Louise Gevers

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father- and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-16 NIV

In the verse above we sense the intimacy, deep commitment and trust evident between shepherd and sheep, and father and son; and the selflessness of the shepherd in his willingness to lay down his life for the sheep. He is clearly not a hired hand. He will not run away and leave His sheep to be ravaged by a wolf, or leave a lamb frightened and bleating in a stream. He will rescue them and comfort them because they are his and he cares about them. He is not in this just to earn money, but because he loves the sheep.

In this chapter of John, a very tender picture is painted of the relationship that Jesus, the Messiah, shares with His sheep. This builds on the foundation of God being the “Shepherd of Israel”. Psalm 23:1 begins: “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” God had given the leaders of Israel the responsibility of caring for His people, but read what a sad picture is painted of them in Isaiah: “Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; ... they love to sleep ... they are shepherds who lack understanding; ... they all turn their own way, each seeks his own gain.” (56:10-11) In light of their failure God sent His Son whom He could trust to carry out this great mission. How different He is!

The ancient Near Eastern concept of shepherd was somewhat different to that of the West and gives us insight into what Jesus is talking about when He describes himself as the good shepherd. The ancient Near Eastern Shepherd would know and lead his sheep and not drive them, and his sheep would respond to his commands only, because they knew his voice. A lovely anecdote is related in "Manners And Customs of Bible Lands" in which “One shepherd in the Lebanon district was asked if he always counted his sheep each evening. He replied in the negative, and then was asked how then he knew if all his sheep were present. This was his reply: "Master, if you were to put a cloth over my eyes, and bring me any sheep and only let me put hands on its face, I could tell in a moment if it was mine or not." What a tender image followers of Jesus can draw from this.

Jesus says in John 10: 27-28 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” What reassuring words for those who know Jesus as their Good Shepherd!

Do you?

Prayer: Dearest Father, Thank You for caring for me so tenderly through Jesus the Good Shepherd and for the reassurance that I am safe in His care eternally. Amen.