In our last visit we reflected on the titles claimed by Jesus found in John 10, “I am the gate,” and “I am the good shepherd.” This picture of Jesus is found throughout the Bible. Take Psalm 23 where He is called, Jehovah-Raah.
This name of God communicates many things involved in God’s dealings with man. He knows His flock, and His flock knows Him. His attachment to His flock is beyond their value - He is willing to lay down His life for His flock. He guides, protects, provides for, and punishes them - all according to their need. That’s why the Psalmist declares, “I shall not be in want.”
When Jesus Christ personally carried the load of our sins in his own body when he died on the cross, He did so as the Shepherd and Guardian, or Overseer, of our soul (1 Peter 2:24-25). He cares for us by doing all that’s necessary, not only to bring us, His straying sheep, back into His fold, but also to protect us.
Peter refers to Jesus Christ as our Chief Shepherd in 1 Peter 5:4. He stands peerless as the one who cares for His own. At times it might seem He is failing as our Shepherd, but we don’t need to have all our problems resolved now, because our Chief Shepherd will appear at the appointed time to set things straight.
According to Jude 24, He “is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,” Even if you’re one in a hundred who has gone astray and is lost, Luke says He will seek you out until He finds you and has you back, safe in the fold. He will never fail you.
