When most people hear Psalm 23, their minds immediately run to its wonderful blessings: Lush green pastures. Still waters. The valley of the shadow of death. An overflowing cup of blessing. Shamed enemies. Goodness and mercy (running after us). The Father's house.
Every one of those promises is precious. They have comforted God's people for more than three thousand years.
But there is something even more glorious than the blessings themselves.
There is the (Good) Shepherd.
David's primary focus in Psalm 23 was never the green pastures or the still waters. His greatest delight was not ultimately the banquet table or even heaven itself. His true delight was the Shepherd.
Remove the Shepherd, and there is no peace. No protection. No provision. No pardon. No Paradise.
Before we can truly appreciate the blessings of Psalm 23, we must first know the Shepherd of Psalm 23. That is exactly where Jesus takes us in John 10.
An Unexpected Question
One of my favorite moments during VBS came from an inquisitive nine-year-old. After thinking about the message of Psalm 23, I was asked, "If God the Father is the Good Shepherd...does that make Jesus the sheepdog?"The question made everyone smile. Children have a wonderful way of asking questions adults would never think to ask. Yet behind that innocent question lies a profound theological truth.
When Jesus declared, "I am the good shepherd!" Jesus was not merely comparing Himself to a shepherd. He was identifying Himself with the covenant God of Israel. I am the Great I Am that is who I am.
Throughout the Old Testament, Yahweh repeatedly identifies Himself as the Shepherd of His people (Psalm 23; Isaiah 40; Ezekiel 34).
Now Jesus steps onto the scene and boldly announces, "I am the Good Shepherd."
This was no ordinary metaphor. It was a declaration of His deity.
Jesus is the Divine Shepherd par excellence. As such:
1. The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep Personally
One of the most comforting truths in John 10 is that Jesus knows His sheep.
Not simply in a general sense. But personally.
Jesus says,
"I know My own and My own know Me."
Our Lord knows far more than our names.
He knows our fears. Our burdens. Our temptations. Our weaknesses. Our sorrows. Our joys.
Nothing about His sheep surprises Him.
Perhaps even more amazing, He knows everything about us—and He still loves us.
Human love often fades when our warts and blemishes are seen and felt. Sadly, the love of Christians is often tainted with selfishness. We love others because of what they do for us.
Christ's love never fails. It never wanes.
Jeremiah reminds us that God's steadfast love never ceases.
David didn't merely write,
"The Lord is a shepherd."
He joyfully confessed,
"The Lord is my Shepherd."
That little pronoun makes all the difference.
Christianity is wonderfully personal.
Every believer can say, "He is my Shepherd, and I am one of His sheep."
No sheep is forgotten. No sheep is overlooked.
What tremendous comfort for weary Christians. The Good shepherd watches over me and you!
2. The Good Shepherd Lives and Dies for His Sheep
Jesus next contrasts Himself with a hired hand.
A hired hand works for a paycheck.
When danger comes, he runs. He risks nothing because he does not truly love the sheep.
Not so with Messiah Jesus.
When wolves came, the perfect Shepherd did not flee.
He willingly walked toward Calvary.
Notice how often Jesus says,
"I lay down My life."
His death was not an accident.
It was not the tragic ending of a failed revolution.
It was the eternal plan of God (Acts 2:21-23).
Long before Bethlehem...
Long before Rome...
Long before Pilate...
The cross had already been ordained in the eternal counsel of God.
Even more glorious, Jesus did not merely die as a perfect example. He died as our perfect substitute.
Isaiah wrote seven hundred years before Christ,
"All we like sheep have gone astray..."
Yet the Good Shepherd willingly bore the punishment His wandering sheep deserved.
He experienced God's wrath so that we might enjoy God's mercy.
He died so that His sheep could live.
This is the very heart of the gospel (and "the Great Exchange!" see also 2 Corinthians 5:21).
An Effective Savior
John 10 also reminds us that Christ's death actually accomplished salvation.
Jesus did not simply make salvation possible.
He secured redemption for His sheep (Matthew 1:21; Mark 10:45).
His sacrifice was effectual.
The cross accomplished exactly what the Father intended.
Our Lord did not fail in His mission.
He redeemed everyone the Father had given Him.
The Shepherd did not merely open the door to salvation.
He brought His sheep safely home.
May we never become so familiar with the gospel that we cease to marvel at its beauty.
In earthly wars, soldiers often die for God and country!
In Christianity, the King dies for His people.
What amazing love! What a good, good Shepherd!
3. The Good Shepherd Gathers His Sheep
Jesus then makes a remarkable statement.
"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold."
Those words would have astonished many of His Jewish listeners.
Jesus was speaking about Gentiles.
Praise God—that includes us.
The Good Shepherd did not come merely to rescue one ethnic group.
He came to gather one flock from every tribe, language, nation, and people.
There is one Shepherd.
One Savior.
One family.
Walk into almost any Christian church and you will see this miracle displayed.
Children.
Teenagers.
Young parents.
Senior saints.
People from different backgrounds.
Different personalities.
Different life experiences.
Yet united by one glorious Shepherd.
The gospel does what nothing else can accomplish.
It creates one family from many nations.
That is one of God's greatest miracles.
4. The Good Shepherd Still Calls His Sheep
Finally, Jesus reminds us that His ministry did not end at the resurrection.
The risen Shepherd still calls sinners today.
He still speaks through His Word.
He still draws wandering sheep.
He still welcomes all who come to Him by faith.
Perhaps this week some parents heard the Shepherd's voice as their children came home excited about Vacation Bible School.
Others have heard the gospel preached for years.
The real question is not whether you have heard about Jesus.
The question is this:
Do you belong to Him?
Can you honestly say,
"The Lord is my Shepherd"?
Not everyone can.
Only those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Christ alone belong to His flock.
The wonderful news is that the Good Shepherd still welcomes wandering sheep.
He has never turned away a repentant sinner.
He never will.
The Greatest Blessing of Psalm 23 and the Gospel!
As wonderful as Psalm 23 is, its greatest blessing is not ultimately the green pastures.
It is not the still waters.
It is not the overflowing cup.
It is not even the Father's house.
The greatest blessing is the Shepherd Himself.
Everything else flows from Him.
Because He is our Shepherd, we lack nothing.
Because He is our Shepherd, we need not fear.
Because He is our Shepherd, goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.
Because He is our Shepherd, we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The blessings of Psalm 23 are glorious.
But they are glorious only because they lead us to the Shepherd.
May we never admire the gifts more than the Giver.
May we never love the blessings more than the Blesser.
And may each of us leave rejoicing, not merely because Psalm 23 is beautiful, but because Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who fulfills it perfectly.
Soli Deo Gloria
