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The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”

 

The imagery of a shepherd is found throughout the Bible. Our readings today include the 23rd Psalm - the Lord is my Shepherd. When I think of Christ as a shepherd, I see him resplendent in white carrying a shepherd’s crook and a lamb leading his flock. In the time of Jesus, there were many flocks of sheep with their shepherds roaming the countryside. It was very normal to see them. Today we rarely see a flock of sheep with their shepherd. But the imagery that Jesus uses to bring this lesson to the Pharisees still applies to us today. There is one way to build our relationship with God and that is through Jesus, our shepherd.

 

In today’s world, being labeled a sheep is very derogatory. We are taught to be independent and strong on our own. To be a sheep, one must rely on the strength and courage of our shepherd for our very survival. As followers of Jesus, we rely on his strength and courage to protect us. Our faith needs that reliance on Jesus to lead us. He is our shepherd and we should not listen to the voices of those trying to lead us astray.

 

Dear Lord, help us to be humble and trusting of you, our shepherd. Help us to hear your voice and follow you to your eternal kingdom. Amen

 

Barry Dougherty

barryd72@aol.com

 

Prayer Concern - For lost souls everywhere that they may be found and brought home.

 

Additional readings - Acts 2:42-47, Psalm 23 and 1 Peter 2:19-2