Sheep in His Pasture

John 10:1-21

Reading the poetry of the Psalms paints beautiful pictures of God's care for us. In Psalms 100:3 we find, "Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture." With that I envision the sheep I saw in Ireland. Healthy, contented, in pastures full of green grass, protected by stone walls from predators, sheep farmers ready to care for thier needs. "The Lord is my Shepherd...", I am a sheep in His pasture.

God gave overseers to care for His sheep; priests, prophets, teachers to guide and care for thier spiritual growth. Moses and David are two such leaders that cared for God's people. As we continue to read the Old Testament we find that other leaders led the people astray. Instead of staying in God's pasture where He would feed them from His Word, they were led to follow false gods and religions. These leaders left God's sheep vulnerable to predators and the disease of sin.

God saw what was happening to His sheep. "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" He declared. (Jeremiah 23:1) "My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray..." (Jeremiah 50:6)

When Jesus came He looked out at a crowd of people - the sheep of God's pasture,and, "He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36)

"I am the good shepherd." Jesus proclaims. "The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

 The hireling left the sheep during danger, he did not care for the sheep, "you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally." (Ezekiel 34:4) 

Time and again we see Jesus as the Good Shepherd, searching for the lost, healing the sick...

"Hirelings" exist today. Those that would lead the sheep away from God's Word, then use them for thier own selfish purposes, " ...and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock..." (Ezekiel 34:9-10)

There is only One that can be called the Good Shepherd; Jesus, who laid down His life for us when He willingly went to the cross of Calvary and died for our sins. 

Jesus laid down His life in love for the sheep, and His sheep know Him...

Do you know the Good Shepherd?