by Pastor Daniel
 
Introduction
“The Lord is my Shepherd...”, immediately brings us to Psalm 23, a favorite psalm, a psalm probably read most frequently compared to other psalms in the bible.  As I was thinking of my letter to FCC, the word that kept coming was “relationship with God”.  This is in line with our intimacy with God that we must nourish. 
 
How does one grow in intimacy with God?  I believe that it all begins with a relationship.  Just as we grow in intimacy with the relationships we already have.  It is intimacy with friends, it is intimacy with our spouse, it is intimacy with our children and the list goes on.  The common factor is the existence of a relationship.
 
Is there an existence of relationship with God?  Surely there is.  One of those is that of a shepherd and his sheep.  In the Jewish context, it denotes a special relationship of care, of knowledge, of love.  In what ways is this relationship special?
 
Jesus speaks of himself saying, “I am the good shepherd; 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.”
 
He is the Good Shepherd (Perfect Character)
When we say that Jesus is the good shepherd, it does not simply mean that he is kind and benevolent.  What he meant is that he is genuine, true and perfect in character. 
 
He takes ownership
This good shepherd is very different from the shepherds we know today.  They take care of sheep with little concern.  In the east, a good shepherd is the owner of his flock.   The sheep are his own.  He is not just a hireling.  His wealth consists of them.  Therefore he takes good care of them.
 
The Lord is our shepherd; we are his wealth.  If you ask him what is his heritage, he tells you, “the riches of the glory in the inheritance in the saints like you and I.”   “He loved his own and gave himself for them.”
 
He cares for them
Not only that, he cares for his sheep.  He is never off duty.  We have our weekends, our annual leave.The good shepherd does not take any leave.  Ps 121:4 “He that keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
 
He provides for them
Furthermore, this shepherd also provides for us.  Both for time and eternity, for body and for soul, our Lord Jesus supplies all our need out of his riches in glory.  And that is why the psalmist who was a shepherd boy could boldly say, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I will have no lack.”
 
He leads them
Lastly, this good shepherd is the one who leads us.  He leads us beside still waters where we can find rest in times of troubles.  We can never get lost if we stay close to this good shepherd
 
He is the Shepherd who knows.  (Perfect knowledge)
He said, “I know my sheep and my sheep knows me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.”  It was perfect knowledge.  Nothing hidden, nothing unknown, no secrets.
 
So what does he know about us?  He knows how many he has.  He will never lose one.  One time Jesus prayed: “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world and I am coming to you.  Holy Father protect them by the power of your name... while I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost...”
 
He knows each of our character.  He even assures us that the very hairs of our head are all numbered.  Some greater number, some lesser, but he knows them all.  Christ has not got an unknown sheep.  He knows when we are weak and feeble, when we are sick and sad, He knows our grieves, our joys and our fears.
 
He also knows our trials.  Being a Christian does not mean we do not have more problems but we now we have a good Shepherd who walks with us through all trials.  Even though I walked through the shadow of the valley of death, I fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
 
C. He is the Shepherd who sacrifices.  (Perfect Sacrifice)
“I lay down my life for the sheep.”  This is really the epitome of the saying of Jesus.  He mentioned it twice, in verses 11 and 15.
I like to think of our good shepherd, not merely as dying for us, but also as willingly to die so that we can be saved -  “I lay down my life for the sheep.”
 
But God demonstrates his own love for us.  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  For what purpose?  That we might live through Christ as well.
 
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - Take hold of this relationship He has with you!