A Shepherd for All

Over two years ago I wrote this about sheep and Jesus’ role as our Shepherd:

“Sheep have to be among the silliest of God’s creatures.  They simply cannot survive by themselves.  If left on their own they would return to the same overgrazed and pollute pastures, unable to find new ones upon which to feed. They would become sickly without the saltlicks and other trace minerals the shepherd provides.  They would drink from polluted holes unless taken to a source of water that is pure. Or they would drown if not kept away from swift running streams. Their eyes have to be constantly cleaned and medicated to prevent blindness from infections caused by flies. And they need sheltering during harsh inclement weather for they don’t know enough to shelter themselves. And when a sheep becomes “cast” or ends up on its back unable to scramble back on its feet, it would die unless the shepherd picked it up. In addition, sheep are utterly unable to protect themselves from predators and must rely solely on their shepherd for protection.

“It’s no accident that the Bible compares us to sheep for we are just as foolish and incapable of caring for ourselves. And it’s for this very reason we need The Good Shepherd.  For it is the Shepherd that keeps us from pollution by providing His word for us to feed on.  He is the living water that keeps us refreshed.  He is the salve that keeps us from spiritual blindness.  He is our provider, our shelter, our protector.  His utter care and commitment is all encompassing.  He is tender and loving, ever mindful of our weaknesses but never repulsed by them. He picks us up when we fall, and carries us when we are weak. He has laid down his life for us, the sheep. He has held nothing back.”

In light of this how can any of us survive without our Good Shepherd? And those of us who are not Jewish would be in serious trouble if what Jesus said in Matthew 15:24 was the end of it. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But it wasn’t the end of it. For in John 10:15-16 Jesus says He had “other sheep beside these (the Jews) that are not of this fold. I must bring and impel those (the Gentiles) also; and they will listen to My voice and heed My call, and so there will be (they will become) one flock under one Shepherd.”  Here Jesus is foretelling that the New Covenant would extend to Jew and Gentile alike.

How gracious of God to go outside His covenant people, the Jews, and extend His hand of grace to us Gentiles, to us who previously had no claim on Him. The truth is that God desires that none should perish and has extended to “whosoever will” the invitation to enter His sheepfold. But it’s up to us. We must decide whether or not to enter or remain outside, outside His grace, outside His forgiveness and redemption, outside eternity in heaven. He will never violate our free will and force us into the fold. But Jesus stands ever patient, ever kind, ever hopeful that we will heed His call.

It’s amazing that many church goers have never heeded it. They come to church because that’s what their parents did or because it seems like the “right thing” to do. Our pews are full of them. But unless one enters the sheepfold through Jesus alone—not good works, not through tradition—only Jesus, they will not be under the protection of the Shepherd or part of the flock, but will be outside the fold susceptible to all the dangers that are only increasing.

May all those who know about the Shepherd come to know Him. He has been waiting for you all your life.

Until next time,

Sylvia