![]() And it helps to remind us that he sent his beloved Son to guide us back to him-the babe born in Bethlehem of Judea, the Good Shepherd with an unparalleled, divine mission.Ī major part of our scriptures presents types and shadows of the coming of Jesus, his mortal ministry, and his mission as the Savior of all mankind. Certainly symbolism is apparent in the many references to the Shepherd and the flock. ![]() Indeed, the Savior himself used these symbols often in his teaching. It would have been natural for the Savior to refer to sheep and the flock in his attempts to teach the worth of souls as he went about establishing his ministry. His fellow Galileans understood the value of sheep, the necessity for a flock, and the responsibilities of a shepherd. His followers could therefore more clearly perceive the truths that he was teaching them. And those he selected as his disciples could more easily understand what he had to say to them about their responsibilities in helping him carry out his divine commission. In introducing his mission among men, Jesus identified himself as the Good Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” ( John 10:11.) In the Savior’s time and place, a shepherd who was the owner of the sheep not only loved them but would risk his life for them. When his father’s sheep were attacked by a bear and a lion, David slew them both. And through his lineage, Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, the Good Shepherd whose flock would take in all the world.ġ7:34–35.) At the time he was anointed by Samuel to be king, David was the shepherd of a flock in Bethlehem. He compared the true shepherd to one who does not really care for his flock, who just tends sheep for a living: “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.” ( John 10:12.) The Savior provided his disciples with ways of recognizing him. ![]() This may be an allegory about the wolf as Satan, coming in various ways to catch and to scatter the sheep. Here the hireling shepherd is one who gives way instead of resisting Satan’s temptations. But the Savior points out that he is the Good Shepherd, that he knows his sheep, that they are known of him, and that he will lay down his life for them- all of them. This, of course, reminds us of the passage in 3 Nephi: “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” ( 3 Ne. In the account recorded in John, Jesus pointed out that he was ready to give his life for all of the children of our Father in Heaven. He also was describing what would actually take place through his crucifixion and atonement.Īlso, in John 10:7, the Savior explains that it is through him as the Savior, and only him, that mankind can gain entrance into his Heavenly Father’s kingdom: “Then Jesus said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” There were two kinds of sheepfolds in Jesus’ time.
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