The Good Shepherd
‘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…’
John 10:11-12 (NIVUK)
Whenever I am walking my dog on the pavement or on the grass, I am taken aback by one thing: Darley (the dog) takes a look back at us frequently, to check if we’re still coming.
It reminds me of Jesus’ action in John 10:11 where He looks at the sheep and is prepared to die for them, such is His love for them. OK, so He doesn’t look back at them as Darley does,
but He knows his sheep and they know Him: ‘…I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.’ (vv.14-15).
And as every dog owner knows, they recognise their owner’s voice and respond to it happily, and we, God’s people (his sheep), will recognise the voice of the Shepherd (Jesus) and will follow Him: ‘When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.’ (v.4).
When my dog acts like this, in his dog’s world of love and devotion, it reminds me of the much bigger love of Jesus.
Prayer
O Sovereign Lord, we are grateful when even your animals remind us of Jesus’ love for the Father and His love and care for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Study by Chris Burmajster
About the writer:
Chris Burmajster attends the Reading congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Grace Communion Reading
Prospect School,
Room A1 (Main Building)
Honey End Lane
Reading
RG30 4EL
Meeting time:
Saturday 11am
Local congregational contact:
John Stettaford
Email: reading@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church