Sheep: Lessons from the Good Shepherd

Happy Friday and welcome back!

Last week, we discussed sheep and how we, as believers, are often compared to sheep in Scripture. This week, let’s look at the good news about being sheep.

With sheep, there’s always a shepherd. Scripture mentions shepherds often, as the job would’ve been common for the area and throughout Biblical periods. Shepherding was a thankless, dirty, dangerous, and hard job in the hot sun, and the blistering winter winds and snow.

Scripture tells us Moses was shepherding his father-in-law’s flock when he encountered God in the burning bush.

David fought lions and bears to protect his sheep.

Shepherds led their sheep to plentiful food and still waters, protected their flock from danger, and even slept in the gate of the sheepfold at night.

Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and teaches a parable in John 10 about sheep.

The Good Shepherd...

-knows His sheep and His sheep know Him

-Is the “door” by which all sheep must enter

-lays down His life for the sheep

Jesus is the best shepherd. He was humble and did the hard work of coming to earth and laying down His life for His sheep.

Hebrews 13:20 says that God has raised Jesus as the Great Shepherd over the sheep, and in 1 Peter 5:4, Jesus is called the Chief Shepherd.

What stands out to you about our Good Shepherd? Are you content to be His sheep?

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