“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want . . .” (Psalm 23:1)
So Jesus said again to them, “Truly, I say to you . . . I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
This coming Sunday is one of my favorite Sundays in the church year. The readings make references to shepherds, to Jesus as the good shepherd, the Psalm is the 23rd, which many of us know (or almost know) by heart, and the hymns often refer to Jesus leading us as a shepherd leads and cares for his flock.
Since I know next to nothing about sheep, and have never even met a shepherd, I suppose that sounds a little strange, but the imagery of one such as a shepherd who makes sure you are in a safe place, that you have adequate food and water, protects you from danger and comes looking for you if you wander off is exceptionally comforting and reassuring.
In trying to be creative and using the reference in the back of my Bible, I found shepherds referred to 21 times, and sheep 25 times. That seems like a lot of times for these animals and people to be mentioned so specifically. But we can learn from this how central sheep were to the economy and livelihood of this part of the world. The words of Psalm 23, and Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John were meant to communicate in a way the listeners could relate to and understand. As city (or town) people in the 21st century, we have to stretch our imaginations and gain a sense of the rugged, hard lives of the shepherds, fishermen, and farmers of Jesus’ day and earlier. Being a shepherd was a serious responsibility, and likening God to a shepherd told the listeners that they were cared for, protected, and never alone.
The people who heard the psalm of David and who heard the parables and teachings of Jesus were able to identify with the everyday images of sheep and shepherds. This is our opportunity to learn a little history, to step into the sandals of the people of over 2000 years ago and give some thought to what it means to call Jesus your shepherd.
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers