Four Splendid Typologies of Christ - Shepherd (Part I)

A shepherd is one who herds, guards, and tends sheep. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah foretold the following about Christ: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart." (Isaiah 40:11). As our Shepherd, Jesus cares for us with a tender heart and a great concern for our needs. He leads us to green pastures and gives us rest (see Psalm 23:2). Within the green pastures of God’s word, we can pause for a while, grazing on its rich spiritual sustenance. Recall that we were not created to live on bread alone (see Deuteronomy 8:2 and Matthew 4:4). We are more than mere physical beings; we have a soul, and our soul requires nourishment, the kind of nourishment that comes only from the word of God. What the world has to offer leaves us unfulfilled and wanting more. But God’s word is wholesome and satisfying; it contains all that we need. Within the green pastures of His word, we can relax; there is no need to hurry on. We can recharge the energy zapped by the trials and pressures we face in this world. It is Christ Jesus, our Shepherd, who leads us to the word of God, for He is the revealer of God (John 1:18). As we work to address our dysfunctional states of thought and behavior, we come to better understand the significance of this facet of God’s love reflected in Christ as our Shepherd. The process of reconditioning our mind is arduous at times. Entrenched modes of thought and behavior require serious effort to change. To be effective, we are going to need the rich, fertile pastures of God’s word to reenergize.

You will find a more in-depth study of this topic in my book, The Conditioned Mind. Have a blessed weekend! Peace.