A Reflection On The Good Shepherd

When I need Jesus’ protection

Anyone who has ever worked with sheep will attest to this fact: sheep are stupid. They wander off without any sense of direction; they often do not recognize danger when it is present, and even when they do recognize it, they do nothing in defense. Of all God’s creatures, they are some of the most vulnerable and simple. And this is exactly the image Jesus uses for us.

Anyone who has ever been a shepherd will attest to this fact: it is servile, thankless labor that offers no rewards in the eyes of the world. And this is exactly the image Jesus uses for Himself.

The sheep’s relationship to the shepherd is one of absolute dependence and protection. When a sheep wanders off and gets stuck in a ditch, the shepherd must find it, pull it out, and compel it to come back. If he does not, it will die in its predicament. But a good shepherd always does.

The sheep-shepherd relationship is a humble picture, but it is a comforting and compelling illustration of us and our Savior. Think about it the next time you’re stuck in a ditch.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

John 10:11