More About Jesus – The Shepherd

Somehow you heard the wonderful story of the Christ who died for you.  It might have been in Church, or it might have been with a friend, a family member.  You might have heard it on the radio.  Or read it in a tract.  Whatever the case was.  You were convicted of your sin before a Holy God.  You realized that your eternal destination was hell.  You believed Jesus’ promise and you repented of your sin, and called upon the Lord to save you.  At that very moment you received forgiveness of your sin, you were no longer under its penalty.  You were given the gift of eternal life.

As soon as you prayed you realized that you have received something wonderful.  A home in heaven forever more.  But for most new converts they have no idea that they have received not only a Saviour, but also a Great Shepherd.  As soon as you prayed for salvation you switched families.  You are now one of His children.

He not only wants to give you eternal life, but He also wants what is best for you in this life.  In the Bible this new relationship is often illustrated by the relationship of a Shepherd and His Sheep.  It is overwhelming for some that the Almighty Creator would be concerned with the mundane everyday things of one sheep’s life, but He is.  His great love and care goes beyond anything else.  And this care of the Shepherd was foretold.

I  The coming Shepherd was Foretold

Gen 49:24  But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty [God] of Jacob; (from thence [is] the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

Even all the way back to Genesis.  Even in the first book of the Bible God was telling man that from the mighty hands of God will come the shepherd.

Isa 40:11  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.

I think Isaiah has more prophecies of Jesus than any other prophet.  And here is a very tender picture.  He will gather the lambs with His arm.  He will carry them in his bosom.  Jesus holds us close to Him.

And I love this, He shall gently lead those that are with young.  He will not overdrive His sheep.  He will gently lead them.

Eze 34:23  And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, [even] my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Eze 37:24  And David my servant [shall be] king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

This is one of those prophecies that uses the name David but it is talking about Jesus.  It is because Jesus will take the throne of David.  Literally Jesus will sit in Jerusalem during His millennial reign.  Jesus also came thru the line of David.  The linage in the New Testament clearly shows that.

Multiple times in the Old Testament the coming great Shepherd was foretold.

II  His Qualities

a. The chief Shepherd

1Pe 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

He is the chief Shepherd.  There is none greater in power, authority, love, care, watchfulness, protection, or any other aspect.  We might have under shepherds who help watch the flock (Pastors) but they all report to Jesus.  He is the head of all things.  There is none above Him.  He has none to report to.  He is the chief Shepherd.

b. The good Shepherd

Joh 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Joh 10:8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

He is the good shepherd.  His care for the sheep is pure.  What He wants for the sheep is best for the sheep.  He came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  His love for the sheep is so great that He gave His life for the sheep.

Joh 10:12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Joh 10:13  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Joh 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.

There are many hirelings.  Those that take care of sheep for profit or other reasons.  They do not really care for the sheep.  When they see the wolf coming they run.  The hireling does not have a close relationship with any of the sheep.

Jesus is the good shepherd and He knows each one of His sheep.

Joh 10:15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Again we are told that He will lay down His life for the sheep.  When He said this, the cross was still before Him.  And He was saying I am willingly going to lay down my life.  Voluntarily.  Because it is best for the sheep.  He is the good shepherd who truly loves His sheep.

Verse 16 is often miss used by the cults.

Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.

Jesus is speaking to Jews the other sheep is a reference to Gentiles who will get saved.  There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek for the same lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Joh 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Joh 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

He is the good Shepherd.  He gave His life for the sheep. He did not run away.  He did it willingly.  No man put Him on that cross.  His love put Him there.  He had the power to lay down His life and He had the power to take it up again.

c. The great Shepherd

Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

He is the great Shepherd.  The Almighty God.  The Creator of all gave His own blood for us.  No matter how high your thoughts are of Jesus and His greatness, they will fall short.  His greatness goes beyond what our finite minds can comprehend.

He is great in His position and He is great in His power.  And He is great in all things and great is His care for us.

d. He knows His Sheep

Joh 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.

Joh 10:26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Many can read the Word of God and just not be able to hear Jesus because they do not believe.  It is because they are not of His sheep.  God does illuminate the scriptures to His sheep.

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

Jesus knows personally every single one of His sheep.  And He holds every one of us in His almighty hand.

Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand.

Joh 10:30  I and [my] Father are one.

He knows all about every one of us.  In fact every hair on our head is numbered.  Every detail of our lives.  Every circumstance is known by Him. He speaks to us in that still small voice.  He knows how to lead His sheep.  He often uses His power in the circumstances of life on our behalf.  He treats each sheep individually.  There is no cookie cutter approach.  He knows each one perfectly, and He makes no mistakes.  He knows His sheep.

III  What He does for His Sheep

a. He Calls

Joh 10:3  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

Jesus leads each one.  He leads each one exactly like that individual needs led.  He calls each one to follow Him.

b. He gathers

Isa 40:11  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.

Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.

Yes man has a free will.  It is also true that God is involved in the calling.  He does draw men unto Himself.

c. He guides

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Joh 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

He will guide each of His sheep in the paths of righteousness.  He will lead always in the way that is right.  He will not lead us astray.  And He is always there.  He goes before us, He is with us guiding us.

d. He feeds

Psa 23:1  <A Psalm of David.> The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

He always has enough.  He will spiritually feed us to the full if we will only let Him.  He provides green pastures and leads beside still waters.  He gives us all we need to stay strong for Him.

e. He cherishes tenderly

Isa 40:11  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.

f. He protects and preserves

Jer 31:10  Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd [doth] his flock.

Because of their false god worship they needed to be scattered, but God will gather them and keep them.

Eze 34:10  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

He is talking about the false teachers.  The same crowd that in Jeremiah God says were pastors who sought not the Lord.

Eze 34:11  For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Eze 34:12  As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

Eze 34:13  And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

Eze 34:14  I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and [in] a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.

Eze 34:15  I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 34:16  I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

Zec 9:16  And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they [shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

Our shepherd protects and preserves His Sheep.

g. He laid down His life for

Mat 26:31  Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Joh 10:15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

h. He gives eternal life to

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

Jesus has promised that He will never leave nor forsake us.  He is there each and every day, no matter the problem or trial.  Most of the trouble we have we get into because we are simply not following His leading.

He does not treat us like cattle.  You heard cattle.  You drive cattle.  You use tools like a cattle prod.  Jesus does not work that way.  He leads.  The sheep are supposed to follow and are given a free will to choose to follow or not.

Notice again His great care and qualities outlined in the scriptures.  He would NEVER lead you astray.  He never makes any mistakes.

Our great Shepherd would never lead you contrary to His Word.

He would never lead you to a place where there is no good Bible preaching church unless He calls you to start one there.

He would never lead you to live with someone outside of marriage.

He would never lead you to lie, steal, or cheat.

He would never lead you to covet or gamble.

Is it right to follow your Shepherd?  Is He worthy of being followed?

Jesus has saved us from the eternal penalty of sin.

But he lets us reap the consequences of sin in this life.

O’ how much better it would be for us if we would but follow our Great, Loving, Shepherd each and every day of our lives.

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