“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11.
Who Is a Shepherd?
A shepherd /ˈʃɛpərd/ is a person who tends, herds, feeds, or guards’ herds of sheep. Shepherd derives from Old English sceaphierde (sceap ‘sheep’ + hierde ‘herd ‘).
The duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact, protect it from predators and guide it to market areas in time for shearing.
Five Basic Characteristics of a Shepherd
- The Shepherd Provides Shelter.
One of the duties of a Shepherd is to provide a comfortable and a safe place for the sheep, so that they won’t get beaten by the rain or got stolen by thieves - The Shepherd Provides Food.
The shepherd will be the one to move the sheep to where they can get food to eat. But In some occasion, if they were unable to go out, the Shepherd goes about to looking for food for the Sheep. - The Shepherd Protects the Sheep from all dangers.
It’s only a careless shepherd that will allow his sheep to be allowed as breakfast for predators. The Shepherd makes sure he protects his sheep from all dangers. - The Shepherd Guides.
The sheep might be resting or sleeping, but it’s the duty of the Shepherd to be at alert to guide them. - The Shepherd Loves The Sheep.
The Shepherd care and love the sheep, he makes sure he tries is best so that none of them will get missing.
But the love the Shepherd have for his sheep is limited, because he can never die for his sheep.
Now, Jesus the Good Shepherd
Jesus is the good Shepherd, he not only provides, protects, guides, but also gave his life for the sheep in order for the sheep to have eternal life. What the ordinary Shepherd offers for his sheep, can no where be compare to what the Good Shepherd offers for his own sheep.
- He Provides a Mansion and a Shelter
John 14:2-3 KJV
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so , I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in the kingdom. So that we may also be where he is, sitting at his table to live forever with him.
If you’re concern about the earthly shelter like the one the general Shepherd provides for his sheep Of course he will provide it but i want you to know that no matter the royal castle we live here on earth, it’s still a shelter and it can nowhere be compared to the mansion Jesus has gone to prepare for his sheep in heaven. - The Good Shepherd Provides all Your Needs.
Jesus supplies all the needs of his sheep. He never leaves them stranded.
John 14:18 KJV
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. When Jesus was in the wilderness with his disciples and his followers, Jesus fed 5000 men with five loaves of bread and two fishes besides children and women. See Mathew 14:15-21. He fed another 4000 men with 7 loaves of bread besides children and women also and they still have leftovers. See Mathew 15:30-38.
If Jesus can feed 9000 men at a go without spending a dime, how much more is your need that will be too much for him?
Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - The Good Shepherd Protects.
David a Shepherd boy saved his father’s flocks from the hands of a lion and a bear.
Jesus the Good Shepherd will not only save you from the lion, but he will also capture the lion for you and lock his mouth, cage him and also chain him and deliver the lion to you.
So if you are truly his sheep, your protection is guaranteed.
Luke 10:19 KJV
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Psalms 91:13
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. - The Good Shepherd Gives life in Abundance
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
If you’re truly his sheep, you’ll have life, not only will you have it, but you will also have it more abundantly. - The Good Shepherd Gives peace
No matter the storm, Jesus will calm it and give you peace
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. See also Mark 4:35-41. - The Good Shepherd Gives Rest
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - The Good Shepherd’s Love is unconditional
While other Shepherd may even forgets about their lost sheep, Jesus the Good Shepherd can never forgets any of his lost sheep, he seek for the lost and make sure he’s connected back to him. No Shepherd can ever give his life for his sheep. But Jesus, once and for all, lay his life down for his sheep so that his sheep can enjoy eternal life and reign forever with him in heaven.
John 10:11-14.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
The same Jesus is coming back to take his sheep to the mansion he has prepared, but if you’re not truly his sheep, you can’t recognized his voice when he comes because he said in John 10:27-28 KJV
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Are you truly his sheep? When he comes back will you truly recognize his voice, only those that are truly his sheep will know his voice because he’s coming for those that are his own? Today the good Shepherd is calling you to salvation, so that you can be among his sheep when he comes. If you haven’t surrendered your life to Jesus, take a bold step now and make the decision now to surrender your life to him. God bless you as you do in Jesus name, Amen.
If you have accepted him as your lord and saviour, I congratulate you, but if you have not accepted him as your Lord and Saviour, the time is now for you to invite him into your life so that you too can have access to this Salvation package. If you want to surrender now say this prayer with faith:
Lord Jesus, i know I’m a sinner, i surrender all to you, i dedicate my life to you, i believe that you died for my sin and i confess with my mouth that you are the son of God, come in to my life now and be my savior, i will no longer live a life of sin again,from now on i will live to please you, please wash away my sins with your precious blood, give me a new life and a new beginning. Thank you for saving me i ‘m no longer a sinner, i ‘m now born again, in Jesus name Amen.
If just you prayed that prayer now, CONGRATULATIONS! You are now born again. I welcome you to the new life in Christ. What next now that you are saved?
