The Lamb and the Shepherd By JENITA PACE for The Stream
Isaiah 52:13–53 and John 10:1–3.
I remember visiting my son’s preschool class on the same day they were expecting a special visitor: a farmer who brought a lamb from her local farm. The sight of my son and his little classmates enjoying the presence of a baby animal was precious. This sweet, innocent little creature was surprisingly trusting.
Let’s Talk About Sheep
Sheep are vulnerable animals. With no way to defend themselves, they live in a perpetual state of alertness, using their herd to help them detect danger. The problem with this setup is that sheep scare easily. When one scares, they all seem to scare. Another major handicap that sheep face is their poor depth perception. They can see all the way around themselves, but they can’t distinguish objects that are far away, and they can’t judge the distance between themselves and the perceived danger. Therefore, the sheep’s philosophy is to assume that everything is dangerous, just to be safe.
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Sheep are also emotional creatures. They seek connection and develop friendships within their herd. Much like dogs, sheep recognize and distinguish voices and mannerisms among people. Sheep also develop trust and connection with their shepherd if he or she spends enough time with them. Each sheep has its unique personality, and they are just as diverse as human personalities. Living in a herd is not an indication of stupidity; it’s a necessity for their survival. They need each other.
Jesus: Not Just Any Lamb
Our almighty God came to earth in the metaphor of a lamb in Isaiah 53:7: “He was brought like a gentle lamb to be slaughtered” (TPT). And not just any lamb, but one that would be despised, rejected, unattractive, and familiar with suffering and pain. He would be someone that even his herd would reject. What a terrifying concept for a little lamb in a flock!
