The Good Shepherd

Using an image His listeners could not fail to understand, Jesus said about Himself, "I am the good shepherd."  (John 10:11)  It is an interesting image for Jesus to invoke considering shepherds were those who inhabited the lowest social ranks of first century Israel.  They stood on the same social rung as tax collectors.  Their work which kept them in close contact with sheep made them religiously unclean.  No one had any desire to have social contact with them.  They were outcasts.   

So, along comes Jesus declaring Himself to be "the good shepherd."  Jesus is no ordinary smelly old shepherd, but the shepherd who is inherently good.  He is so good and so caring of His sheep that He will lay down His life to protect them from those who mean them harm.  "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  (John 10:11)  Unlike some hired hand who will run when the wolf attacks the sheep, the good shepherd puts Himself between the sheep and danger.   

Sheep are defenseless and dependent.  They cannot defend themselves against those who mean them harm  and they are dependent upon the shepherd for life itself.  As are the sheep, so are we.  "Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of thi present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God , so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day."  (Ephesians 6:10-13)  Against such we are defenseless.  We cannot depend on ourselves to stand safely.  We need "the good shepherd" and He has come to be with us.