In language that recalls the twenty- third Psalm, Jesus describes himself as the shepherd who cares for his sheep. He is willing to die for them, and is able to overcome death for them. ( John 10:11).
One of the most familiar pictures the bible uses to teach us about our relationship to God is that of a shepherd and his sheep.
It has it's roots in the Old Testament, in the most popular psalm, Psalm 23, where the author declares, " The Lord is my shepherd." He describes his lord as a good shepherd who takes care of his faithful believers who are his sheep. Jesus uses this same picture in the gospel for the fourth Sunday of Easter when he says,: " I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." his listeners knew that a real shepherd is concerned first and foremost with the welfare of his flock. He would provide it the necessities of life such as food and drink. when a wild animal would attack, he would risk his life for the sheep. He would put his own life in Jeopardy to protect his flock.
But Jesus is doing more than telling pretty stories about heroic shepherds who rescues loveable little lambs from the mouths of hungry lions. He is claiming his own. he is saying, " I am the Lord to whom the psalmist looked in all his needs." I am the one who goes with you through the "valley of the shadow of death". I prepare a banquet table before you in the presence of your enemies. I fill your life with goodness and mercy and lead you to dwell in my house forever.
He calls himself the good shepherd, with emphasis, as the only one that may bear this name with full justice. In this sense the name is applicable to Christ alone; He is the one most excellent shepherd of the spiritual sheep. The first feature which distinguishes him as the true shepherd of souls is this, that he gives his life, his own soul as a ransom, as the one complete sacrifice, for the guilt of all sinners, who have earned eternal damnation.
He became our substitute; He took upon himself our transgressions and died in our stead. thus the guilty, the sinners, are delivered from sin and destruction. He places himself in deliberate contrast to the hirelings, the false teachers, the Pharisees. the sole concern of these is the money and the desire to take everything they can using the name of God, and to give back little and have no interest in the souls of men entrusted to their care. They are strictly mercenary and will serve Christ in truth only so long as their lives and well being seem to be safe. At the first sign of the wolf, at the first indication of real danger, of probable persecution, suffering, and even martyrdom, they turn in flight.Whoever serves Christ let them love the work with all their heart, that they should seek only God's honor and the welfare of their neighbor.
The second feature that distinguishes Jesus as the good shepherd, in contrast to all others, is the fact of the intimate acquaintance and knowledge between Christ and his sheep. (us).
Just as Jesus knows them that are his, according to body, mind, and heart, so the believers know Jesus, rests in Jesus. intimacy and communion is as close and embracing which exists between father and Son. Thus it is between Christ and the believers. We confess with Peter, " There is salvation in no one else (Acts 4:12). It is not by accident that the Lord compares us to sheep.. "I am the good shepherd and know my own sheep.
There is a story about a boy who lived on a farm in Minnesota, whose father raised some sheep as hobby. his little flock grew to about thirty in number when it was attacked by a pack of roving dogs.
instead of staying together or fleeing to the shelter of the barn yard, they would panic and scatter in every direction. The swift footed dog's could out run them and destroyed them one by one. This also happened to the disciples when Jesus was crucified. Jesus knows our weakness, and how we love to wander and stray, but Jesus always call us back to the Church. He wants us to be one flock gathered around him. He wants us to be "Lord of our life," but what happens? We have our own wills, and do what we want without regard for the Lord's will or the consequences. You can always expose the hired man, but Jesus calls our attention to himself as the good shepherd and follow his example.
A wonderful example of this is told in the story of a Priest, Father Kolbe.
By the end of July 1941, Auschwitz was working like a well organized killing machine, and the Nazis congratulated themselves on their efficiency. On this night, a prisoner from the work side of the camp who would figure out a way to escape. When these escapees were caught, as they usually were, they would hung be with special nooses, that choked out their miserable lives very slowly- a grave warning to others who might be tempted to try One night the air was filled with baying dogs, curses of soldiers and the roar of motorcycles, for a prisoner had escaped from barracks. 14. Soon there ten-men listed on the death-roll. The chosen groaned, sweating with fear, " my poor wife!" My poor children! What will the do." Suddenly there was a commotion in the ranks, a prisoner had broken out of line, calling for the commandant... The prisoners gasped. It was their beloved Father Kolbe, the priest who shared his last crust, who comforted the dying, who heard their confessions and nourished their souls. this frail priest spoke softly, even calmly, to the Nazi butcher.
"I would like to die in place of one of the men you condemned..."
" Why snapped the commandant?" " I am a old man, sir, and good for nothing. My life will serve no purpose. His ploy triggered the response Kolbe wanted. " In whose place do you want to die?" asked Fritsch.
" For that one," Kolbe responded, pointing to the weeping prisoner who had bemoan his wife and children.
Kolbe's place on the death ledger was set... Kolbe wasn't looking for gratitude. If he was to lay down for another, the fulfillment had to be an act of obedience itself. For this time the prisoners had a shepherd to lead them through the valley of the shadow of death., pointing them to the "Great Shepherd." Perhaps for that reason Father Kolbe was the last to die....
For those with eyes to see, it points to the man who laid down his life for his friends, on the cross. To the only "King" who died for his subjects. The parable of the good shepherd describes Jesus role perfectly. Unlike a hired worker, Jesus through love and affection, offered to lay down his life for his flock. I' sure the "Spirit put this on Father' Kolbe's heart when that man cried out " My poor wife!"
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