This weekend, we are focussing on Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The Reverend Derrick Tickner from Shepshed has shared his thoughts on Jesus, The Good Shepherd.
Is Jesus really your shepherd?
Reading: John 10 v. 1-18 + Psalm 23
Today’s reading from John’s gospel is one of the best loved passages in the New Testament, and links us with that precious 23rd Psalm – ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’.
There is a vast difference between Eastern and Western shepherding technique – the Eastern shepherd LEADS his sheep; the Western shepherd DRIVES his, often with the help of his dog. I know which kind of shepherd I would much prefer to be cared by! ‘Led’ or ‘Driven’: which would you choose?
Directly you start to read John 10, you are struck with the amazing care, love and empathy between the Eastern shepherd and his sheep. During the cold nights He is even prepared to lie across the access to the sheepfold. No wonder Jesus said ‘I am the gate for the sheep’ (John 10 v.7).
Verse 4 shares one of the most precious yet challenging truths of this passage: ‘He goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him, because they know his VOICE’. This is the great dividing line of Scripture: we either KNOW the divine voice of the shepherd OR the influences of this world have dulled our ears – other voices have deadened our hearts! Other voices have claimed our attention and, sadly, we no longer recognise the truth of the Scripture which says: ‘I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’. (John 14 v.6)
Allow me to share a story from a tiny Welsh village in the midst of sheep country. It was the heart of winter and snow was expected, and true to form, it arrived late one evening – a real blizzard! The entire farmhouse family were called to go out and bring the sheep back to the safety of the barns. They worked through the night and by dawn all were safely back home, but they suddenly realised that 11-year old Billy was nowhere to be found.
An urgent search was organised and, eventually, he was found, cuddled up to a sheep in a deep snowdrift; but, sadly, no longer alive. Amidst great sorrow, the news soon spread through the little community. But there was also real puzzlement. Why was Billy clutching the fourth finger of his left hand in the tight grip of his right hand?
It wasn’t until the news reached the end of the village community that the puzzle was solved, by an elderly lady who, with tears in her eyes said, ‘I can tell you why. Billy was part of my Sunday school class and I taught them the 23rd Psalm. In trying to make it personal to each one of them I said, ‘If you get into any kind of trouble, remember to hold the fourth finger of you left hand and say, ‘The Lord is My Shepherd…’’
May I ask: how personally do we know the great Shepherd of our souls?
You can also listen to Stuart Townend’s modern version of ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd’: