The Good Shepherd

ON 10:1-18{ON 10:25-30{How sweet and precious to the heart, and profitable to the soul, of the believer, to search out and meditate upon any of the characters in which the Lord Jesus comes before us, as recorded by the Holy Spirit, in the word of God. Perhaps there is none more so than that of "The Shepherd."

First, let us see what the significance of that title is, apart from any qualifying word as "good," "great," "chief," which we find used in connection with shepherd, and applied to our Lord, and which we will consider farther on; for in ver. 10, He speaks of Himself as "The Shepherd of the sheep." In Gen. 46:34³⁴That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. (Genesis 46:34), we read: "Every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians." Does this not furnish us with the clue? Egypt is the type of the world in its natural state, from which the people of God are delivered. A shepherd then is a position despised by the world. Is not that a suitable description of the place that the blessed Lord Jesus took on coming into this world? " He is despised and rejected of men.... we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not "(Isa. 53:3³He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3). See also Isa. 49:7⁷Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. (Isaiah 49:7); Psa. 22:6; 69:7, 12⁶But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. (Psalm 22:6)
⁷Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. (Psalm 69:7)
¹²They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. (Psalm 69:12); Matt. 2:23²³And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:23); Phil. 2:7, 8⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:7‑8), etc.). How all the incidents connected with His birth into this world were in keeping with this. Born in a manger because there was no room for Him in the great Inn of this world Was it not also in perfect harmony with this, that, when heaven would announce His birth, those who were selected to hear the "good tidings of great joy" were, not the great people of the world in that day, but "shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night"? The despised ones of the world, in the simple discharge of their duties. No soul taught of God, but will exclaim, "How suitable! " It is worthy of notice that the Lord Jesus does not speak of Himself as shepherd till he was cast out by thy religious world as we see in John 8:59⁵⁹Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:59).

If we desire to understand the Lord's teaching on the subject before us, and in any measure to appreciate the beauty of what He brings out, we must divest ourselves of our western notions of a shepherd's life and of everything not in accordance with the Scriptures and the habits of those eastern countries where the events recorded took place.

A sheepfold was a roofless enclosure with a high wall into which the shepherd took the sheep at night to protect them from the attacks of robbers and wild beasts. Judaism was, in one of its aspects, a fold, being an earthly system of religion adapted to man in the flesh. The door is the appointed means of entrance to a place. So Jesus entered the Jewish fold by the appointed way. All that Scripture had foretold of the Messiah, He fulfilled. He entered by the door. Now they did not, as is customary in these parts, drive the sheep nor use dogs. Gen. 31:38-40³⁸This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. ³⁹That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. ⁴⁰Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. (Genesis 31:38‑40) and Luke 2:8⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:8), give us some idea of a shepherd's life; showing us that they were with their flocks night and day. What an exquisite picture we have in Isa. 40:11¹¹He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11) of a shepherd's care. Every little lamb that was born had a name given to it, and when the shepherd wanted any one he simply called it by its name, and it came to him. What vividness and force all this gives to our Lord's words in these verses in John 10 How the shepherd being night and day with the sheep, etc., brings before us the unremitting care of Him who, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end, knowing each one from its birth, calling it by its name (read Rev. 2:17¹⁷He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17)), tending, feeding, yea, all that such a Shepherd can and does do for His sheep. Oh! dear reader, how far are your heart and mine enjoying this, and giving Him credit for it all; and in the confidence which all His love and care should give, and which delights His heart," casting all our care upon Him for He careth for us" ( 1 Pet. 5:7⁷Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)). How many thoughts suggest themselves to the soul as one ponders over such a subject, and how we realize in some measure the truth of those words, “My meditation of Him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord" (Psa. 104:34³⁴My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. (Psalm 104:34)).

I pass on, however, to the first of the three qualifying words which are used in Scripture in connection with the title "Shepherd," as applied to the Lord, viz; "Good." Not a heart that knows His love but echoes, Amen; and when we find it. is used in connection with the cross and giving His life for the sheep (vs. 11, 14, 15), the soul is prostrate before Him in adoration and worship.

