They come out of their gates each morning and follow him down the street because they know him. In the evening they slip back through their gates as he walks along the street.
I grew up as a missionary kid just outside of Mexico City. Our town had a population of 30,000-40,000 people. It was a busy place where the roads could be packed with people, cars, trucks, taxis, buses… and animals.
In the mornings it wasn’t uncommon to see a man walking down the street with a flock of sheep. And if you paid attention you would notice that as he walked down the street, animals would come out of their gates and follow him. They joined in with the flock and he led them to a field (usually a soccer field) outside of town where they would stay for the day. In the midst of all the cars, people, music and other noises, these sheep would simply follow their guide.
This man (or sometimes kid!) was the shepherd. He would take care of the sheep, make sure they didn’t wander away, keep the dogs from harassing them, and move them when people came to play soccer on the field.
In the Bible, shepherds were often considered unclean, lower class, or treated as outsiders. This is interesting considering some important leaders who wore this title:
Abraham was a patriarch who had so many animals it caused disagreements between he and Lot
Jacob cared for his uncle Laban’s flocks and then had many of his own
Moses tended the flocks of his father-in-law after fleeing Egypt
King David was a young shepherd who is renown for fighting off lions and bears as well as being the most famous King of Israel
Shepherds were the first to hear the Good News of Jesus’ birth
Shepherds may have been looked down on but they are unique in that their profession is more than a mere job; their responsibilities extend beyond just the basic tasks of herding and tending to their flocks. They are guardians, protectors, and nurturers who forge bonds with their sheep. They care for their sheep and recognize signs of illness. Shepherds know their sheep and sheep know their shepherd.
If I walked down that same street in Mexico, sheep would NOT slip out of their gates to follow me. In fact, if I even walked toward the sheep on that soccer field, they would scatter away from me. Why? Because they know the shepherd, they don’t know me.
The same should be true for us who follow the Good Shepherd
Jesus says in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…”
In our own lives, when we slip out of the gate, who are we following? Do we know the voice of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ? Or are we easily led away by the many distracting voices and sounds around us. Do we get fooled into following the prideful voice of fame and fortune? Do we accidentally follow the despairing voice of worry and stress?
As I reflect back on being a kid on Allende Avenue in San Vicente, I can picture that shepherd with sheep in tow. Two things come to mind as I watch them move slowly down the street.
First, we must spend time with our Shepherd, talking with Him, reading His words, hearing His voice. Do we know the Good Shepherd enough that we confidently step out and follow Him, trusting He will lead us to green pastures, be with us through the sickness, and stand with us in the attacks? If not, He wants us to pick up our Bibles to study. He would love for us to spend time talking with and listening to Him. He also puts people around us who can guide us closer to Him.
That leads to my second thought. As Christians, someone should be following us as we follow the Shepherd. Are there people around us, in our circle of family, friends, and acquaintances who are looking for someone to guide them closer to Jesus? Are we intentional about discipling and leading them to our Savior?
As sheep with a Good Shepherd, we need to truly know Him and look for lost sheep we can lead to Him.