute! Amazing!
As was the case with much of Jesus’ teaching, His listeners didn’t understand the deeper meaning behind what He was saying about sheepfolds, thieves, and shepherds. However, He graciously went on explain in verses 7-18.
Sheep Behaviour
Let’s take a few minutes and learn a little about shepherds, sheep, and how these truths apply to us.
Sheep are natural born followers. Unfortunately, they will sometimes follow their leader right off the edge of a cliff. That is why they need not only a shepherd but a good shepherd, one who truly cares for them and wants what’s best for them. If we’re honest, most of us can readily remember times we’ve followed the wrong leader, the one who was not watching out for our best interests. And sadly, there may have been times we were that kind of leader. Not a pleasant thought!
What Does A Shepherd Do?
And just what is a shepherd? What is his role? And what was the cost of tending sheep 2,000 years ago?
A shepherd not only watched out for the flock, he protected them from wolves and other predators, from rocky crags and from dangerous cliffs. A shepherd might lie down across the opening of the sheep pen and act as a human door, protecting the flock from intruders. To this day, those who would become God’s sheep must enter through this door; there is no other entrance. As Jesus said in John 14:6, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”
There may be imposters who come and try to woe away the sheep, but they do not truly have the flock’s best interests at heart. They themselves are either deceived, thinking they are doing what’s right, or they are well aware that they are doing it for selfish purposes. After all, the world teaches us to look out for ourselves. There is an old saying that goes, “Look out for #1.”
We are loved. We are valuable. We have worth and a purpose. But we are not #1. That place is reserved for the Good Shepherd. He must be #1 in our lives and we must faithfully follow Him.
Jesus said sheep recognize and respond to their shepherd’s voice. Do you hear Jesus’ calling your name? Is He asking You to turn away from all others and follow Him? If so, I can’t encourage you strongly enough to heed His voice. He is the Good Shepherd and well able to care for you, no matter what perils, what proverbial wolves and rocky crags, you encounter.
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