Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11).

When I was a little boy, the first passage of Scripture I ever memorized was Psalm 23. This psalm starts, of course, with the words, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” These famous words have brought comfort and hope to people of all ages throughout the centuries. It’s wonderful to know that we can trust in God to take care of us.

Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd. What is the job of a shepherd? Taking care of sheep. And who are Jesus’ sheep? You and me! We are His sheep, and He is our faithful Shepherd. We can rely on Him to take care of us and supply for all of our needs.

When Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd, the word “good” has two connotations. First of all, Jesus is morally good. All of His actions are for our benefit. He is perfect and never sins, never thinks or plans evil. He is completely righteous.

The second connotation of the word “good” is that Jesus is good at being a shepherd. He excels at His job. He knows exactly what we need and provides for us as no one else can. His strength is inexhaustible and His knowledge is complete.

Finally, we know that the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep, and of course that is what Jesus did for us. On the cross, Jesus died so that we might have life. We were destined for death and destruction, but He saved us through His death. He sacrificed all for us. He is truly the Good Shepherd.