Jesus says,”I am the Good Shepherd”…a figure of speech that he uses to describe the type of fellowship into which we are invited. He likens his followers to sheep and himself to a shepherd. If you know anything about sheep, you may not like this particular teaching of Jesus. For sheep, as beautiful as they may appear in our Christmas creches, are actually pretty helpless creatures, not particularly smart, tend to panic quickly, get lost easily, and have no defense against their enemies… they cannot outrun them, or outfight them, or hide from them. They need a lot of care. That is to say “we” need a lot of care!

But what sheep can do and actually will do is enter into a close relationship with their shepherd. They can know him, know his voice, and they will follow him (until they get lost). They will rely on the Shepherd to take care of them, and if they do get lost, to come and find them, which is what Jesus does. “I will not leave you desolate, He says, “I will come to you, and take you to myself.”

He is not making a deal with us: “if you will act like I tell you, then I will bless you.” His offer is this. Come unto me, all of you who are weak and heavy-laden, and I will refresh you. Just come and get to know me. Stick with me, and I will guide you, help you, strengthen you, and over time I will change your heart. And you will become lovers of God and of mankind. You will find that this is what you were created for and have always desired, but not known how. This is what you have always wanted but not been able.