Jesus, the Good Shepherd

Picture this: A thousand sheep are grazing peacefully on the meadow. The sun is shining, the wind is blowing gently through the grass, and the young man tending the sheep is blowing a happy tune on his flute.

One sheep starts to bleat in panic, causing the others and the young man to look up. Approaching from the hills is a wolf. The wolf runs at top speed, teeth bared. It rushes towards its target, a little lamb grazing at the corner of the field.

Scared, the young man takes off running and screaming at the top of his lungs. “Wolf! Wolf! Somebody save me!” he cries. He is a hired hand and is not willing to risk injury or worse for the sake of the sheep.

Fear paralyses the little lamb. His mother stands by, bleating helplessly, knowing that there is nothing she can do to save her poor lamb’s life. Suddenly, there is a flash of color. The Good Shepherd, the owner of the sheep, appears and runs towards the lamb. He swoops down, picks up the lamb, and chases the wolf away.

That’s what Jesus does. At the cross, He made the ultimate sacrifice and daily, He rescues us. Jesus sits with us when everyone else leaves. He saves us even when we fall for the 100th time. Jesus loves us and carries us in our toughest moments.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He lays His life down for us, His sheep. He is ready and willing to help us; we just need to ask.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:11-15, NIV

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we are grateful that you are the Good Shepherd who lays His life down for us. Help us to run to you when we are in trouble, today and every day. In Your mighty name we pray, Amen.