The Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  12But 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.  13The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.  14I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  15As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."

                                                                              John 10:11-15.  NKJV 

Jesus is not a mere shepherd but, a good one - in fact the best. There’s a great difference between a shepherd and a hireling. The hireling is hired labour, he’s there to earn a living, he is not as concerned with the sheep as the shepherd is. If a wolf attacks, the hireling will defend himself and do his best to escape, leaving the sheep in danger. Not the shepherd, he has his shepherds crook and he will do all he can to protect the sheep and ensure they are safe.

We get a good picture of Jesus here. He is the Good Shepherd He knows all His sheep by name and will lay down His life for them, rather like He did on the cross, to save us all. This is what He was referring to - what His fate would be to save us on confession of His name.

Usually it would be the sheep who would lay down their life for the Shepherd. However, Jesus was different, He was the True Shepherd and like a normal shepherd, who would be with his sheep 24/7, Jesus The Good and True Shepherd is with you and I, always. Even though He knew what lay ahead, He faced it, with the Power of the Holy Spirit and carried on with His ministry until the time of the crucifixion.

‘When blood from a victim must flow, This Shepherd by pity was led, To stand between us and the foe, And willingly died in our stead’.  Thomas Kelly

The hireling does the job he is paid to do and picks up his pay. That was his only responsibility, it was a job of convenience for him, that was all. Sadly, there are hirelings in the church today - men or women, who choose the ministry as a comfortable occupation without true love for the sheep. For some, church life is just a tradition and it is the sheep - us, who dip out because the lack of the Holy Spirit being used.

Jesus offers a very intimate relationship with Himself, the love He shares with each of us, is the same love He shares with His Father and vice-versa. We have a lot to be grateful for. We have a loving Shepherd who took our sins upon Himself and has given us freedom and eternal life. And, we can have a deeper  experience with Him too, if we give him everything - to be sold out for Jesus. This is what He wants; do you want this too?

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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