“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me” (John 10:14)

Probably the best-known metaphor describing Christ is that of a shepherd. Who hasn’t see a picture of the Savior standing on a hillside with a shepherd’s staff in His hand and sheep at His feet? Or the classic depiction of a lamb draped over His shoulders, imaging for us the rescue of the one lost sheep out of 100?

We dare not let the shepherd imagery languish as part of antiquated, old-time religion. The imagery takes a remarkable turn from normal animal husbandry. A shepherd normally raises sheep for his own financial livelihood, for wool and meat. Ultimately, the sheep will be killed in order to feed people. But Christ is like a shepherd who would die for his sheep. That is a startling twist to what one would expect, like saying I would be willing to die for my pet parakeet. Absurd—or remarkable. Jesus is no ordinary shepherd, and His sheep are not like ordinary sheep.

“We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Ps 100:3b). Christ died for us, like a shepherd dying for his sheep. The consummate irony of this is that the religious leaders of the people in Jesus’ day were like shepherds who would see the sheep as existing only for their benefit. The idea of dying for them would seem absolutely absurd. Jesus said in His immediately preceding breath, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). In the same way that Jesus was not like the earthly religious leaders, He was not like an earthly shepherd.

Jesus is the one who cares for our souls, our entire well-being. When we go astray, He searches for us and finds us. No matter how far away we go, we recognize His voice, at times still and quiet. We stray because we fall into the temptation of thinking the world, the flesh or the devil has something better to offer us. When Jesus brings us back, His grace overflows and He continues to shepherd us, guiding, protecting, feeding and nurturing us. Peter writes: “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

Lord Jesus, the Shepherd of my soul, I continually return to You and confess my frequently wandering away. Your gracious voice never ceases to call out to me. Thank You.