the Good Shepherd

On one of our trips to Germany to visit my cousin, my husband and I did a side trip with our German friends to Vienna. Austria’s language is German, so our friends did all the navigating. They had researched and knew where to go, how to get there, and what was safe. My husband and I commented how nice it was not to have to figure things out on this trip. We simply followed and enjoyed Vienna and the time with our friends.

This Christmas season as we continue to meditate on the different names of Jesus, we come to a name that is very familiar – the Good Shepherd – but I hope our familiarity won’t dull our wonder of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” [1]

John 10:11-18

Psalm 23 is the most comprehensive description of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, but before we look at that psalm, let’s glean a few points from John.

First, the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep, and He lays it down willingly (vs 11, 17-18). As we celebrate Christmas and the baby in the manger, we need to remember: “6 who, though he [Jesus] was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).[2]

Jesus, fully God, willingly took on flesh, the flesh of a baby born to poor, ordinary parents, born in a humble stable. He willingly came to suffer and die in our place for the penalty of our sins. We celebrate Christmas with beautiful lights and decorations, singing Christmas carols, baking our favorite holiday foods, and exchanging presents. But that first Christmas, the baby Jesus, our Good Shepherd, began His journey to the cross that we might be forgiven, redeemed, and have eternal life.

Second, the Good Shepherd knows His own (vs 14). Most of us are either striving for others to really know and understand us or striving to hide the bad things we don’t want others to know about us because they might not accept us if they knew. Our Good Shepherd knows us. He knows us perfectly because He is omniscient and our Creator. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows all the good things, and He knows every sinful thought, motive, word, and action, AND He still loves us. He still laid down His life for us. Only our Good Shepherd does this.

Now let’s look at Psalm 23. Take a minute to read it.

The Lord is my Shepherd ~ My goodness! That statement alone should affirm to our self-reliant hearts that God can be trusted. A shepherd cares for and protects his sheep. As we know from David, a shepherd does this often at risk to his own life (1 Samuel 17:34-36). A shepherd would not last long as a shepherd if he let the sheep in his care go hungry, thirsty or be harmed. Not only that, but a shepherd wants to make sure the sheep flourish. They will be more valuable. We can trust God completely because He is our Shepherd caring for and protecting us, and unlike a human shepherd, God is omniscient, has all wisdom, is almighty and sovereign, so there is nothing that can hinder Him from caring for and protecting us.

Shepherds dwell with their sheep. Our Good Shepherd left the glory of heaven to dwell with us on earth (Immanuel) and be our Savior.  After His death, resurrection, and ascension, He sent His Spirit to indwell us.

David also used the word “my” to describe God as Shepherd. God is an intimately personal Shepherd.

I shall not want ~ There is no “except for” or any other qualification to this truth. I shall not want period. That means our Good Shepherd will provide everything we need. We will lack nothing. We can trust God completely for His provision whether it is physical, spiritual, mental, or emotional. Our Good Shepherd knows perfectly what our needs are and can provide for them by His perfect means and perfect timing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures ~ I like the word “makes” that David uses here. I’m sure he had experience with this. We can be stubborn. We think we know what is best, what we need. Our society tends to be go, go, go. We fill our days and nights with activity. We rush from one thing to the next especially during the Christmas season. From the beginning, God created a day of rest. He knows we need it. Our Good Shepherd sometimes has to make us rest. David could have left off with just, “He makes me lie down,” but he doesn’t. He adds that God makes us lie down in green pastures. Our place of rest is beautiful, comfortable, lush, and pleasant. We can trust our Good Shepherd completely because even when we don’t see what is good, He does and makes us to experience the good that we need from Him.

He leads me beside still waters ~ I learned this only a few years ago that sheep do not like to drink from running water. What a loving God we have that He knows these details about His sheep and leads them to the water that they will readily drink. If it were me, I’d say, “Ungrateful sheep! Drink what you’re given!” But that is not our Good Shepherd. He cares enough to bring us to what is best. Remember Jesus said in John 10 that He knows His sheep even down to the water they will drink. We can trust our Good Shepherd completely because He knows even the tiniest detail about me and is providing His best for me.

