The Good Shepherd & His Sheep

Written By Mary Naber, Loving the Wise Executive Director

In a 21^st culture that debates the nature of God—non-existent, “schemer” in Islam, pluralist, etc.—Loving the Wise (LTW) delights in the frequency by which our Lord refers to Himself as our loving Shepherd, who tenderly cares for us as His sheep.

God’s self-reference as our Shepherd is like “His Signature” uniting multiple books and writers (Kings & Prophets & Fishermen) across centuries in the Old & New Testaments.

“The Lord is my Shepherd…” (King David, Psalm 23:1)

“The words of the wise are… like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.” (King Solomon, Ecclesiastes 12:11) 

“He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His Heart.” (Prophet, Isaiah 40:11) 

“He who scattered Israel will gather them and watch over his flock like a shepherd.” (Prophet, Jeremiah 31:11) 

“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord.” (Prophet, Micah 5:2,4)

“The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock.” (Prophet, Zechariah 9:17)

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd.” (Fisherman & Beloved Disciple John, Revelation 7:17)

At Loving the Wise, your charitable gifts help us to provide large print “The Gospel of John” Booklets to our orphaned widows at local senior homes. These Gospels provide scripture for LTW volunteers to read to residents AND a conversation guide for inviting these seniors to receive Jesus into their hearts. 

The cover features artwork of Jesus carrying a sheep close to His Heart, and inside Jesus’ identifying Himself as “I am the good shepherd,” with His promise, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

Not long thereafter however, Jesus clarifies that not all of God’s beloved creation will be embraced by Him as treasured and tenderly protected sheep.

“You do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:26-27)

Jesus words are a stark reminder of His warning in Matthew 25:31-46, that Jesus will ultimately divide His people—sheep to the right, goats to the left.

To be considered one of Jesus’ sheep, in this parable Jesus says we come to be known by Him by visiting Him in the sick and imprisoned. This scripture was my motivating verse to devote myself to follow Him to some of the most marginalized in society, specifically in regular visits to orphaned widows in senior homes. (Link to “Follow Me” article.)

In Jesus’ final parting words in this last Gospel of John, Jesus tells Peter 3x that the way we can evidence and express our love for Jesus is to: “Feed my lambs… Take care of my sheep.” (John 21:15,16) Jesus doesn’t say, read the Scriptures, pray 5x a day, or tithe to prove our love. 

He calls us 3x to tend for his sheep. Jesus invites us to the redemptive work of allowing Him to work through us as a shepherd to physically, emotionally, and spiritually feed and take care of Jesus’ weak and sick sheep. 

But for those who fail at His commission, Prophet Ezekial 34 clearly foreshadows in the Old Testament what awaits, in stunning alignment with Jesus’ warning in Matthew 25.

“Woe to you shepherds of Israel, who only take care of yourselves! … 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… Because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than my flock… I will remove them from tending the flock… 

I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice… As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats…                          

I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.”  (Ezekial 34: 2-23)                                   

In summary, our Lord demonstrates His loving nature throughout scripture, as a Shepherd who tenderly cares for His sheep. Our God loves the lost and strays and injured and weak so much that He sends those of us who call Him Lord (Christians) to follow His actions to shepherd, tend and care for them.

Will we heed the call? Or will we as Christians only take care of ourselves? 

Please partner with Loving the Wise—as a volunteer or donor or prayer partner—to shepherd, tend and care for Jesus’ sheep as a personal expression of love for Jesus. May we hear His voice, know and by known by Him, and follow His leading as the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.