The Good Shepherd: Who is the good Shepherd?
Intro: Who is the good Shepherd? When you think about a shepherd, what immediate thoughts come to mind? Maybe my idea thoughts are identical to yours. I think of a middle eastern man dressed in a robe with a staff, and the sheep follow him. I did some research and learned that the success of a shepherd or shepherdess is in the compassion they have for each individual. This means being able to identify a sick or injured sheep or lamb within a flock of HUNDREDS or THOUSANDS of sheep. That is mind-blowing! We see in the Bible God is described as a good shepherd; why is that? In your own time, go read John 10:1-18, Psalms 23, Luke 15:4-7, Micah 2:12, and Isaiah 40:10-11. What's more extraordinary about Jesus' parable in John 10 is he calls himself the good shepherd, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down for his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). The most important feature of Jesus' role is that he lays down his life for the sheep. He intends