He restores my soul ~ David may have meant that his soul was restored by the rest in green pastures and the provision of still waters. “Restores” can also be a picture of a sheep that has gone astray and is rescued. In Hebrew, “restores my soul” can refer to repentance. All of these are the loving care of our Shepherd. Sometimes we are weary from life in general or in a specific circumstance. We need our Good Shepherd’s loving restoration.

Other times we may need restoring because we have wandered away from our Good Shepherd or have been caught up in sin. What encouragement to know that our Good Shepherd restores us. He suffered, died, and rose again so that our sin would no longer separate us from God. In fact, Paul says that there is NOTHING that can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). We can completely trust God because He restores us. He does not leave us lost, wandering, caught in sin, or just plain weary.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake ~ Our Good Shepherd guides us by His Word and His Spirit. We are not left on our own to figure out the way. What stands out to me is that David does not say that our Shepherd leads us from here to there. He leads us in paths of righteousness for His glory. Although we may wander, David specifically assures us that God will lead us in paths of righteousness. On the cross, Jesus defeated sin. In Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin. We are slaves to righteousness. Not only did our Good Shepherd deliver us from sin, but He leads us in paths of righteousness, and He has given us His own righteousness. We can trust God completely because He leads us.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  ~ Even in those dark, discouraging, seemingly hopeless times, we have the comfort that our Good Shepherd is with us. David does not say that God removes us from this dark valley. He says that God is with us through it. The Shepherds rod and staff were for guiding and protecting. This is why David can say he fears no evil, and in fact, he is comforted in the dark valley. We can trust God completely because He is always with us, leading, protecting and comforting.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies ~ David pictures enemies all around, but because He trusts God completely, he can sit at the table and eat what God has provided without fear. Sometimes when we are feeling life’s pressures, we neglect our own care, but God does not neglect our needs. He provides the sustenance we need. We can trust our Good Shepherd completely because enemies are nothing before Him. He alone has all power, dominion, and authority.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows ~ Oil was used on sheep to prevent sunburn and repel parasites. It was another way that shepherds cared for and protected their sheep. In Scripture, oil was used for anointing the priests and the furnishings in the tabernacle or temple. It was also used for beautification (Esther 2:12). Oil could signify blessing, stability and cleansing or setting apart like when Samuel anointed David as the next king. Our Good Shepherd anoints us with oil. We are set apart for Him. It is another sign of His care, protection, and rich blessing.

David further says that his cup overflows. Our Good Shepherd is so gracious. Just like the shepherd leads the sheep to still waters not just any water, Jesus lavishes us with His blessings. He doesn’t just give us a few sips to pacify our dry throats. He overflows our cup. We can trust our Good Shepherd completely because He doesn’t just care for us. He lavishes His care on us. He delights in giving us good things and blessing us.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life ~ The Hebrew for “follow” means to chase after, to hotly pursue. Just as our Good Shepherd makes our cup to overflow, His goodness and mercy chase after us. There is nowhere we can outrun or escape God’s goodness and mercy. We can trust God completely because He is relentless in pursing us with His goodness and mercy.

I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever ~ Our final encouragement from Psalm 23 is that we know our future. Our Good Shepherd sealed our future when He rose from the dead. Then He gave us His Spirit as our guarantee of eternal life. We can trust our Good Shepherd completely because He is faithful, and willingly gave His own life to redeem us, reconcile us to Himself, and make a way for us to be forever with Him.

The baby in the manger is our Good Shepherd who knows us, provides for us, leads and guides us, restores us, gives us His righteousness, lavishes His love upon us, chases us with goodness and mercy, and willingly gave His own life to redeem us.

Reflection

1.     How has knowing Jesus as our Good Shepherd changed you?

2.     Think through each of the characteristics of our Good Shepherd in John 10:11-18 and Psalm 23. How does each give you hope in current circumstances?

3.     Think through each of the characteristics of our Good Shepherd in John 10:11-18 and Psalm 23. How does each give you joy in current circumstances?

4.     How does the Good Shepherd laying down His life for you encourage you to sacrificially love others? Who can you love and serve this week? How?

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 10:11–18.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 2:6–8.