Bible Text: Hebrews 13:20 | Speaker: Dr. Harold J. Sala | Series: Guidelines For Living | May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep. Hebrews 13:20

The celebration of Christmas calls for a crèche or Nativity Scene. Mary, Joseph, the wise men, shepherds. And the sheep! Have you ever spent much time around sheep? The little lambs are cuddly and cute, but the mammas and papas are something else—smelly, obstinate, bull-headed pieces of mutton on four legs. Dogs respond to your call; cats will sit on your lap and purr but sheep can take you on a run-around through mucky pastures that makes you wonder why in the world Psalm 23 ever gained the notoriety it has.

OK, perhaps I’ve reflected the views of someone who grew up in the city, yet the fact remains that of all the creatures that God ever created, sheep are among the least intelligent. The size of their brain in proportion to the rest of their body is quite small. Yet sheep were in the audience that heard the angels sing “Glory to God in the Highest” and sheep are what God likened us to. “We are His people and the sheep of His pasture,” says Psalm 103:3. Sheep, not lions which are strong, or panthers which are cunning, but sheep who are smelly, weak, and stray quickly without a shepherd’s care.

The more you ponder the similarities between sheep and people, however, the more you recognize how meaningful are the parallels which become obvious. Nothing is more dependent than a tiny infant, yet what gives a parent more joy than to cuddle your baby in your arms and see the contentment and peace that resides in innocence. But contrast that with the way people mess up their lives as adults. They have lost their innocence and have wallowed in the mire and muck of the slime pits.

Sheep will follow almost anything that moves—a human, another sheep, even a rogue sheep who will lead them astray. Ever ask yourself, “How in the world could so-and-so [you mention a friend’s name] fall for that line and get involved in that stuff?” Shutting off their brain, your friend got involved in something—a relationship, a business scam, or whatever–and you wonder if your friend’s brain went out his ear for a drink of water and didn’t come back.

There’s another parallel which speaks volumes. Sheep are “dead meat,” prey for the wolves without the protection of a shepherd, and, frankly, so are people.

“I am the good shepherd,” Jesus told His followers in a context that brought them into direct confrontation with His claims to have come from God and His intention to find the lost sheep, lead them to the green pastures of heaven, bring them to the still waters of cleansing and refreshment, and ultimately give them the joy of everlasting life.

The writer of the book of Hebrews calls Jesus, “The Great Shepherd.” Peter calls Him, “The Chief Shepherd.” Shepherds lead, protect, defend, nurture, and comfort when fear panics the flock. You know, friend, the more you ponder the parallels between sheep and people, the more you see the importance of knowing the Great Shepherd, the one who leads you through the valley of the shadow of death, who has been there and has come up on the other side saying, “Follow me!”

The most important thing the shepherd does is to come looking for the lost sheep to lead us back to safety. This Christmas, if you find yourself identifying with one who has wandered far from the fold, lift up your soul and cry, “Lord, here I am! Be my Shepherd and lead me home.” He’ll be there. He’s as close as your cry.

Resource reading: Psalm 23