I Am the Good Shepherd! Part 1

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (1)

Jesus gave several examples of good and not so good shepherds.

"But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 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." (2)

On another occasion, Jesus called a little child to Himself and set the child in the midst of the people and He said to them, "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

"What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." (3)

David also referred to his relationship with the Good Shepherd. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (4)

The benefits of being united with the Good Shepherd are many. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep and He is known by them. The Good Shepherd loves His sheep and cares for them, and He gives His life fully to them, and has given His very life for them. And He sends His angels who "see the face of My Father who is in heaven" to watch over the sheep. The Good Shepherd leads His sheep beside still waters and in paths of doing what is right; and He restores their souls. And the Good Shepherd seeks after the sheep who are lost. (To be continued)

1. John 10:11.
2. John 10:12-16.
3. Matthew 18:10-14.
4. Psalm 23.