Sheep’s Tale

6 min read

2 “The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

John 10:2-4

I don’t know who started the fake news that sheep are stupid. Maybe it was some preacher who delighted in passive-aggressively poking fun at the stupidity of his congregation. But as far as we can tell, sheep are pretty intelligent.

So sheep are not dumb, but they are dependent animals. Sheep depend on their shepherd for food and water and for protection and shelter.

And so the very fact that sheep recognize the unique voice of their shepherd and also follow him exclusively suggests that they are smart—because they depend on their shepherd to live. If they just followed any Peter, Paul, and John out there who had a nice shepherd voice or a cool shepherd call, that would be stupid.

I love the imagery that Jesus gives us in this metaphor. It also challenges me. Jesus “goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him.” There is purpose on the part of Jesus in going on ahead of His sheep. There is purpose on the part of His sheep in following Him.

If we extend the metaphor further, the shepherd is leading His flock out for food, water, exercise, and maybe some shade. Can I trust my Shepherd always to provide for my needs as He leads me out, as long as I follow Him?

A sheep could always wander and fend for itself, which I guess some sheep are prone to do. But how long would that sheep enjoy the “freedom” of being independent before it is ravaged by the ways of the world.

Of course, the main point of the metaphor is not simply that we should follow Jesus in order for our needs to be met. The main point is not even that if we follow Jesus, He will provide for our needs.

Although, that is a very necessary lesson back in the non-metaphorical world. Back in the non-metaphorical world, we are not sheep lounging around in lush, green pastures by quiet streams. I mean, that day will come for Jesus’s sheep when Jesus comes back.

But back in the non-metaphorical world, we are a broken people living in a broken world that desperately needs Jesus and desperately needs Jesus now. And in such a world, God has given us work that He has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

As the flock of Christ, we are to reflect the glory of our Shepherd as we follow Him—going where He goes, doing what He does, saying what He says, bearing witness to the world, “I am desperately dependent on Jesus. Perhaps you feel it too.” And in that non-metaphorical world, Jesus will provide for all our needs and more as we follow Him.

It is easy, I think, to find great comfort and satisfaction in being a dependent sheep of the Good Shepherd. It’s not as easy to embrace the challenges of the work we have to do as we follow the Good Shepherd. Which is why I need to remind myself of that truth daily.

And so I remind myself today that my blessing, my joy, my reward is Christ and Him crucified, resurrected, and returning.

Father, Thank You for calling me into Your fold. Forgive me when I cling to the comfort of Christ but flee from the witness of Christ. Give me Your heart for the lost. Give me Your heart for missions. Use me to proclaim the gospel to dying world. And shoe me Your glory. For myself and for my Canvas family—in Jesus’s name. Amen.