Over and over in the Scriptures Jesus speaks of himself as the shepherd and us as the sheep. It’s an analogy that would have had great meaning to those who first heard the gospel. People in Jesus’ day were well acquainted with the work of a shepherd.
Philip Keller, author of A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, tells us that the key to understanding a shepherd is to understand the nature of sheep. He writes in his book that sheep are “dependent, dumb, defenseless, directionless, and easily distracted.” Hmmm. Does that sound like anybody you know?
Here’s the deal. When a sheep grazes he moves with his head down, taking small steps as he follows the food. Having a little nibble here and a little nibble there, he moves further and further away from the safety of the fold. When he finally looks up, he’s lost. Worse yet, he can’t find his way home. (Are you sure that doesn’t ring a bell?) Unlike some animals, a sheep has no homing device. He has to be sought out by the loving shepherd and brought back into the fold.
In Jesus’ day, the sheep of several different folds were brought together for the night, usually into a makeshift pen. Besides having no homing device, I guess sheep don’t have very good eyesight either; they can’t recognize their shepherd. So in the morning their shepherd must walk among them in the pen, softly talking to them. His sheep recognize his voice and follow him to the green pastures for the day. That’s how a shepherd sorted his own sheep out of the larger flock. They had to stay very close to him and listen for his voice so they didn’t lag behind, get lost, or wander into danger.
In John Chapter 10 (one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture) Jesus lets us know that we can count on his voice: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
He continues by telling us a little bit about his heart and care toward us: “…and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28
How beautiful is that? Friends, we all, like sheep, have wandered away. We all need a shepherd. And as for me, I’m happy to be a treasured sheep of His fold.
Baa-aa,
Greg
Over and over in the Scriptures Jesus speaks of himself as the shepherd and us as the sheep. It’s an analogy that would have had great meaning to those who first heard the gospel. People in Jesus’ day were well acquainted with the work of a shepherd.
Philip Keller, author of A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, tells us that the key to understanding a shepherd is to understand the nature of sheep. He writes in his book that sheep are “dependent, dumb, defenseless, directionless, and easily distracted.” Hmmm. Does that sound like anybody you know?
Here’s the deal. When a sheep grazes he moves with his head down, taking small steps as he follows the food. Having a little nibble here and a little nibble there, he moves further and further away from the safety of the fold. When he finally looks up, he’s lost. Worse yet, he can’t find his way home. (Are you sure that doesn’t ring a bell?) Unlike some animals, a sheep has no homing device. He has to be sought out by the loving shepherd and brought back into the fold.
In Jesus’ day, the sheep of several different folds were brought together for the night, usually into a makeshift pen. Besides having no homing device, I guess sheep don’t have very good eyesight either; they can’t recognize their shepherd. So in the morning their shepherd must walk among them in the pen, softly talking to them. His sheep recognize his voice and follow him to the green pastures for the day. That’s how a shepherd sorted his own sheep out of the larger flock. They had to stay very close to him and listen for his voice so they didn’t lag behind, get lost, or wander into danger.
In John Chapter 10 (one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture) Jesus lets us know that we can count on his voice: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
He continues by telling us a little bit about his heart and care toward us: “…and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28
How beautiful is that? Friends, we all, like sheep, have wandered away. We all need a shepherd. And as for me, I’m happy to be a treasured sheep of His fold.
Baa-aa,
Greg
Catch Up