"Our sins were laid on His sacred head,
The curse by our Lord was borne;
For us a victim our Savior bled,
And endured the death of scorn;
HIMSELF He gave our poor hearts to win
(Was ever love, Lord, like Thine?)
From the paths of folly, and shame, and sin,
And fill them with joys divine."

In Heb. 13:20,21²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20‑21), we find the Lord Jesus, when "brought again from the dead" (resurrection power), spoken of as the " Great Shepherd of the sheep." There seems to be an allusion to Ezek. 37:24²⁴And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. (Ezekiel 37:24). In both passages, it seems to me, the connection is with leading into the path of obedience those once characterized by self-will, see Isa. 53:6⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6).

Lastly, when ascended to the glory, He is spoken of as the "Chief Shepherd" (1 Pet. 5:4⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4)). From that position, He not only watches over His own night and day, but also appoints under shepherds, as we see in Eph. 4:8-11⁸Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ⁹(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Ephesians 4:8‑11), where the word translated" pastors" is that usually rendered " shepherd." In 1 Peter 5:1-4¹The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: ²Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ³Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. ⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:1‑4), Peter (or rather the Holy Spirit by him) gives both instruction and warning to those whom the Chief Shepherd has called to act as under-shepherds. In ver. 2, he says to them, " Feed (or rather " shepherd" or "tend," for a shepherd has other things to do as well as feed) the flock of God." In these words we are reminded that there is only one flock (see John 10:16¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16), and footnote on preceding page) and that the flock is God's and not man's. He goes on, "taking the oversight, not by constraint, but willingly." Constraint from man is not allowed, and yet there is a constraint that is according to the mind of God. Read 2 Cor. 5:14, 15¹⁴For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: ¹⁵And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑15), and John 21:15-17¹⁵So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. ¹⁶He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15‑17). A similar line of thought is in both passages. In the former, "The love of Christ constraineth us." In the latter, when Peter, in answer to the Lord's question, " Lovest thou Me, etc." says, "Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee," he is enjoined by the Lord, "Feed my lambs" (ver. 15), "Shepherd My sheep" (ver. 16), "Feed. My sheep" (ver. 17). When the sense of the Lord's love is in power in the heart, it makes that one "willing." Peter then goes on to say, " not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind." How this recalls what the Lord said in John 10:12,13¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. ¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (John 10:12‑13), where He speaks of one that looks after the sheep for stipulated wages (" the hireling").

In ver. 3, Peter continues: " Neither as lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." Now this takes us back to a scene where Peter was present, recorded Mark 10:34-45³⁴And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. ³⁵And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. ³⁶And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? ³⁷They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. ³⁸But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? ³⁹And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: ⁴⁰But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. ⁴¹And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. ⁴²But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. ⁴³But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: ⁴⁴And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. ⁴⁵For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:34‑45). The sons of Zebedee had sought the best places in the kingdom for themselves, and the ten were displeased at them. The Lord uses the occasion to warn them against the spirit that obtains in the world; "Ye knew that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them....but so shall it not be among you.... and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." He then brings Himself, and His own path before them, as the great "Ensample of the flock," " For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."

What a contrast the " Good Shepherd" presents to the other, that "will come in his own name" (John 5:43⁴³I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43)), the antichrist spoken of in Zech. 11:17¹⁷Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (Zechariah 11:17) as the "idol (worthless) shepherd"! And through what is said of him in the previous verse (16) we get by contrast valuable instruction as to the proper duties of a true shepherd. I append a literal translation of the verse, as it brings out the meaning with greater distinctness

"For lo, I am raising up a shepherd in the land,
The cut-off he doth not inspect,—
The wanderer (or 'strayed one') he doth not seek,
And the broken he doth not heal,
The standing he doth not sustain (or 'complete '),
And the flesh of the fat he doth eat,
And their hoofs he doth break off."

Fellow believer, let us ponder over all this and take it to heart, and seek grace from the Lord to be faithful amid the surrounding unfaithfulness. Let us also keep before us what Peter says in ver. 4 to encourage faithfulness to such a Master; "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive the (not "a" but "the ") crown of glory that fadeth not away."

"Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."