Issue 929 – The Good Shepherd – December 7, 2022
I have never raised sheep, but I have friends who have. They tell me that sheep are not the brightest of animals in many ways.
My late friend and former co-pastor, Carl Willcox, used to raise sheep and told many stories of the troubles that his flock would get themselves into. He used to laugh, telling of a flock where the lead sheep jumped over a stick (which wasn’t there), and the rest of the flock jumped over the same non-existent stick.
He shared many stories of rescuing sheep stuck in fences or mud and then seeing them return to the same spot and getting stuck again. I am sure that he wasn’t laughing when it happened. Carl told me that he was convinced that sheep were among the dumbest animals on the planet.
The Bible frequently uses the metaphor of sheep for people, and it doesn’t paint us in a great light. While the caricatures of sheep as not bright or troublesome may or may not be accurate, we share much in common with them.
People are prone to wander away from the shepherd. When left to our own devices, we can get into all sorts of trouble. We can bicker and fight, even biting at the shepherd who loves us. We can easily give into a flock mentality where we go astray as a group without ever stopping to think about what we are doing.
I confess that sometimes God rescues me, and I find myself right back in the same problem He just got me out of.
I take great comfort in Jesus’ words. He knows His sheep, rescues them, protects them and keeps them.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10:1-18
The Good Shepherd loves His sheep so much that He gave up His life for us. He took the penalty for our sins and cloaks us with His righteousness.
Praise God for His tender care.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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