Jesus, the Great Servant Shepherd

Servant of God Has only one Master.

                                                        George Muller 

This quote was from a preacher of the 15th century, a man of faith that God used to operate several orphanages in Bristol, England. George Muller trusted God, and God never let him down! 

But isn’t that what Jesus promised He would do in John 10. Jesus said, I am the good Shepherd, and I take care of the sheep (John 10:11). I have taken these words for granted; I am a sheep, and I have a shepherd! A Good Shepherd! 

 Sheep in the Natural

Sheep are domesticated animals. They don’t travel alone, and if or when they fall, they need their Shepherd to pick them up similarly, as we believers need our Shepherd.

I read an article on the internet. Can Sheep Live Without a Shepherd? A few things about this article caused me to reflect on my dependence on Jesus Christ. Without a shepherd, it becomes difficult for sheep to find pasture and water for survival. Without a shepherd, sheep’s wool overgrows. It becomes matted, heavy, dirty, and infested with parasites, infecting them with diseases and internal worms, reducing their survival rate. 

Isn’t that like us without the Good Shepherd? When we aren’t fed, and we become spiritual weaklings. Without the Good Shepherd, our thinking and propensity toward sin take over. The wool of the sheep is like the thinking of man. Without the Good Shepherd, we become infected by society vacillating standards and influences.

 Similarly, our walk is affected by our shepherd-ship. Without a shepherd, the sheep hoofs are uncared for, making it hard to move. God gives us shepherds according to His heart who will provide us with knowledge and understanding (Jere. 3:15).

Another interesting thing about sheep is that they have a flocking mentality, an instinct that keeps them safe, but they will blindly follow one another. Meaning if the leader walks off a cliff, the rest of the flock will follow. 

Also, another point to mention about sheep is that they sometimes scare easily over the smallest of things. When they are scared or attacked by a predator, they flee. They won’t try to fight. They instinctively trust their Shepherd. The Bible refers to the Lord as my Shepherd, and in Him, we shall not lack (Psalm 23), and Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd in John 10, which implies the believer is a type of sheep. 

Jesus Commission and Instructs

The shepherding business is so near and dear to Jesus’ heart that you can see it when He commission Peter three times in John 21. It’s noteworthy to consider before Jesus commissioned, He feeds first, a lesson for leadership (John 21:12). Then He told him to feed My lambs, tend to My sheep, and again feed My sheep and follow Him.    

The Secret Place of the Most High

The shepherd-ship of the Most High is in Jesus Christ. In Him is all fullness of God (Col. 2:9). This fullness is completion meaning nothing missing and nothing broken. God’s all isn’t like our all, which is short-sighted; his all is entirely lacking no good thing.  

Without our Good Shepherd, what do we do? Make an empty life with a lot of beautiful things but a depleted heart? Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will direct you to His local flock for your growth in Him. The Good Shepherd said I come that you would have an abundant life John 10:10.

Want an abundant life? Follow Jesus Christ!