The Shepherd and His Sheep (Part 1) | Anchored in Hope Devotions

God’s Word often uses sheep to portray people.

Sheep are animals that often stray, and the Shepherd has to go and bring them back.

Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him (the Messiah, Jesus Christ) the iniquity of us all." This a prophecy of Jesus Christ who would pay the price for our sins on the cross.

We find in Matthew 9:36 that as Jesus went around preaching, He was moved with compassion because the crowds "were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." We know sheep are helpless animals. They need a shepherd to watch over them to keep them safe because they are easy prey for other animals like wolves.

For us who have put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation, Jesus is our Shepherd. Like a shepherd, He watches over us. He has promised that “He will never leave us or forsake us.”

In John 10:11-14 Jesus says “I am the Good Shepherd” and in verse 15 He says “I lay down my life for the sheep.”

In Hebrews 13:20 Jesus is referred to as “the Great Shepherd of the sheep.” With Jesus being our Shepherd, we know that He always is looking over us and we can trust Him.

- Sherry Meyer