By Rebecca Thackeray
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."
John 10:11-14 NIV
Good. A word that is common within our daily vocabulary, often describing an event, morning greeting or a person’s behaviour. Rarely do you hear one comment on the goodness of things like stress, crime, or the weather for example. But what is good? Yes, a one-syllable word that can be used as a quick response that doesn’t require much effort or thought, but here, the word ‘good’ is very intentional.
We’re told, if we’ve grown up in church, that “God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good”. God is good because that is who He is. We’re reminded of his goodness in the songs we sing, in His daily mercies he blesses us with, and in His word. The writer of the Psalm states ‘for the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever’ (Psalm 100:5). And God has the authority to create things and ordain it as good (Genesis 1:10, 31). The word ‘good’ isn’t just describing something subpar or adequate, but total and utter perfection.
Here, the passage of scripture refers to Jesus as being the ‘Good Shepherd’. The shepherd is compared to the hired hand, the sub, who is being paid to do the job of tending the sheep. The sub lacks responsibility. When under any threat, he would flee to save himself, leaving the others behind to fend for themselves in their vulnerable state. The hired hand clearly demonstrates where his priorities lie.
Have you ever found yourself being responsible for something that isn’t yours, it can normally go one of two ways – either you take the utmost care for it because you know the value of it to the person you are doing it for, or you keep it and do the bare minimum. But what happens when there’s a potential threat or danger, that requires a quick decision regarding it? Currently, I’m looking after a piano, it has extreme sentimental value to the owner, so I intentionally make sure that it is well kept. But if there were a fire in the house, that would not be the first item I would think to take with me.
With Jesus, He states that as the Good Shepherd, He lays down His life for His sheep. They are His sheep, they belong to Him, and He belongs to them, a relationship that is integral to Christ’s character.
Jesus demonstrates laying down His life for the sheep, paying the ultimate price of death – even death on the cross – so that we could be safe, forever in eternity, to worship the only one who is perfect and ultimately good in every way.
Ask: In what way is Jesus a good shepherd?
Seek: As a response to the shepherd’s selfless act of love, what will you lay down at the feet of your saviour today?
Knock: Thank you, God, that we can see your goodness, and can trust that you will never leave us nor forsake us. Guide us and teach us your ways, allowing us to be transformed more and more each day like your son Jesus. Amen.
(Upper Photo by peyman toodari on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Biegun Wschodni on Unsplash)
