November 5 – The Shepherd – Good and Great

This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them. So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." John 10:6-18

Jesus refers to Himself as the door—the door to the sheepfold—guarding, providing for, and protecting the sheep. He also declares again that He is the shepherd—but not just any shepherd, He is the good shepherd—one who is willing to sacrifice His life for His sheep. He is like the shepherd in Isaiah 40:11, Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. What a perfect combination with the shepherd of Psalm 23. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4) What more could we ask for? Jesus is providing and caring for us. He IS our shepherd and He has already laid down His life for us. By doing that He was being obedient to His father, our Heavenly Father. Obedience is such a key in Jesus’ life…and should be in our own lives. Think about how much you want your children to be obedient to you. How you spend so much time teaching them to listen to you—to heed your words. Especially to listen and obey when they hear words like “Stop,” “move,” or just “listen.” Do this…don’t do that. I read recently and it reinforced something I had heard years ago: children’s personalities are formed by the time they are five years old—the things that they’ve learned are part of their psyche and can’t be easily changed. So be careful what you teach those little toddlers and pre-schoolers. Are you being a good example for them? Have you or are you helping them develop Christ-like character traits or Biblical Virtues?   

Dear Jesus—show me character traits that are like Yours and help me to develop those in my children and grandchildren. You are not only the good shepherd—You are the Great Shepherd that is written about in Hebrews 13:20-21: Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).