In the Christian tradition, the imagery of Christ as the Shepherd and His followers as sheep is a profound and recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. This metaphor highlights the relationship between Jesus and His followers, emphasizing guidance, care, and the intimate bond between the Shepherd and His flock.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of Christ as the Shepherd is rooted in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, God is often depicted as a shepherd to His people, Israel. Psalm 23:1 declares, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." This imagery is carried into the New Testament, where Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd. In John 10:11 , Jesus states, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

The Call of the Shepherd

Central to the role of the Shepherd is His call to the sheep. This call is not merely a vocal summons but a spiritual invitation to follow and trust in Him. In John 10:3-4 , Jesus describes this relationship: "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. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."

The call of Christ is personal and intimate, as He knows each of His sheep by name. This personal knowledge signifies a deep relationship, where the Shepherd is aware of the needs, struggles, and individual paths of His followers. The sheep, in turn, recognize and respond to the voice of the Shepherd, indicating trust and obedience.

The Response of the Sheep

The response of the sheep to the Shepherd's call is one of recognition and following. In John 10:27 , Jesus affirms, "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me." This response is characterized by a willingness to trust the Shepherd's guidance, even when the path is uncertain or challenging.

The sheep's ability to discern the Shepherd's voice amidst the cacophony of the world is crucial. It requires a relationship built on faith and familiarity, cultivated through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and a life lived in accordance with Christ's teachings.

Protection and Provision

The Shepherd's call also encompasses His promise of protection and provision. In John 10:9 , Jesus assures, "I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture." The Shepherd leads His sheep to safety and sustenance, ensuring their well-being and security.

Furthermore, the Shepherd's call is a call to eternal life. In John 10:28 , Jesus promises, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand." This assurance of eternal security underscores the Shepherd's commitment to His sheep, offering them a hope that transcends the temporal challenges of this world.

Conclusion

The imagery of Christ as the Shepherd and His call to His sheep is a powerful testament to the relationship between Jesus and His followers. It speaks of a bond characterized by love, guidance, and eternal security, inviting believers to listen, follow, and trust in the Good Shepherd who knows them by name.John 10:3
To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Good Shepherd' and his one Flock' - Last Discourse at the ...
... Thus we have here a Psalm of Degrees concerning the Good Shepherd and His Flock,
and, at the same time, a New ... 1. Christ, the Good Shepherd, in contrast to ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x the good shepherd.htm

The Lost Sheep and the Seeking Shepherd
... the sheep may increase its distance, the Shepherd follows. ... away we get the more tender
His appeal; the ... You cannot wear out Jesus Christ, you cannot exhaust the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the lost sheep and the.htm

The Divine Shepherd
... fear of punishment, or the hope of everlasting reward, that leads the disciples
of Christ to follow ... As the shepherd goes before his sheep, himself first ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 52 the divine shepherd.htm

The Shepherd of Our Souls.
... He is our Shepherd, and the sheep know His voice. ... Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth."
When Christ called St. ... vision." Let us desire to know His voice; let ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xvi the shepherd of.htm

The Good Shepherd: a Farewell Sermon
... voluntarily to give themselves up unto him; Christ says of these sheep, especially,
that they hear his voice, and ... Here is an allusion to a shepherd; now in ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the good shepherd a farewell.htm

Gregory Nazianzen.
... is bringing to the Lord his willing Sacrifice, his only Son ... From which may we all
be kept, Shepherd and flock, as ... it, that we may all be one in Christ Jesus our ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/gregory nazianzen.htm

The Offices of Christ. From Several Scriptures.
... The offices of Christ. From several scriptures. ... Nor rove, nor seek the crooked way.].
[I love my Shepherd's voice,. ... He feeds his flock, he calls their names,. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 150 the offices of.htm

The Offices of Christ, from Several Scriptures.
... 6 [I love my Shepherd, he shall keep My wandering soul among ... appears on high, The
Father lays his thunder by ... on, I shall be safe; for Christ displays Salvation ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 145138889 the offices of.htm

Shepherd Life in the Orient.
... it deals with the faithful shepherd, ranging with his flock over ... in detail, let us
take this shepherd song, part ... it describes the whole person of Christ as God ...
/.../callan/the shepherd of my soul/ii shepherd life in the.htm

The Offices of Christ. From Several Scriptures.
... LM The offices of Christ. From several scriptures. ... Nor follow the forbidden way!].
[I love my Shepherd, he shall keep. ... He feeds his flock, he calls their names,. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 149 the offices of.htm

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