I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.” vss. 14-15
John 10:11-15
Even though most of us know very little about shepherds and even less about sheep, there’s something about the image of Jesus as the good shepherd that resonates in our hearts and minds. Put simply, we love thinking of Jesus as our shepherd, the one who searches for us when we wander off and who willingly laid down his life on our behalf. It’s no accident that one of the earliest artistic depictions of Jesus, a wall painting found in the catacombs of Rome, is that of a shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders. And even though the twenty-third psalm was not written about Jesus, we have no difficulty at all in associating its words and images with him. To put it a bit crassly, when life gets us down, Jesus as shepherd is “mac and cheese” for our souls. We don’t have to think about some esoteric doctrine or ponder the mystery of the trinity. All we need to do is imagine the comforting rod and staff of Jesus guiding us through whatever darkness has crept into our lives. In his arms comes peace that is beyond our human understanding, and his goodness and mercy become our companions for all the days of our lives.
Thought for the Day: When have I felt Jesus’ loving arms embracing me?
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