What is a shepherd? What is their job? A shepherd is a person who tends to sheep. What does tending mean? It means to watch over, care for and defend. Defend because the world is a dangerous place. There are predators, traps and snares. The shepherd would actually sacrifice his life to save his flock. A shepherd is a person who guides, leads and directs. Guides the flock to rest and direct them towards food and water. Green pastures. The shepherd absolutely NEVER leaves his flock. He doesn’t consider it a job, it’s a relationship. His flock know his voice and they trust him. The flock chooses to follow because they know they are taken care of and protected.
At night the shepherd leads his flock to a sheepfold to rest. This is an area within the fields, created by rock walls (because wood was not available), sometimes with thorny vines on top (acting like barbed wire), with only one gate. Only one way in and one way out. The idea is to protect the flock from predators and thieves. More than one shepherd could be using the sheepfold during the night, and therefore, more than one flock would be in this sheepfold.
Once daybreak came, it was time to return to grazing in the field. But how do the shepherds sort the flocks? If more than one flock is in the sheepfold, how do you sort the flock that is being called? Do they all come barging out of the gate, scattering? Nope. The shepherd stands at the gate and calls to his flock, and only his flock will come. Only his flock will follow. You see, the shepherd has spent so much time and energy caring for his flock, that they know him by his voice. They won’t follow another shepherd because they don’t belong to him. They won’t follow him out the gate. The flock knows their shepherd. They trust their shepherd because he has cared for, guided, and protected them.
And this is how Jesus describes Himself, as the Good Shepherd. In John chapter 10 Jesus explains Who He is. His purpose is to lead, care for and give life. A rich and satisfying life. So, if Jesus IS the Good Shepherd, then who are His flock? We are! You. Me. Jesus is our Shepherd.
As our Shepherd:
He watches over us (Psalm 121:5).
He cares for us (Nahum 1:7).
He sacrificed His life to save us (Ephesians 5:2).
He defends us (Psalm 94:22).
He guides us (Psalm 23:3).
He directs us (Proverbs 3:6).
He never leaves us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
He feeds us (John 6:35).
He gives us drink (John 7:37,38).
So, how important is it to know my Shepherd’s voice…extremely important! John 10 tells us that there are thieves and robbers trying to steal from the sheepfold. The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). I need to make sure I know His voice so He can lead me to safety, away from snares. We all know that life has trials. Scripture tells us we will. However, the Good Shepherd will lead me through and give me rest. Do I trust Him to do this? Do I know His voice enough to follow?
How do I know His voice? Just like getting to know anyone else, by spending time with Him. Think of a person you know really well…how do you know that person? Their voice? It is because you have spent time with them. You know their voice from across the room; you don’t even need to turn around to see if it is them because you know. We need to spend time reading His Word. Praying with Him. Listening to Him. Abiding in Him. Jesus is communal. He desires a relationship with us. We will begin to know His voice and be able to be guided by Him because we have spent time with Him, building a relationship, establishing trust.
I don’t always get it right. Sometimes life happens and it has been a minute since I have spent time with Him. So, I dust myself off and be intentional. He is patient. Patiently waiting to be known.
I am ONE story.
~ Kristy
John 10 NLT (New Living Translation)
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
10 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
Psalm 121:5 NLT (New Living Translation)
5 The LORD himself watches over you!
The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
Nahum 1:7 NIV (New International Version)
7 The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
Ephesians 5:2 ESV (English Standard Version)
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Psalm 94:22 NIV (New International Version)
22 But the LORD has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
Psalm 23:3 NIV (New International Version)
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Proverbs 3:6 ASV (American Standard Version)
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he will [a]direct thy paths.
Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV (English Standard Version)
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
John 6:35 ESV (English Standard Version)
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
John 7:37-38 NIV (New International Version)
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”