THE GREAT SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS

            The word “shepherd” is the Greek “Poimen” and means a “feeder”. The term is found 29 times in the Old Testament and 14 times in the New Testament. From Abraham on many of the people of Israel were shepherds. Jacob’s family was introduced to Pharaoh as shepherds in Genesis 46:34. The rulers of Israel were spoken of as shepherds and a condemnation is given to them in Ezekiel 34 because they failed in their duties to see to the needs of the nation over which they ruled. In this same chapter the characteristics of Christ as the good shepherd are prophesied. The first visitors to Jesus were shepherds to whom the angel of the Lord appeared and announced his birth (Luke 2:11-15).

            1. Jesus looked on the people of his day as sheep having no shepherd.

(Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34). This caused him to say to his disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37, 38).

            2. Jesus is the good shepherd.

He fulfills the prophecy of Ezekiel 34:23 as shown in John 10. Let us look at the attributes of Jesus as the good shepherd.
            A. He entered by the door. He came by the will of God the Father. He fulfilled all that the prophets said he would be. He was heralded by John the baptist who would be in position as porter to open the door to let him in. (John 10:1-3).
            B. He calls his sheep by name. Jesus promises that if we will confess Him, he will confess us before the Father (Matthew 10:32).
            C. He leads his sheep out to pasture. (John 10:3). Psalm 23 gives in graphic detail the benefits of the Lord as our shepherd.
            D. He goes before his sheep. (John 10:4). Jesus is our example of how we ought to live (I Peter 2:21, 22).
            E. The sheep follow him. They know his voice (John 10:5). One cannot become one of the Lord’s followers unless he learns of him and obeys him. (Hebrews 5:8, 9).
            F. As the good shepherd he gives his life for the sheep.
The mark of a good shepherd was that he defended the flock against any predators and was willing to put his life at risk of death to keep the enemy from stealing the sheep. Jesus died for the sins of men so that they could become his spiritual sheep. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11).
            G. He knows his sheep and is known of them. (John 10:14).
            H. There is one fold and one shepherd. That fold is the church which is for Jew and Gentile to all be one (Ephesians 2:16). And the one shepherd is Jesus who is the head of the church and the one from whom all blessings flow (Ephesians 1:22, 23).

            3. Jesus is the great shepherd.

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20, 21). The goal of Christ is to make our lives complete in Him, preparing us for the wonderful day when we appear before the Father in heaven.

            4. Jesus is shepherd and bishop of our souls.

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” The shepherd saves the soul, feeds the soul, and leads the soul. The bishop oversees the soul protecting from harm, encouraging doing good works, and interceding in the soul’s behalf.

            5. Jesus is the chief shepherd who will come again to take his flock to heaven.

In I Peter 5:4 elders are told to be good shepherds of the Lord’s sheep “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (I Peter 5:4).
            If your mind is on Jesus during this season of the year then think about his being the good shepherd, the great shepherd, and the chief shepherd of our souls.          C. D.

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