The Good Shepherd
Happy Monday. It is hard to believe that in just 9 days it will be Christmas! I hope that you are finding ways to slow down and be present in this season.
This month, we have been working our way through John 10. Last week, we looked at the verses that describe Jesus as the gate to the sheepfold. This week, we’ll pick up in verse 11 and explore what it means for Jesus to be a good shepherd. As always, you can find the writings from previous weeks at www.holyformed.org/newsletter.
John 10:11-16 (NLT)
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
Last week, we discussed Jesus as the gate of the sheepfold and how he wants his sheep to have life in its fullest measure.
Now we see Jesus say that he is the good shepherd and that the good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
Throughout Scripture, we see various descriptions of shepherds.
1 Samuel 17:34-36 (NLT)
But David persisted, “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!
The idea of fighting a lion or a bear feels pretty intense. You have to really care about the animals in your care to put your life at risk in this way. David is willing to endanger his life to protect the sheep and the goats in his care. They belong to his father, and he knows how to keep them safe.
Ezekiel 34:1-6 (NLT)
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty. So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are easy prey for any wild animal. They have wandered through all the mountains and all the hills, across the face of the earth, yet no one has gone to search for them.
In Ezekiel 34, we hear God’s words to the shepherds of Israel. These are not actual shepherds tending to sheep and goats but leaders who are meant to care for the people of God. You can keep reading to hear what else God has to say to these leaders, but I think this gives us a glimpse into God’s expectations for those leading the community and a picture of what it looks like when the shepherd does not care for the sheep well.
Isaiah 40:9-11 (NLT)
O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!” Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
Here, we see God letting the people know they are not forgotten; in fact, God is coming to care for them like a good shepherd. This is an interesting passage that demonstrates both God’s power and gentleness.
Psalm 23:1- 6 (NLT)
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
David understands what it means to be a good shepherd, but even more than that, he understands that the Lord is his shepherd, and he can completely trust him.
These shepherd passages depict different aspects of being a good shepherd. While this is just a tiny snippet of what is in Scripture, these verses represent a continuity of protection, love, and provision.
In John, we read that Jesus is the good shepherd and that the good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. We also see a comparison between a good shepherd and the one who has been hired to care for the sheep. We discussed previously how the person who is hired to care for the sheep doesn’t have the same vested interest in the care of the sheep as the shepherd. Therefore, they are more prone to run away when things get hard. They aren’t always willing to risk their life in the same way the shepherd does. Jesus makes it clear that he will not abandon the sheep.
Jesus, as he often does, said something quite radical - “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”
When Jesus says he has other sheep outside this sheepfold, we begin to understand that God’s kingdom is expanding to include all people - every tribe, tongue, and nation.
This was startling to the listening audience. So much so that the crowd became divided, and some accused Jesus of being possessed by a demon. And that is where we’ll pick up next time.
Have a great week - Melissa