The Good Shepherd Still Watches His Sheep

The Good Shepherd Still Watches His Sheep

A Christmas Study Around the Advent Wreath

Faith Community Church, Pipestone, MN

Dr. Oliver R. Blosser, Pastor

Sunday, December 16, 2001

Shepherds can still be seen today throughout the rugged terrain of the mountains and valleys of the Judean countryside and wilderness near Bethlehem. Here was the setting for the composition of the Twenty-third Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” The shepherd’s occupation was to take charge over the flock of sheep by tending, feeding, guiding and guarding them. This was the occupation of numerous Biblical characters, including Abel, Job, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses and David. From the arrival in Egypt of Joseph’s family, whom he described as shepherds, to the angelic announcement of the birth of Jesus to the men watching their flocks outside Bethlehem, raising and caring for sheep was a vital part of the Israelite economy.

The Bible uses the symbolism of shepherds and sheep to describe the believer’s relationship to the Lord. Christians do not always understand the wonderful relationship as explained in the Bible. Christ came into the world for the believer to have this personal relationship with Him. The focus on the shepherds in the Christmas story brings this relationship to mind. Those simple shepherds met their Savior through a personal encounter, and it is God’s plan for each of us to meet Him personally, as well.

In the Bible, the Lord Jehovah was the Shepherd of Israel, especially of the faithful remnant of His people, Genesis 49:24. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is presented as the Good Shepherd, John 10:1-18. Believers are called the sheep of His pasture in Psalm 100:3 and in Psalm 95:7. The shepherds of that first Christmas were worshipping One, who is portrayed as the Good Shepherd in Scripture, Genesis 49:24; Psalm 23:1; Ezekiel 34:11-15; Isaiah 40:11; I Peter 2:25; 5:4. What is this special sheep/shepherd relationship about?

Jesus Is The Good Shepherd Of The Sheep

In John 10:11, Jesus says, I am the Good Shepherd. This concept of Christ as the Good Shepherd has perhaps been the most endearing portrait of the Master through the centuries. In the famed St. Calixtus Catacombs in Rome, there is a third century painting on the walls, along with other Christian art, of Christ as the Good Shepherd, carrying a sheep over His shoulder.

Psalm 23 remains one of the most beautiful commentaries on shepherding ever written. The psalm explains to the reader what the Good Shepherd is like and how He cares for the sheep of His flock.

Jesus took up this everyday image and applied it to Himself. It was a familiar symbol to the Jew. Our Lord, as the Good Shepherd, says in His Good Shepherd discourse of John 10-

• The sheep hear His voice,v. 3.

• He calls His own sheep by name, v. 3.

• He leads them out, v. 3.

• He goes before the sheep, and they follow Him, v. 4

• The sheep know His voice, v. 4.

• He is the Door of the sheepfold for the sheep, vv. 7, 9.

• His care provides abundant life for the sheep, v. 10.

• He gives His life for the sheep, vv. 11, 15.

• His plan is to have one fold and He is the one Shepherd of all those who are saved, v. 16.

No wonder the shepherds were the first guests on that Christmas Day, for they, more than anyone else, could appreciate the Christ Child as the Good Shepherd who would give His life for the sheep.

Sheep - Shepherd Insights From Biblical Custom

When the shepherd did not own the sheep, he was responsible to the owner for any loss of sheep, Genesis 31:39. The Mosaic Law relieved the shepherd from ordinary responsibility if he could prove that the loss was not due to his neglect, Exodus 22:10-13. In His High Priestly Prayer of John 17, this is what Jesus says about His sheep, which the Father owns- I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled, John 17:9-12. Jesus has lost not one of His sheep! What a Good Shepherd we have!

The shepherd led his own sheep to pasture, and spent the day with them as well as the night, Genesis 31:40; Song of Solomon 1:7; Luke 2:8. Our Good Shepherd abides with us continually. Jesus said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, Hebrews 13:5.

With the other sheep in sight, the shepherd searched for the stray sheep and would bring it back to the flock, Ezekiel 34:12; Luke 15:4. In this light, Jesus told His famous parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:3-7. The shepherd carried the lost sheep on his shoulders. This reveals the value of one sheep to the Good Shepherd! The sheep is the first animal mentioned by name in the Bible, and was among the Jews’ most treasured possessions. So we are the Lord’s special treasure.

The shepherd defends and protects the sheep from wild beasts and robbers, I Samuel 17:34-35; Isaiah 31:4. In ancient Palestine, the sheep’s main enemy was the lion. In this light, the Bible affirms that Satan is the believer’s main enemy, I Peter 5:8. How wonderful it is to know that the believer can call upon the Name of the Lord for deliverance. In Hebrew thought, salvation is always some kind of deliverance, and we have been saved by our Good Shepherd, Acts 2:21.

The shepherd carried with him at all time his rod and staff. The long staff, with a crook at the upper end, was used to manage the flock, keep it together and to guide the flock. The thirty-inch rod with a knob on one end was used to protect the flock and to chastise the disobedient, Psalm 23:4; Micah 7:14; Zechariah 11:7. It is comforting to know that our Good Shepherd will protect us from our enemies, and remind us to obey when we are disobedient. Sometime His chastisement is unpleasant, but the result is a humble and obedient spirit.

The shepherd tenderly cared for the delicate, ill and weak sheep, Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:3-4, 16; Zechariah 11:9. Our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, also cares for us, and meets our needs. Ezekiel 34:15-16- I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick.

Occasionally, a shepherd would meet his death in the service of the sheep. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus willingly laid down His life at Calvary’s cross for the us, His sheep- I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep, John 10:14-15. Because Jesus gave His life, we can be safe in our sheepfold, and some day, will live with Him forever in Heaven.

The shepherd protected his sheep at night by being the door to the sheepfold. The sheepfold was an enclosure for the sheep. During the night, the shepherd rested across the only entrance to the sheepfold. This is why Jesus stated in John 10 that He is the Door- Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ... I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture, John 10:7, 9. When we are living within the sheepfold, that is, when we are obedient and submissive to our Lord Jesus, we are safe from our spiritual enemy, the devil. The Lord Jesus will rise up and defend us against evil if it comes near us. There is great peace in knowing that we can depend on our Lord for protection.

Life Application

God sent an angel to announce to the shepherds the birth of the Child, Luke 2:8-12. In response to the birth announcement, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us, Luke 2:15. The story of the shepherds reminds us that Christ is for all people. All are welcomed to worship Him! - regardless of position or prestige in life. If, resorting to symbolism, the wise men represented privilege, wealth and intelligence, so the shepherds stood for the cross-sectional, average Palestinian- quite literally, too, ‘the man on the night shift.’

This story also reminds us that Christ is our Good Shepherd and that we are ‘the sheep of His pasture’, Psalm 95:7; 100:3. Since the Shepherd gave His life for the sheep, that means that each of us have special value and worth. We are precious in His sight.

The shepherds not only worshiped the Child in adoration in the chapel of the stable, but also worshiped the Lord through outreach. Evangelism is a part of our worship- for they made known the new-born Savior, Christ the Lord, Luke 2:11. To know the truth of the Gospel, and not share it, is unthinkable! To keep our knowledge of the Savior a secret would be as ridiculous as the shepherds keeping their great news a secret!

Jesus is our Good Shepherd who watches over His sheep! This Christmas we can rejoice to know that He has come to earth, and He comes to each of us personally to develop a close, intimate, personal relationship- a relationship between a Good Shepherd and His sheep.