Question:
What is Jesus like?

Answer: The Good Shepherd

Do you know what it’s like to have someone care for you so much that they would be willing to die for you?

Do you have anyone in your life who is watching over you? Do you have someone who loves you so much that they would die to protect you? For sheep living in the hills and valleys, that person is the shepherd. The shepherd is the one who watches over and guides the sheep to food and water. He is the one who takes care of them when they are hurt and even carries them when they are sick. A good shepherd will even put his life on the line to protect the helpless and defenseless sheep from danger.

Did you know that Jesus, in telling people who he was, called himself the Good Shepherd. Listen to the words of Jesus from the Holy Injil, John 10 verses 11 to 18.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Jesus describes two kinds of people. There is the shepherd and there is the hired hand. The hired hand doesn’t really care about the sheep. He is in it only for the money. So when danger shows itself, the employee runs away. The shepherd on the other hand loves the sheep so much that he will even die for the sheep. He knows the sheep and they know him. It is a true statement that sheep will learn to recognize their shepherd’s voice and will only follow him. So the shepherd and the sheep have this strong relationship.

Jesus says that he is not a hired hand, but he is the shepherd himself. He loves his people. He loves them so much that he actually gives his life for them. And his people are not just confined to his family or to the Jewish people. In fact Jesus says that he has other sheep who are not of this sheep pen. Jesus is referring to non-Jews. Jesus is their shepherd as well and he will lay down his for them. Now this is so wonderful! Jesus doesn’t have to give his life. I mean a shepherd doesn’t have to die for his sheep, he can leave them as the hired hand would. But Jesus loves his sheep so much, loves us so much that he willingly gave his life!

I have so much peace in my life because I have a shepherd who cares for me. I have a shepherd who loves me and gave his life so that I might live. And not only that, I have a shepherd who took his life back again. A shepherd who didn’t stay dead! I have a shepherd who is living. I know him, but more importantly he knows me.

Now dear friend, I have a question for you. Do you have a shepherd? Does he love you? Is he willing to give his life so that you would have life?