When reading scripture it is important to remember which
audience the speaker/writer is addressing.
Jesus spoke in agricultural and husbandry terms a lot for two reasons;
first the people were by and large not city folk but small town people with
sheep and crops, etc. so the references made sense to them. Second, the world
will always have crops and herds of animals so the references will always be
timely. That’s why the image of the Good
Shepherd is arguably one of the most familiar to the world. I personally used to bristle a little at
being referred to as a sheep but I’ve learned that the parable of the Good Shepherd is less about the sheep and more about
the Shepherd, of course. Jesus uses that
image because it is one of someone who literally lays down their life for those
in their care. A shepherd lived with his
flock. He slept with one eye open and
one ear cocked for danger every night.
The sound of his voice was both their comfort and direction. How perfect a description of our relationship
with Christ is that? The more I’ve
thought about it the more precious it becomes.
You know in the movies when the “cavalry”
arrives at the last minute to save everyone? With Christ in your life the cavalry
surrounds you.
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