I Am the Good Shepherd.

I Am the Good Shepherd

Jesus said; I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep, and they know me. My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me and I give them life. They shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10: 27-26

It is a very simple picture to conjure up in our minds that of the shepherd with his sheepdog and his herd of sheep. You can easily hold this image in your mind.

We can see the sheepdog running this way and that, hear the shrill whistle and commanding words of the shepherd and watch as the dog obediently does as told. The sheep in their fear of the dog run this way and that, slowly and surely the dog or dogs bring them under control and the shepherd has them where he wants them to be.

But now picture a completely different scene.

A shepherd walks along a dusty track, he is playing a tune on his homemade reed pipe. The music and the bleats of the sheep fill the air. It is, in its own way a symphony of sound. The sheep follow behind the shepherd, there is no dog to herd or push them on; they follow willingly. They know the shepherd, they have put their trust in him and he knows them, each and every one of them.

As you picture the scene another shepherd with his sheep comes from the opposite direction. His sheep, like the first herd, is following in the footsteps of the shepherd. For a moment the sheep mingle together as if they are now one large single herd. The two shepherds stop and pass the time of day. They then continue each in their direction of travel. The sheep separate and each herd follows their shepherd. With just a glance each shepherd will know if any of his sheep are not with his herd, they will be aware if they each have all their animals.

Jesus said that in the same way, he knows his flock each in their own way. Like the shepherd, he is concerned for his sheep; he is concerned for his flock. He has called disciples to be fishers and shepherds of men.

We are not sheep who follow blindly, yet ask yourself in the quiet of the moment how often have you gone chasing after other things thinking that there you will find your peace and your happiness?

The sheep follow their shepherd because it is there that they know they find their safety and security.

What is it you follow? Who is it you follow? To what and whom do you give your trust?