I’m going to start with a potentially bold statement. I feel bad for sheep, yup I do. I feel like sheep get a bad name, often referred to as “lazy”, “dumb”, “always wandering off”, and so on. I started learning a bit more about sheep a few years ago because I was wanting to know if sheep really were all the things said above. It was actually quite fascinating to learn more about sheep. Sheep are naturally “follow the leader” type animals, they all stick together and tend to just follow and go where the pack goes. Sheep typically get split up and get lost what the herd is fleeing from danger. They are also relational in the sense that they prefer to all stay close to each other.
The connection that Jesus makes between humankind and sheep make sense to me. As humans, we long for relationship, we have a natural sense of needing to belong. Although, this is expressed in unique ways, depending on personality type and such, there is still common human need for connection. We also have a similar connection to sheep in people being left behind in times of trouble. There is injustice, there is poverty, there are people who are treated poorly and not given voices when others are given voices.
So, what does Jesus being the Good Shepherd mean? One of a shepherd’s main tasks is always protecting the herd, they also help lead the sheep. Jesus is promising to always be with us and for us, meaning that Jesus walks the winding and sometimes dangerous, painful path right with us. Not only does Jesus walk with us, but Jesus leads us, and asks us to follow him. Will this make life easy and simple? No, but Jesus offers grace, rest, and calls us to be with one another along the journey.
So, let us strive to learn, grow, and walk together following Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
“Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd, thank you for leading me and loving me no matter what. Help me to follow your lead and care for all of your sheep. Amen.”
Jay Kiel
Monday: “I am the Resurrection and the Life”
