The Good Shepherd

Scripture Reading — John 10:1-5,11-15

“He calls his own sheep by name and leads them. . . . I am the good shepherd. . . .”
— John 10:3,14

Our family lived for ten years in a border town of the Navajo Nation. We learned a little about herding sheep and tending cattle from our Navajo friends. We learned that different animals are led differently.

Cattle are driven. Dogs or horses are used to spook them from behind so that they trot where you want them to go. We saw something similar with goats when we visited Israel. The goat herder constantly threw small stones just beyond and to the side of the goats, in order to startle them and drive them in the direction he wanted them to go.

With sheep, it is often different. Sheep generally follow behind. Sheep learn the shepherd’s voice. And they follow the shepherd because they trust the shepherd.

Jesus says he is the good shepherd. He does not use fear or tricks to drive his sheep. “He calls his own sheep by name . . . and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

Do we know our Shepherd’s voice? How do we learn it? We learn Jesus’ voice by going to where he speaks, in the Bible, and spending time listening to him each day. There we grow familiar with his cadence and tones. There we learn his ways and grow to trust him.

Then, when he leads us in and through dark valleys, we will not fear, even when we can’t see him. For we know he is with us.

Good Shepherd, no one is as good as you. We follow you, and we trust you—even when it is dark. Guide us to trust you always. Amen.

Written by: Lora Copley