Everything I Need

Jesus, Our Good Shepherd

Today's lesson is about shepherds and their sheep. Why? Because the Bible tells us that Jesus is our good shepherd and we are his sheep. Many of us know this already.

For most of us, these are the mental pictures we have: a shepherd out in the fields with his sheep, or a sheep safe in the shepherd's arms. The sun is shining, it's peaceful, and the lambs are so cute we want to say, "It's so fluffy."

The picture seems so perfect that it looks like the shepherd just has a picnic with his sheep every day. So when we hear, "The Lord is my shepherd," we go, "Cool," and don't think much about it.

But for the people who lived during Bible times, "The Lord is my shepherd" meant something much, much more.

What Shepherds Really Did

Unlike us who live in cities, the people of that time were used to having sheep around. They understood that sheep were not good at taking care of themselves at all. And they knew what hard and dangerous work it was to be a shepherd.

The first thing we need to know is that sheep are not very smart. Left alone, they wander off and often get themselves into trouble:

• They fall into ditches they can't get out of.
• They get stuck in bushes.
• They lose their way and can't get home.

Sheep constantly need to be rescued. In ancient Israel, a shepherd stayed with his sheep all the time — day and night, in all kinds of weather, and through every season.

For the shepherd, his job meant putting his sheep and their needs first: leading his flock to food and water, and protecting them from attacks, even if it meant putting his own life in danger.

And just like that, we see what David meant when he wrote Psalm 23. Being a shepherd was not about doing a job. Being a shepherd was about loving the sheep — watching over them, protecting them, and making sure they had everything they needed.

He Cares About the Small Things

The ancient Israelite shepherds didn't just look after the big things their sheep needed. They also cared about the small things that bothered their sheep — like the flies that buzzed around their heads and faces all the time.

To protect his sheep, the shepherd put oil on their heads, especially around their ears, eyes, and noses. This kept the flies away and stopped them from laying their eggs on the sheep's faces.

He Knows You by Name

The Bible tells us that a good shepherd is able to recognize his sheep and call them by name. Imagine trying to recognize 100 white, woolly sheep by name! The only way to do this was to really get to know each sheep individually and know what they were like.

This is a beautiful picture of Jesus, our shepherd. When he looks at us, he doesn't just see a bunch of sheep. He sees us individually and knows us by name.

"I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me." — John 10:14

He knows you and he knows me. He knows what makes us happy, sad, scared, and mad. He knows and cares about everything that concerns us.

More Than a Shepherd — A Good Shepherd

David wrote, "The Lord is my shepherd," and that's good enough for us to clap our hands with joy. But let's see how much Jesus loves us. He wants us to know that he is more than just our shepherd — he is our good shepherd.

The more we see him as our good shepherd, the more we can rest. When challenges come, we don't have to go, "Oh no! Oh dear! What are we going to do?" Why? Because we know what to do. We are not alone. Jesus is our good shepherd, and we can run to him for everything we need.

How This Looks for Us Today

The Lord is our shepherd, and we are his sheep. Shepherds do more than just hang out with their sheep. Shepherds watch over their sheep diligently day and night — rescuing them from trouble, protecting them from danger, leading them to safety, and giving them everything they need.

Remember the lambs trying to prepare for winter all by themselves? Even as they realized they didn't know what to do, their shepherd was already on his way to get them and lead them to the barn, where they would be sheltered, warm, and provided for.

Be a Lamb, Not a Hero

This week, if you find yourself feeling sad, scared, or bad about something that bothers you, don't try to be a hero, depending on yourself. Be a lamb instead, and depend on your shepherd.

Call for your shepherd. Say, "Jesus, help," and then tell him what the problem is. Tell him even though you know it's your fault, because he already knows everything about you — and he still loves, loves, loves you so much.

As you talk to your shepherd, listen. He will show you what to do. We are his sheep, and we know his voice. His voice is never the one that makes you more worried or afraid. His voice is always the one that settles your heart and makes you go, "Ahhh."

Live in Psalm 23

This week, spend time in Psalm 23. Read it again and again. Speak it over yourself until you are so sure and confident of his love and care for you.

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. — Psalm 23

Receiving Jesus

If you're joining us today and you have not asked Jesus to come into your life to be your Lord and Savior, I want to give you a chance to do so now. Receiving Jesus is easy. All you need to do is pray this prayer with me and mean it from your heart:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me. I believe you are the Son of God who died, was buried, and rose again. Your precious blood washes away all my sins, making me forever right with Daddy God. I ask you now to come into my life to be my Lord and Savior. I'm forever righteous, forever blessed, forever a child of God. In Jesus' name — Amen.