(John 10)
There is much to ponder when watching a sheep and comparing them to us human beings, according to the Bible. Isaiah said, We like sheep have gone astray; He (YAHSHUA) was oppressed, He Was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. (Isa. 53:6-7). We see first here that sheep wanders and second, they are submissive to their own fate; they are submissive at the time when being sheared. They cannot survive without the care of a shepherd. For they easily wander from the flock; they are easily panicked and because of too much wool, they flip on their back without being able to get up and die of starvation. They are defenseless; easily become prey to wild animals. These are partial characteristics of a sheep, but enough to feel compassion for them. When in my early twenties, I was given a sheep for a pet. He was all white with black markings on his face. Every morning, with the help of my student, he would come to my bedroom to wake me up. He was gentle and his baa sound was my alarm clock. That made my day very special, indeed.
YAHSHUA had much to say concerning a relationship between a shepherd and his sheep found in John ten. When reading this chapter, one cannot help, but feel His love for His sheep. He gives a picture of what a true and good shepherd should be; and compares the care of a good shepherd with that of a hireling. The difference between one and the other is that the shepherd constitutes the owner of the sheep, in this case; but the hireling is just an employee, working for money. The shepherd will do all to save his sheep, even risk his own life to save them. The employee however, has no intention to die for the sheep he is tending. This is quite a difference between the two and YAHSHUA was very clear about that in verses twelve and thirteenth: He said, But the hired servant who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock]. Now, the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the wellbeing of the sheep. So, there will never be love to compel the hireling to sacrifice himself for the sake of someone else’s sheep.
I compare this parable to the spiritual shepherds, called pastors. A field of great importance in the eyes of the Lord YAHSHUA, who has given His life for His sheep and trusted them to spiritual shepherds. A pastor that is not concerned with his sheep enough to risk his life for his church, is not a shepherd in his heart, but a hireling; this position is to him only a career. He took the position of pastor for his own gain. Read what the Lord says concerning them: Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasturing! Says the Lord, concerning the shepherds who care for and feed My people; You have scattered My flock and driven them away and have not visited and attended to them; behold, I will visit and attend to you for the evil of your doings, says the Lord…And I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them. And they will fear no more nor be dismayed, neither will any be missing or lost, says the Lord (Jer. 23:1-2,4). Today’s church of Laodicea is in great need of good shepherds, who will feed their sheep solid Bible truths, and not diluted, tainted spiritual foods. YAHSHUA’S flock are scattered from church to church in search of a good shepherd who will represent YAHSHUA’S love for them. Pastors of some mega churches are putting their flock to sleep by good feeling messages. Truth, as the Prophet Isaiah said, is falling on the ground. No longer perceived as truth, for being rejected by shepherds in their teachings. These “hireling” pastors will someday give God an account for not accomplishing the will of God for their flock.
Light from the Word 