The Shepherd’s Sacrifice

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

 David was one of the most famous shepherds in the Bible. The day that David was chosen to be king, he was in the pasture tending the sheep. Many years later David thought back to his shepherding days. When he wrote his psalms he sometimes mentioned shepherds and sheep. David knew that a shepherd’s life was not easy. He stayed awake at night protecting his sheep. He was always certain there was enough food and water for the animals, and he often spent days sitting in the rain and cold caring for his flock. Sometimes David’s job became dangerous. In 1 Samuel 17:34-36 David remembers those days: “Your servant [David] has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant killed both the lion and the bear.” Being a shepherd sometimes meant fighting for the sheep. David protected the sheep he loved, even if it put his own life in danger.

What about the Good Shepherd? How far does Jesus go to protect his flock? Would he be willing to give his life protecting the sheep? John 10:11 says: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus did give his life for the sheep! Jesus gave his life for each of us when he suffered and died on the cross. On Calvary he gave his life protecting us. Our Shepherd rescued us from eternal damnation.

How can we thank Jesus for being the ultimate Good Shepherd? How can we thank him for the enormous sacrifice he made for us, his straying lambs and sheep? Not only does Jesus lead us and feed us, not only does he carry us in his arms and protect us, not only does he walk with us through the valley of death and put our wandering feet on solid ground, but he was also willing to die for us. Truly that love is so big that we cannot even imagine it. Let’s thank Jesus today for his sacrifice. Then let’s live our lives like thankful sheep in the Lord’s fold.

 Loving Shepherd, You did give

Your own life that we might live,

And the hands outstretched to bless,

Bear the cruel nails’ impress.

Where You lead, I will go,

Walking in Your steps below,

Till before my God I’ll stand,

In the pleasant Fatherland. Amen.

(This devotion is from the book “Living for Jesus” by Reynold R. Kremer)