“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:27-28
There are many colorful stories in Scripture that are seen in our day as quaint but outdated, the true meaning of which escapes people steeped in technology, travel, and an urban mindset. Bible stories are rooted in an agrarian culture that is foreign to many. A deeper dive into the original context can be enlightening and speak to our oh-so-civilized society about truths we might otherwise miss or misinterpret.
As we face the trials of modern life, be it a pandemic, natural disasters, or economic upheaval, it’s helpful to consider: What was Jesus really trying to tell us in all those sheep stories? And in the midst of chaos, where is our shepherd today? How do we find him?
Sheep are not known for intelligence. But there is growing evidence that this is incorrect, based solely on their herd instincts—which they need for protection against predators. One study in the journal, Nature, has found that sheep can remember up to fifty faces of other sheep for at least two years. And they can recognize a human face in a crowd. They are able “to navigate challenges in the same way as humans and primates.” Sick sheep will seek out plants that make them feel better and nutrients lacking in their diet. Who knew?
Jesus knew when he used sheep as examples of humans. We do tend to follow a herd mentality but are able to recognize the right leader when he comes along. And the one who can protect us. This truth supersedes culture, race, and nation of origin.
In Biblical times, an individual shepherd would have charge of 100 sheep. For protection at night, up to ten shepherds and 1,000 sheep would share the same sheepfold. A thigh-high stone wall had one opening, which the shepherds took turns guarding so everyone got some rest. He would lie across the entrance, a human gate of protection.
The next morning, shepherds would call out their own sheep. Only the one hundred that recognized his voice would come. Sheep learned, from hours of hearing their own shepherd’s voice as he worked with them, to follow only him.
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them and they follow Him because they recognize His voice. They will not follow a stranger; they will run from him because they do not recognize his voice. – John 10:3-5
What does this mean to us today? Quite a lot. Sheep only knew their shepherd because they spent time with him. They learned the sound of his voice. When danger threatened, they understood that this one person would protect them. And they acted on that knowledge by following him.
The shepherd protected the sheep with his own life. Predators, like lions and bears, could take a human life as easily as killing a sheep. He worked daily to know each animal in his charge, teaching them to trust him and him alone.
The analogy to us as sheep and Jesus as shepherd is apt. Jesus has done his part. But are we doing ours? Do we spend time with him? Can we hear when he calls? Where do we turn first in times of danger—to Jesus or to social media? Who do we follow?
During the current pandemic, we are at home, following developments on the news. Some like one station, others prefer a different channel. There is nothing wrong with being informed. We are made in God’s image, with intellect and gifts to use. But it’s wrong to blindly trust and follow any newscaster, politician, or ideology. We are made to be sheep. And to follow our shepherd. Therein lies truth, protection, peace.
Jesus sacrificed himself ages ago so that our sins are forgiven. He is alive today, still lying down in the gap to keep us from harm. We can only hear him if we recognize his voice. And we can only recognize his voice if we get to know him intimately. Once we do, no predator can snatch us from his hand. And we will be with Him for eternity.
Today, sheep farms use helicopters, dogs, and electric fences to herd. So the sheep do not know their shepherd. It makes sense from an economic standpoint. Progress happens. But there is an ever-growing need for a strong, individual shepherd to take charge and to be recognized.
As friends around the world come together in this season of social distancing to pray, worship, and support one another through online venues, we can be thankful. We have a herd—believers in one God. And we have a shepherd—Jesus Christ.
Be the sheep: smart, obedient, seeking. And let the Good Shepherd lead. We don’t have to look far to find him. He is always with us.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15
