Shepherd

The description of Jesus as a shepherd is one of the well-known titles of Jesus. Most people have heard of the opening lines of Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is my shepherd,’ and they think of Jesus when they hear it. Many hymns have been written about this title and millions of sermons preached about this role of the Saviour.

As an omniscient shepherd, Jesus knows his sheep. He knows them all by name and he knows where each one of them was when he went to find them because each of them was a lost sheep, lost because of their sins. But his eye was on them as the Good Shepherd. 

As a wealthy shepherd, Jesus purchased his sheep. This he did when he went to the cross and paid the penalty for their sins. The penalty was very demanding because divine justice had been breached. Nevertheless, he paid the price in full and purchased them. 

As a determined shepherd, Jesus went looking for his sheep. This he usually does through the gospel. He told parables about a shepherd searching intensely for a lost sheep and experiencing great joy after he had found it. In a far higher way, there is great joy in heaven whenever a lost sheep is found by Jesus.

As a dedicated shepherd, Jesus cares for his sheep. After he finds them, he looks after them, providing for their spiritual needs and protecting them from spiritual enemies (described in the Bible as the world, the flesh and the devil). He meets their spiritual needs by fulfilling his many promises in the Bible.

As a satisfied shepherd, Jesus counts his sheep into the fold of glory. It was the custom each evening for a shepherd to count his sheep as they entered into the fold he had prepared for them. In a far higher sense, Jesus does this for his flock as one by one they enter heaven.