Easter Thoughts of Our Shepherd

Musings from the Garden

By Peggy Wyar

 As we are near the 2025 celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, I have been considering the Passover Lamb that He became for our redemption. This got me thinking to the paradox Jesus represents - He is a Lamb and He is the Shepherd. How can this be?

 Shepherds were the first to receive the announcement of the birth of Jesus.  They were also the ones who raised and provided the Passover lambs for temple worship during the feast days.  Their service was considered the lowliest of professions.  They were generally not invited to palaces for parties, or sought after for their advice, yet Jesus chose the role of Shepherd as an illustration of who He was to His people.

He uses this imagery to confound the wise (1Corinthians 1:25). Jesus takes on this mantle of Shepherd to communicate His humility and lowliness of spirit. He literally laid down His life to save His sheep.

Shepherds of that day often fought wild animals to protect their fold.  They spent time preparing areas of pasture land to feed their flock.  They found needed water sources and led the sheep to the still waters for them to drink. They looked after each of their sheep, examining them for injury or pests.  Each of their flock knew the voice they could trust to care for them. If they heard an unknown voice they ignored it or ran away.

As the following scripture in Ezekiel indicates, The Lord takes care of His flock in much the same way. He searches for the lost sheep and rescues them. He finds good pasture land for them to feed on and to lie down. He binds up the injured and gives strength to the weak (usually by carrying them until they regain health).

Ezekiel 34:11-16 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.  As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.  I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.  I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.  I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord.  I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”

Sheep are not intelligent animals.  In fact, they often wander into trouble and need their good shepherd to bring them back to safety. If their wool grew too full, they sometimes become “cast” which means they roll onto their backs and are unable to get back upright on their own. They need a watchful shepherd to be on the lookout for them.  Sheep have the innate sense that their shepherd can be trusted so they willingly submit to his leading and care.

Our Good Shepherd, Jesus, offered Himself up as the sacrificial Lamb of God. During this season of Easter, I encourage you to reflect on why He calls Himself a Shepherd and what that means in your relationship with Him. As the lamb that was slaughtered for our sins, He willingly gave Himself to the care of His Father.  The outcome was His resurrection by which entry into eternal life was secured for all those who believe Him, repent of their sin, and surrender to His loving care. How marvelous for us that He is not only our Shepherd, but also One who has followed His Father’s leading and willingly offered Himself. We can know He understands us, His sheep, completely, because He also learned obedience by what He suffered. Revelations 5 reveals to us the authority and honor Jesus now has as the Lamb who was slain. Listen to the song being sung in heaven to Him:

Revelations 5:9-10,12-13  
“And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign on the earth.”

In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”