Shepherd

John 10:11: (ESV) —

‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’

Jesus’ fourth ‘I am’ statement in John’s Gospel, is that he is the Good Shepherd. In context, this makes us sheep! This is a super important detail.

Any other metaphor wouldn’t have worked as well. For example: ‘I am the Good Pig Herder’. Pigs, unlike sheep, are a pain to herd; they can be reluctant to move to new places and can wander off, distracted by their other senses (trust me I just googled it). No - Jesus’ metaphor is as much pointing at what we are as what he is. He means to say we are sheep: defined by our willingness to follow and be led.

Let’s notice that Jesus says he’s the good shepherd. Implicitly we learn he’s not the only shepherd. Rather, the world is full of things for us to follow like sheep seeking pasture - wealth, pleasure, career, influence, ideology - all promising comfort. Jesus warns against following these things. Like ‘hired hands’, he says, who will flee at danger because they care nothing for the sheep. Anything which looks like it’s leading us to pasture could leave us high and dry. Anything but him.

Notice that Jesus is not ‘a’ good shepherd, but ‘The’ Good Shepherd. He is the only one worth following. In a world full of counterfeits, only he can lead our souls to pasture.

So, today, pay attention to your thoughts: What are you following? What has it promised you? Can it deliver? Where your loves are disordered and your heart is astray, ask the Good Shepherd to pull you back into his perfect guidance.

Prayer - Jesus, you have my best interests at heart. As I meet with you now, and throughout times in my day, thank you that you are leading me to a peace that I won’t find anywhere else.