why a shepherd?

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

(John 10:11-18)

As we approach Easter, the day when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The day, other than Christmas, that gives meaning and hope to the Christian life and our walk, I think about the words often used to describe Jesus.

Jesus is The King.

Jesus is The Savior.

Jesus is God.

Yet, Jesus called himself a shepherd. A shepherd? Really?

Shepherds were not respected people or even considered part of polite society in Jesus’ time. They were required to tend to their flocks outside of the city gates. They were generally considered unclean. Shepherds were generally nomads who lived apart from society.

The nature of what they did in caring for sheep meant they were in daily contact with dirty, smelly sheep, their manure, their blood from cuts, and there were always insects buzzing around them. This meant shepherds were practically never clean enough to worship with God’s people in God’s presence. This is why they were treated as outsiders.

Isn’t it just like Jesus to identify with the lowliest of society, the outcasts, and the unwelcome outsiders? Jesus ate with prostitutes and tax collectors. Jesus’ birth in a dirty stable showed that God was going to change things. The ignored and ostracized were welcome in God’s kingdom, and how about the fact that lowly shepherds were the first notified, invited, and the first to see the newborn Savior!

Don’t you just love how a Holy Jesus gets right down in the dirt with us using the meek to teach the strong?

Jesus uses the analogy of sheep and shepherds all throughout scripture. I love the relationship between a shepherd to their sheep. All throughout the Bible we see how Jesus cares for us in the way that a shepherd cares for his flock.

We are the sheep, and He is our shepherd.

photo credit: Gift Habeshaw @gift_habeshaw

The life of a shepherd was not an easy one. Their day began early leading their flock from the fold to the pasture where they would graze all day. The shepherd would watch over them all day long, making certain that not one of them strayed. In the pasture the sheep graze all day. Because they are head down, nibbling all day as they walk along, one or two might wander away from the flock and get lost. If one did, he would diligently seek it until he found it and brought it back to his fold.

Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ (Luke 15:3-6)

Jesus, our shepherd, will leave the 99 to find even one of us who are lost. He will never stop searching and reaching out to rescue us from the depths of our brokenness. He will never stop searching our hearts to draw us closer to Him.

When I was in the pit of sin and shame, Jesus met me there. When I was too tired and hurt to walk, He carried me. He will leave the ninety-nine to find the one.

The good shepherd will search for all who are lost. You are not too far away for Him to find.

A shepherd’s duty was also to protect the sheep from predators, especially wolves because sheep will not fight back, run, or hide. Instead, they gather together in a pack giving the predator more dinner options.

The LORD is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. (Psalm 18:2)

The devil roams the earth, searching to devour the weak and the broken. When I was in the depths of my despair and so broken and wounded that I was vulnerable to the enemy’s lies, my shepherd, Jesus protected me. He guarded my heart and mind and reminded me of His truths.

The good shepherd will protect and defend you. Just call on Him when the wolves are closing in.

photo credit: iana Simumpande @dianasimumpande

Sheep need water just like all other animals, but water was always in short supply in desert lands. And it couldn’t be just any water, running water as in a stream or river would spook the sheep. Sheep prefer still water, but it also has to be clean. The shepherd is not only always on guard against predators, but they must also protect the sheep from themselves.

If a sheep falls into running water, it will drown, their wooly coats soak up quickly and sheep cannot swim. Sheep need to be led to calm waters. Getting his flock to pasture, to dew-laden grass early in the morning would provide enough moisture for the sheep. After eating, sheep need to digest their food by lying down, but they often won’t lie down on their own. Often they need to be made to lie down.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul. (Psalm 23:1-3)

In our trials we can fully trust and count on our shepherd, Jesus. We will need nothing but to trust and remain in Him. He will provide us with living water, a water that brings eternal life in Him, and He will give us rest when we are too restless to lie down on our own.

The good shepherd will quiet the storms inside. He will lead us to stillness and rest in Him.

At the end of the day, a shepherd counts their sheep as they return them to the fold, and they would examine the condition of their skin and wool. Once all are accounted for, the shepherd would sleep at the entrance of the fold to keep watch through the night to protect their sheep from predators, both animal and human.

A shepherd is sacrificial. Their own comfort and safety was secondary to the comfort and safety of their sheep.

The good shepherd gave His own life so that we may have life through His death.

The good shepherd gives sacrificially.

Lastly, something I find absolutely fascinating about sheep, is that sheep know their master’s voice. Sometimes shepherds would mix their sheep to split the night watches, and the next morning separating them was no problem because the sheep knew the voice of their shepherd.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

photo credit: Stephen Paterson @stevepaterson

Jesus said, “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 will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)

We can know our good shepherd’s voice. Jesus tells us we will know His voice by spending time with Him in His word the Bible, through time in stillness, and in prayer. How comforting to know The Savior of the world wants to know us so intimately.

The good shepherd knows my name. He knows my voice and He speaks to me through scripture, through nature, and music, through others, and in quiet and stillness.

So, Why a shepherd?

Jesus calling himself a shepherd resonated with the people of that day, and it still resonates with us today. Jesus as a shepherd shows His love for all humanity, not just the wealthy and strong, but the everyday common person, the broken, the weary, and the ones society deems unworthy.