The Shepherd!

The Shepherd!

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. John 10:11 AMPC

Context and Charge:

Men had come in the past, and even today, men still lay claim to omnipotence. They claim to be the most important and eminent of all creation, arrrogating to themselves powers and identities that are solely the exclusive preserve of God Himself. These men gather to themselves others like themselves who are easily deceived, and together they perish when things go bad. Men have claimed to be the guardian and protector, but unless you can control eternity, these claims are false. Jesus makes this categorical statement in today's verse; it is not reported speech, but His own direct quote and as we know, His words are eternal in outlook and effective in impact. For those who have ever seen a shepherd at work, you know it's an important and critical job, because the lives of the sheep lie in the hands of the shepherd.

The shepherd takes care of the sheep. He must ensure their safety, comfort, feeding and wellbeing. He provides a shelter from the elements, as well as protection from wild animals that would seek to hurt the sheep. Until all the sheep are in, he cannot settle down to sleep. Long before he settles down to sleep, he makes sure that all the sheep are accounted for. He would confront anything and anyone that would seek to hurt the sheep. Even if another comes to assist him in taking care of the sheep, the shepherd does not delegate the responsibility of care to the assistant. That is why the story of David, the sheep, the lion and the bear in the old testament, as well as the story of the lost sheep in the new things are relatable,  because you can believe that God's care for his own is second to none, and He never can forget His own.

Conviction and Conclusion:

Ownership drives accountability and responsibility for the shepherd. He knows the sheep by name and knows the specific needs of each one. Each sheep has a separate and distinct fingerprint from another, the role of each sheep is different from the other and the journey each sheep will take to the discovery and fulfilment of the purpose of the shepherd is different, but at the end of it all, the shepherd ensures that all sheep get home safely. To make it even better, the shepherd has no problem laying down his life for the sheep, which is what Jesus did for all of us. He has secured this present life, as well as eternity, for me. What would I do for him in return? Would I live daily in appreciation of all that I have received from Jesus? The shepherd has done and will continue to do his bit; what would i do for him? God's time of favour is here.