The Good Shepherd

Not all employees are alike. Depending upon their character and conduct, some are poor; others are good; and a few are outstanding. The same could be said of pastors-- men who spiritually shepherd a flock of people. Jesus claims to be the 'Good' Shepherd. The word for 'good" literally means 'beautiful or excellent." And the word order in the ancient text emphasizes the 'good"-- 'I am the Shepherd, the good one!' Jesus is the outstanding shepherd-- in a class all by himself! But what makes Jesus the outstanding shepherd. First, Jesus Christ voluntarily, out of love and obedience to His Father, gave His life as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. He died for you and I, His lost sheep, in order to provide for us forgiveness of our sins and new life in Him. Secondly, Jesus Christ sustains a love relationship with his sheep. He 'knows" us-- and we know Him. And the love relationship He has with us is patterned after the love relationship which exists between God the Father and God the Son. Thirdly, Jesus Christ as the outstanding shepherd unites His sheep into one flock. Believing Jews and believing Gentiles are both saved by God's grace through faith-- and both are brought together into one flock-- the true church with one shepherd, the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ!