Good Shepherd

Jan. 13, 2014

by Bob Farrell
Just One of the Flock

I’ve always found it poignant and a bit comical that Jesus most often referred to his followers as sheep.

The immediate image that springs to my mind is of a docile, non-aggressive, puffy-white little creature, that is quite content eating its grass and taking long naps.

But a few other characteristics of sheep have to be acknowledged in order for us to totally grasp Jesus’ comparison.

Sheep are not particularly smart.

Sheep are fairly smelly.

Sheep are not leaders — they are followers.

You never hear about a "lead sheep" — only reference to "the flock."

So, put all that information together and you have an accurate and analogous picture of me. MeSheep.

MeSheepYouSheepWeSheep. Sheeple.

And, the aspect of having a shepherd for the sheep is not mere tradition, but critical to the sheep’s survival. From Biblical times to present-day a boy is not given the responsibility of tending the family’s sheep out of pure convention or just to give him something to do — work for work’s sake.

Nein. He is entrusted with a serious job. Grave responsibility. The shepherd (boy/man/shepherdess) is vital.

No shepherd=no flock.

Consider the words of Jesus recorded in the book of Matthew:

I am the Good Shepherd. My sheep hear my voice and follow me.

I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters through me will be saved — they will come in and go out, and find pasture.

When The hired hand sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away; the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

There are countless voices calling to you to follow them — and vicious wolves at every turn.

And you are a sheep. Trust me.

And so am I.

And, true to form I’m quite capable of exhibiting extremely brilliant and totally stupid — both performances inside the same 60 seconds. My shortcomings, failures, human frailties, and sins render me quite smelly to be around. And it’s nothing for me to ‘follow the crowd’ into sheer folly, despite my best intentions.

So, in a very real way I need a shepherd.

I can’t live without Your love

I can’t find my way back home

The puffy-white little creature will unconsciously nibble-nibble-nibble, head-down, nose buried in green grass, oblivious to its surroundings — till it finally looks up to find itself all alone. No brother and sister sheep. No shepherd. Perhaps at the edge of a cliff. Lost.

Help.

should I wander far away

You carry me back to the fold

Just when all seems lost and ‘lil-white has tired itself completely, mewling and crying in despair, who should suddenly appear, staff in hand and concern is his heart, but the shepherd — who not only rescues the bundle, but lovingly picks it up and carries it back to its furry family.

sing to me and I will follow

the only Voice I know

safe inside the Shepherd’s care

‘cause you know the way back home

When shadows fall and twilight is stealing the daylight — which is often the exact time the sheep are led home — the shepherd does something else quite striking and sweet: he sings to the sheep — because he knows they will hear his voice, recognize it, and follow it. Even when they cannot see where they’re going.

thru Your gate I come and go

‘cause Your pasture is all I need

when there was no one to save me

You laid down Your life for me

Life is pretty good for the sheep, so they have a tendency to go where the shepherd takes them — and why not? They find abundant lush green pasture going in and out his gate. And they trust him with their very lives, so many times has he put himself between them and the snarling, snapping jaws of the deadly wolf come to kill them.

and comes the time to move along

You gather me to Your side

leading me so carefully

You’re changing me all of the time

The shepherd knows instinctively when it’s time to make a change and move on to greener pasture, and he does so in his signature way — lovingly.

I repeat the words of Jesus:

“I am the Good Shepherd. My sheep hear my voice and follow me.

I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters through me will be saved — they will come in and go out, and find pasture. When The hired hand sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away, the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”.

Don’t listen to the wrong voices. Don’t let the hired hand lead you erroneously. Don’t let the wolves devour you.

Follow the Voice of the One who made you, loves you, and layed down His life for you.

The Good Shepherd.






(lyrics from “Good Shepherd” by Bob Farrell, circa. 1976)

photo credit: http://www.pinterest.com/source/miamou.tumblr.com/