Sheep by Adam Edelstein

Sheep by Adam Edelstein

January 28, 2010

Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd.

The Shepherd who knows his sheep by name and lays down his life for them. The Shepherd who protects, provides, and possesses his sheep.

The Bible is replete with this picture of God.“The Lord is my shepherd” (Ps. 23:1).“We are your people, the sheep of your flock” (Ps. 79:1...3).“Shepherd of Israel, listen to us. You lead the people of Joseph like a flock” (Ps. 80:1).“He is our God and we are the people he takes care of and the sheep that he tends” (Ps. 95:7).“He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends” (Ps. 100:3).

The imagery is carried over to the New Testament.He is the shepherd who will risk his life to save the one straying sheep (see Luke 15:4).He has pity on people because they are like sheep without a shepherd (see Matt. 9:36).His disciples are his flock (see Luke 12:32.)

When the shepherd is attacked, the sheep are scattered (see Matt. 26:31).He is the shepherd of the souls of men (see 1 Peter 2:25).He is the great shepherd of the sheep (see Heb. 13:20).