Then, Jesus moved onto the second metaphor. He is the good shepherd. The shepherd comes each morning to the sheep pen, and calls his sheep. And the sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd. They follow him out through the gate, and out to find pasture.
It is the shepherd, who provides for the sheep. He guides them to water, and food. He keeps them from danger.
Untended, or poorly tended, sheep can cause tremendous damage to the land by over-grazing, and trampling over, and over, the same ground. Well tended sheep can improve the land. It depends on the skill of the shepherd.
Jesus is the good shepherd, because sacrificed his life for the sheep. The enemy, like a wolf, wants to destroy the sheep. He wants to scatter the flock. He wants to separate them from the shepherd. Jesus gave his life to protect the sheep from the enemy.
Jesus is the good shepherd, because he knows his sheep. He provides for them. He will guide them to live the best way. They will live their truest, best selves. They will benefit the land, when they stay close to the shepherd.
It begins with the shepherd, who loves the sheep. The Father loves thew shepherd, because he sacrifices his life. The Father loves the sheep. The shepherd loves the sheep.
Everything good in the world, everything positive, beneficial, helpful, and edifying, begins with love. Love motivates Father, Son, and Spirit to reach out to people, to provide a permanent solution for sin, to guide people into living as they were designed, and to bring healing and growth.
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