THE GOOD SHEPHERD

When David, the shepherd wrote, "The Lord is my shepherd," he forever gave new meaning to the word Shepherd; and when Jesus states, "I am the good shepherd," He identified and intensified that meaning.

Shepherding is one of man's oldest occupations. There is the close relationship between sheep and the shepherd. Ordinarily, here in the Midwest with fenced pastures, the sheep have an owner but not a shepherd. A traveler from Israel many years ago stated that he had never seen sheep without a shepherd. There he lives with them by day, and at night they are bedded near his tent or hut. When he leads his sheep far away to find pasture, he sleeps on the ground with his flock around him or nearby.

Jesus stated in John 10"3 - 5, "He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out ... and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." It has been said by one who was well acquainted with his subject that a stranger may dress up in the shepherd's own garb and call to the sheep, but not one will follow. However he may try to imitate the shepherd's voice, the sheep know it is the voice of a stranger.

I stood on the road to Jericho a short distance east of Jerusalem at the close of day when Bedouin shepherds were bring their sheep home from pasture. These people lived in dark tents made of black goat's hair or skins. There were three men but one flock. Just before reaching our position, one shepherd turned off the road and made a low call I cannot imitate. All of his sheep separated from the flock and followed him. The second shepherd followed this same procedure as they neared us and the sheep of his fold followed him to the other side of the road. The third fellow passed by our position with the remaining sheep. There was not a hitch in the procedure. Every sheep knew what to do.

Surely, this must be a good illustration of what Jesus was teaching in the above lesson from John's gospel. A lesson of nearness, of intimate knowledge and obedience. Jesus not only called his followers sheep, but also his brethren (John 20:17) and his friends (John 15:15).

May the Lord help us to be good listeners and good followers. Our Good Shepherd has gone before us to the Good Pastures. If we obey his voice and follow his teaching, we will go where he has gone!