"I Am the Good Shepherd"

I Am the Good Shepherd

Start today by reading the 23rd Psalm, and John 10.  Pray and ask God to help you really hear the texts as if for the first time - if you find you are reading it routinely, stop, pray and begin again.  Ask God for a fresh understanding of His words.

Most of us have NO experience or firsthand knowledge of keeping sheep.  It is worth a few moments to try to get into the mindset of Jesus as our Good Shepherd, if we're going to really find significance in this.  Here's what I've gleaned about sheep and shepherding;  sheep are not the brightest animals, and a shepherd is gentle and knowledgeable, yet also strong and fearless.  Let's start with sheep:  they seem to have little or no sense of self-preservation.  They don't seek out food and water, they must be led to it.  If one of them starts heading over a cliff, the others will follow, unless stopped.  Sheep are defenseless against predators - they have no way to fight back or protect themselves.  The sheep are dependent upon their shepherd for food, care, direction and protection.  

The shepherd takes on complete responsibility for his sheep.  He finds and leads them to food, water and shelter, choosing mountainous pastures in the hot summers, and warmer valleys in the winter.  He uses his rod and staff to herd the sheep;  the hook of the staff could be used to grab an errant sheep by the neck and redirect it, or to pluck a sheep from a precarious perch he may have climbed onto.  The rod was sometimes used in a swift strike to break the leg of a sheep that continuously strayed, putting itself and those who followed it in danger.  The shepherd would then bind the leg and carry that sheep on his shoulders until the leg had healed.  That sheep would never stray far from the shepherd after that; he was particularly attuned to respond to the shepherd's voice, which he had heard so closely during the days he was carried.  

The shepherd would create a sheepfold for his flock, a three sided area with an opening, referred to as the gate.  These were often created from stacked stone.  The shepherd would gather the flock into the fold at night, and then stretch out across the opening himself to sleep.  He typically had a slingshot and was an expert in its use, always prepared to kill an animal that attempted to have the sheep for its meal.  

Just that information alone is FULL of material for making analogies between us and sheep, and Jesus as the Good Shepherd - especially the part about the shepherd choosing to wound a habitually wayward sheep for it's own good, and for the good of the flock, then personally carrying that sheep until it's healed, leading to a deep confidence in and obedience to the shepherd . . . But I'll resist that urge and move instead into what the scripture has recorded.

Here's my paraphrase of Ps 23:  Jesus makes Himself responsible for me; there is nothing I need that He doesn't provide.  He makes me rest in rich places where true renewal is possible; He charts a path that is calm and refreshing.  He restores my soul, and leads me in ways that are right, that bring honor to God.  Even when my path is through frightening terrain, I do not have to be afraid, for He is always with me.  He guards me, directs me and protects me.  He lovingly, personally provides all that I need to sustain and strengthen me, even when I'm surrounded by those who would prefer to see me suffer.  He anoints my head with oil - that is, He provides what only He can: holiness -  He covers me with His righteousness while He is busy providing opportunities for obedience that I may be transformed into His likeness.  My cup, my heart, my soul, my life - they are truly full to overflowing!  He will never leave me nor forsake me on this earth, and He will usher me into His Father's house when I leave here, where I will dwell with Him forever.  Can anybody say "Amen"?  

Like the sheep, I have done nothing to warrant all this goodness from the Shepherd - He Himself has chosen to bestow this upon me, if I am willing to be His sheep, He will indeed be my Shepherd.

Looking at Jesus' words recorded in chapter 10 of John's gospel, we see truth after blessed truth - warnings, promises, choices to be made.  He begins by telling us clearly that we have enemies - those who would seek to destroy us, to steal us away from the safety and well-being of life with the shepherd.  Think of the ways that you are regularly tempted to stray from His side, to go where you KNOW He doesn't want you to go, to do things that you KNOW He doesn't want you to do!  Flee from that and run to your Shepherd's side, where you know safety, goodness and life itself is.

By the way, verse one says that these enemies can actually enter the sheepfold!  Don't assume that because someone says they are a Christian or attends your church or preaches a sermon that they are indeed speaking for Him!  If they lead you in ways that are contrary to God and His word, that is NOT of Him!  He says clearly that His sheep hear His voice and they follow Him. When in doubt, check it out!  Compare what you are hearing with what you read in His word - even believers can be deceived, and lead others into deception.

Verse 4 holds a simple, yet profound check-point for me:  the Shepherd goes before the sheep and they follow Him.  I am embarrassed to say how many times I have become excited over an idea and started to run with it, calling back over my shoulder to God "Please bless this!"  I'm daily learning to get behind Him and FOLLOW as He leads . . . 

Verse 11 is the pivotal truth of this entire chapter:  "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep."  Look at all the people we follow in our lifetimes - people we elevate, imitate, aspire to be like, follow the lead and direction of.  Would any of them give their life for us?  Do they even stick around when the going gets rough?  Are they even people we have a relationship with?  Some of us emulate people we've never even met!

We need to follow one who is worthy of our trust - One who is in it for the long haul.  Jesus is that One.  Listen to this: "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.  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.  Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father." (John 10:14-18)

Jesus was always letting His followers know that the cross was ahead for Him.  He came in order to make a way for us to be restored to relationship with God - to become His sheep.  All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  (Rom 3:23)  The price we pay for our sin is death (present and eternal separation from God) but the gift of God is eternal life (beginning right now) through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Rom 6:23)  If you have not turned to Him yet, this Christmas season He is calling you by name!

And let your heart rise in absolute confidence to His promise:  ^"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are one."  (John 10:27-30)

Oh Jesus - this world is confusing, large, full of false promises and hidden pitfalls, as well as full of ways to just waste away my moments, hours and even days in things that leave me feeling empty and without direction.  And I know that I have no hope of connecting with God on my own . . . I've tried . . . I'm asking You to be MY good shepherd - to lead me in YOUR ways, to show me what You have planned for me - a life that is rooted in connection with God the Father through You, His Son.  Lead me by Your Holy Spirit, Who You promised would come when You left, (John 14:26, 16:7) and make my life all that You know it can be.  I love you.

(the link for the kid's post is:  http://elizabethtreger1.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-countdown-dec-9.html)

 

December 9 - I am the Good Shepherd

(Ps 23 / Jn 10:7-9 / Jn 10:11-16 / Jn 10:27-29)

A lamb is totally dependent upon its shepherd for food, care, direction and protection.  What does David mention that God provides for His sheep?  The shepherd of Jesus’ day would lead his sheep into a fold that was enclosed on three sides – then he himself would lay in the opening to form the door.  What does this suggest to you?  How does Jesus contrast Himself with a “hired man”?  How secure do these last verses say that you are in God’s hands?

How can you be a more confident lamb today?