by Lisa Allgood, Executive Presbyter
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. – John 10:11, 14-16
In all the Advent and Christmas stories, shepherds are everywhere. But the symbology of the shepherd is ancient – older than Christmas.
The youngest boy in the family was usually the shepherd. Think of Jesse and his eight sons: “So he (Samuel) asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”” (1Samuel 16:11). David was of course that youngest son, and the family shepherd, giving the Psalms many of the beautiful shepherd metaphors, and leading to Jesus’ quoting that metaphor in His own teaching.
David used a shepherd’s scrip (a bag made of dried skin, filled with a shepherd’s lunch, and probably the five smooth stones he used to battle Goliath (1Samuel 17:40); he also would have had a shepherd’s sling (1Samuel 17:40-49) – used both against wild animals or robbers and for directing the sheep. A stone could be dropped close to a sheep that was lagging behind and startle it into coming along with the rest of the flock, or shot at a predator. And David played a shepherd’s pipe, as well as the lyre; the Arabic word equivalent to the Hebrew word for “Psalm” is mazmoor, meaning “played on a pipe or flute.”
The shepherd’s rod, more like a club, was wooden with a knob on the end; it may have had nails in the knob to make it a better weapon – no shepherd would be caught without it (1Samuel 17:34-36, Psalm 23:4). Ezekiel refers to the custom of the sheep passing under the shepherd’s rod for the purpose of counting or inspecting them: “I will cause you to pass under the rod” (Ezekiel 20:37). Even earlier, Mosaic law uses the rod for a tithing instrument: “Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord.” (Leviticus 27:32). The head of the rod was dipped into a coloring agent so that every tenth sheep was marked as the one to be given to the Lord for sacrifice. The king’s scepter originated with the shepherd’s rod, as kings were considered to be shepherds of their people. The scepter (rod) of the king is a symbol of protection, power, and authority.
So is the staff, is a stick five or six feet long used as a cane for handling sheep and protection and also as a walking stick. Micah 7:14 says “Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance.” Most shepherds would likely have had both a rod and staff (Psalm 23:4).
So why did Jesus use the metaphor of the shepherd so frequently? Immediately after declaring that He is “the door of the sheep” in John 10:7, Jesus declares “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11), pointing to His unique, divine identity and purpose.
Take a look at Psalm 23; Zechariah 13:7; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:4. The Greek word kalos, translated “good,” describes that which is noble, wholesome, good, and beautiful, in contrast to that which is wicked, mean, foul, and unlovely, inwardly and outwardly. In using the phrase “the good shepherd,” Jesus is talking about His character. As He did in declaring that He is “the door of the sheep” in John 10:7, Jesus is contrasting Himself with the religious leaders, the Pharisees (John 10:12–13). He compares them to a “hireling” or “hired hand” who doesn’t really care about the sheep. In John 10:9, Jesus speaks of thieves and robbers who sought to enter the sheepfold stealthily. The hired shepherd worked for wages; his concern is not for the sheep but for himself. This is in contrast to the true or faithful shepherd, who willingly gives up his life for the sheep, even though the shepherds of ancient times were not usually the owners of the flock but were expected to exercise the same care and concern the owners would – a characteristic of a true shepherd. When a wolf appeared—the most common threat to sheep in that day—the hired shepherd abandoned the flock and fled, leaving the sheep to be scattered or killed (John 10:12–13).
Even today, sheep are utterly defenseless and totally dependent upon the shepherd, from birth through their lives. Sheep truly do recognize only the voice of “their shepherd”, and will not come when another shepherd calls.
Jesus gave His life on the cross as “the Good Shepherd” for his own: He who would save others, but did not choose to save Himself, even though He had the power to do so. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). In proclaiming He is the Good Shepherd, Jesus speaks of “laying down” His life for His sheep (John 10:15, 17–18). “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:14). He came to save all people, not just the Jewish community of the day: “other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). “Whosoever believes in Me will be saved” (John 3:16) is my favorite part of the Bible.
In all the Advent and Christmas stories, shepherds are everywhere. Let’s make sure the loving message of Christ our Savior – that beautiful helpless baby Jesus – is too.
