The Good Shepherd

Jesus came to earth to be the Good Shepherd, to lead His sheep into the right path. The Israelites were God’s chosen people, the “sheep of his pasture” but they had sinned so terribly that God had permitted them to be scattered into all the world. Many of the kings and priests, their shepherds in early days, had been wicked men and had led the Israelites away or astray. Now Jesus had come to gather the wretched wanderers into a safe fold again. It was said of Jesus when He was preaching to a great multitude at one time: “He was moved with compassion for them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36)

However, there were not many of those “sheep” who wanted to be saved. “Jesus came to His own, but His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become the sons of God.” (John 1:12). Those who received him were just a little flock, but how they loved the Lord! They followed Him wherever He went. Once when the crowds had forsaken Jesus, He asked his faithful few if they would go also? Peter answered, “To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68).

When the Jews refused to listen to Jesus, He turned to the Gentiles. He told the people, “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.” The Jews and Gentiles alike must come through Jesus as the Chief Shepherd. So let us follow the Good Shepherd with the assurance that we will not drift towards the outer edge of the flock.

Bro Gift Lungu (Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe)