Jesus The Great Shepherd Pt 2

The concept of shepherding is one of the most important and enduring themes in Scripture, woven deeply into both the Old and New Testaments. From Genesis to Revelation, God consistently reveals Himself as a Shepherd who lovingly leads, protects, provides for, and nurtures His people. Shepherding is not merely a metaphor; it is a divine pattern that reveals God’s heart, His leadership style, and His covenant relationship with humanity.

In biblical times, shepherding was a familiar occupation. A shepherd lived among the sheep, knew them intimately, and was responsible for their safety, nourishment, and direction. Scripture uses this imagery to communicate spiritual realities about God’s care, Christ’s redemptive mission, and the responsibility of spiritual leaders within the Church.

At the center of this theme stands Jesus Christ, revealed as the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd. Each of these titles highlights a distinct aspect of His ministry and authority. Understanding Jesus as Shepherd is essential for spiritual growth, healthy discipleship, and a correct understanding of leadership within the body of Christ.

This blog explores how Scripture depicts Jesus as the Great Shepherd, the nature of the shepherding office, and the implications of living under His shepherding care—especially in relation to faith, provision, and freedom from worry.

Shepherding in the Old and New Testaments

Shepherding in the Old Testament

Shepherding imagery appears early in the Old Testament. Abel was a keeper of sheep (Genesis 4:2), Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were shepherds, and Moses spent forty years tending sheep before being called to shepherd Israel. King David, perhaps the most famous shepherd in Scripture, transitioned from shepherding sheep to shepherding a nation.

God often rebuked Israel’s leaders for failing in their shepherding role. In Ezekiel 34, the Lord condemned false shepherds who fed themselves instead of the flock. This chapter is significant because God promised that He Himself would come and shepherd His people, foreshadowing the coming of Christ.

“I myself will search for my sheep and look after them” (Ezekiel 34:11).

Thus, shepherding in the Old Testament is not only about leadership; it is about covenant responsibility, accountability, and God’s personal involvement in the lives of His people.

Shepherding in the New Testament

In the New Testament, shepherding reaches its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. What was promised in the Old Testament is revealed in the Person of Christ. Jesus does not delegate shepherding at a distance—He becomes the Shepherd in the flesh.

The Gospels present Jesus as One who is moved with compassion for the crowds because they are “like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). His teaching, miracles, and sacrificial death all flow from His shepherd heart.

Jesus Revealed as the Great Shepherd

Jesus the Good Shepherd – John 10

John 10 is one of the clearest and most powerful passages in Scripture regarding Jesus as the Shepherd. Here, Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd, distinguishing Himself from false shepherds, hirelings, and thieves.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

The goodness of the Shepherd is demonstrated not merely by His care, but by His sacrifice. Unlike hirelings who abandon the sheep when danger comes, Jesus willingly lays down His life. This speaks directly to the redemptive nature of His shepherding—His leadership is rooted in self-giving love.

Jesus also emphasizes intimacy and relationship:

“I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14).

Biblical shepherding is relational, not positional. Jesus does not lead by force, fear, or control; He leads by voice, trust, and love. His sheep follow Him because they recognize His voice.

Jesus as the Gate – Access Through the Shepherd

In John 10:1–9, Jesus describes Himself not only as the Shepherd, but also as the Gate:

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).

This is a profound theological truth. In ancient sheepfolds, the shepherd would often sleep at the entrance, becoming the literal gate. Nothing could enter or exit without passing through him. By calling Himself the Gate, Jesus declares that access to God, salvation, security, and provision comes only through Him.

Being part of God’s family through Christ positions believers in a place of divine supply. The pasture represents nourishment, rest, and abundance. This aligns with Jesus’ declaration in the same chapter:

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Psalm 23: The Lord Our Shepherd

The Shepherd Who Provides

Psalm 23 is perhaps the most beloved shepherding passage in Scripture. Written by David, it reflects personal experience with God as Shepherd.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

This statement is both theological and experiential. To confess the Lord as Shepherd is to declare trust in His provision. “I shall not want” does not mean the absence of desire, but the absence of lack. Under God’s shepherding care, every legitimate need is met.

Provision is not earned through striving; it flows from relationship. Sheep do not produce pasture—they are led to it. Likewise, believers are called to trust the Shepherd’s guidance rather than anxiously manufacture provision.

The Shepherd Who Leads and Restores

Psalm 23 continues by emphasizing guidance and restoration:

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”

The Shepherd knows when the sheep need rest, nourishment, and healing. Restoration is part of shepherding. God does not merely lead us forward; He restores what is broken, weary, or depleted.

This has deep implications for believers living under pressure, burnout, or spiritual fatigue. Restoration is not found in running faster, but in yielding more fully to the Shepherd’s care.

The Shepherd Who Protects

Even in the valley of the shadow of death, the Shepherd’s presence brings comfort:

“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

The rod represents protection against enemies, while the staff symbolizes guidance and correction. Both are expressions of love. Divine protection and correction are not contradictory; they are complementary aspects of God’s shepherding.

Jesus the Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter 5:1–6

Christ’s Supreme Authority

In 1 Peter 5, Jesus is referred to as the Chief Shepherd:

“When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:4).

This title establishes Christ’s supreme authority over all spiritual leadership. Pastors, elders, and leaders are under-shepherds, accountable to Christ for how they care for His flock.

The Chief Shepherd sets the standard for leadership—humility, service, and faithfulness. Leadership in the Kingdom is not about domination, but stewardship.

Shepherding and Humility

Peter emphasizes humility as essential to shepherding:

“Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.”

True shepherding reflects Christ’s character. Leaders who understand Christ as the Chief Shepherd will lead with reverence, compassion, and accountability, knowing that the flock belongs to God, not to them.

The Office of the Shepherd

Shepherding as a Divine Calling

Shepherding is not merely a role; it is an office and a calling. In Ephesians 4, pastors are included among the fivefold ministry gifts given to equip the saints. The shepherd’s primary responsibility is the spiritual care of God’s people.

This care is holistic—addressing spiritual nourishment, protection from error, encouragement, correction, and guidance.

Jesus’ Apostolic Charge to Peter – John 21:15–17

In John 21, Jesus restores Peter and gives him a clear shepherding mandate:

“Feed my lambs… Take care of my sheep… Feed my sheep.”

This threefold instruction emphasizes the heart of shepherding—feeding and caring for the flock. Shepherding is inseparable from teaching God’s Word. Sheep grow through nourishment, and spiritual nourishment comes through sound doctrine and the faithful preaching of Scripture.

The charge was apostolic in nature, indicating that shepherding is foundational to the Church’s mission. Without proper shepherding, believers become vulnerable to deception, spiritual immaturity, and fragmentation.

Feeding the Flock with the Word of God

The Word as Spiritual Nourishment

Taking care of the flock includes feeding it with God’s Word. Scripture is repeatedly described as food—milk for infants and solid food for the mature. A shepherd who neglects the Word starves the sheep.

Jesus Himself modeled this. He taught the crowds, explained Scripture, and confronted error with truth. Healthy churches are built on consistent, Christ-centered teaching that leads believers into maturity.

Word, Faith, and Provision

Faith grows where the Word is faithfully taught. Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. This is crucial when understanding Jesus as the Shepherd who provides.

When believers are grounded in the Word, they learn to trust God’s provision rather than live in anxiety. They understand their position in Christ and their access to divine supply.

Living Under the Shepherd’s Care: Faith and Freedom from Worry

Abundance in Christ

Jesus taught that when we are part of God’s family through Him, our needs are met. This truth transforms how we pray and how we live. Faith is not passive optimism; it is confident trust in the Shepherd’s provision.

“When you pray, believe that you have received it” (Mark 11:24).

This posture flows from knowing the Shepherd’s heart. Sheep do not doubt whether the shepherd will feed them—they depend on it.

Jesus’ Teaching in Matthew 6

In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses worry directly. He teaches that worry does not add value to life and reveals a lack of trust in God’s care.

“Your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Worry frustrates the supply of God’s grace because it shifts focus from God’s sufficiency to human anxiety. Grace is abundant, but worry blinds us to its reality.

Jesus calls His followers to seek first the Kingdom, trusting that provision follows alignment. This is shepherding theology in practice—living under divine care rather than self-reliance.

Embracing Jesus as Our Shepherd

Understanding Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd reshapes our faith, leadership, and daily living. Shepherding is not a distant concept—it is the lived experience of every believer who chooses to trust Christ fully.

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus lays down His life for us. As the Great Shepherd, He provides, leads, restores, and protects. As the Chief Shepherd, He governs His Church and holds leaders accountable.

When we approach Jesus as our Shepherd, we learn to live free from fear, confident in provision, nourished by the Word, and secure in His care. This is not merely theology—it is the abundant life Christ promised.

May we, as believers and leaders, submit ourselves to the Chief Shepherd and faithfully reflect His heart in how we care for one another, always remembering that the flock belongs to Him.