Deacon Tam Tran

SHEEP

I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” (John 10:11-18)

In John 10:11-18, the Bible tells us that God is a shepherd and we are sheep. Why sheep? Why not cheetahs or giraffes or elephants or another animal with a bit of flair, a bit of class?

I do not know much about sheep. However, when I spent some time reading about sheep. It was funny and of humbling because, sheep are not survivors. They are not strong and independent creatures, not proud hunters or fierce predators. They are actually pathetic, entirely dependent upon a shepherd for four reasons.

First – Sheep have no sense of direction - Many people say sheep are dumb or stupid but I say they are notorious for directionless. In fact, they will follow whoever is leading them, even if it leads them off a cliff.

On July 8, 2005, the Aksam newspaper reported an incident in Gevas, a town in eastern Turkey, the first sheep jumped to its death by leaping off the 15-meter cliff. Then 1,500 others followed, and in the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of one another in a billowy white pile. Those who jumped later were alive as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned.

Sheep are also prone to wander away from the flock (Isaiah 53:6). A sheep’s only chance of survival is with the flock under the care of a competent shepherd. Sheep easily become distracted, and they wander away. They either spy greener grass in the other direction or fail to notice when the flock moves away.

The Bible calls us sheep not to devalue us, but to remind us that we cannot get back home on our own. We need Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, to bring us back to the Father. As St. Peter closes his first letter by reminding us that we are sheep in the flock of God. The sheep absolutely need a good shepherd.

Second – Sheep are defenseless - Left to themselves, sheep will not and cannot last very long. Any other domesticated animals will stand a fighting chance of survival when they return to the wild. But not sheep. Put a sheep in the wild and we just given nature a snack.

How about posture? A dog will bark, growl and show his teeth to warn his enemies away. A lion will roar. A rattlesnake will shake his rattle. A cat will arch his back and hiss. The best a sheep can do is “baaa”. I do not think that bear is going be too intimidated.

Sheep cannot fight, they cannot run away, and they cannot scare away. So what does a sheep do when danger comes? It flocks. When a bear approaches, the sheep will gather with others in a pack and run in circles in a complete panic, just hoping that the bear will choose someone else. Without a good shepherd to protect them, the bear will pick off and eat them one by one.

Third - Sheep are innocent – As a prey animal, the sheep is inherently defenseless and relies on a shepherd for guidance and protection. This vulnerability reinforces its innocence, as it lacks the power to harm or defend itself.

Throughout the Bible, sheep are consistently portrayed as symbols of innocence and purity. This imagery serves to illustrate key theological concepts, including the sacrificial system, the nature of Christ as the Lamb of God, and the relationship between believers and their divine Shepherd. The consistent use of sheep as a metaphor for innocence underscores the importance of purity and submission in the biblical narrative. The lamb, which was not a goat or any other animal, was sacrificed at Passover because it represented the Lamb of God–flawless, pure, and holy.

In broader culture, dependence is a quality used to emphasize innocence and Jesus's followers are referred to as sheep under his guidance as the "Good Shepherd". This highlights the innocent and trusting nature of those who depend on a higher power for guidance.

Fourth - Sheep are valuable - The significance of sheep in the Bible is probably more than we ever realized. Sheep are prized possession in Jesus’ day. A wealthy man would own large flocks of sheep because sheep provided meat, milk, wool, and they produced offspring.

Since sheep are valuable, good shepherds would have no hesitation to make many sacrifices to make sure their flocks are safe. Sheep are shepherd’s livelihood. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us because Jesus loved us so much. He died on a cross so we would live with Him forever.

When God says that we are sheep who need a shepherd, he does not mean it as a compliment to us. It is just a very realistic assessment of who we are and what we need. We are sheep who are completely dependent upon a shepherd.

To say that God is our shepherd and we are sheep, is to humble ourselves, admitting what is true about us, and to elevate God, declaring what is true of him. To declare that God is our shepherd is to praise and glorify him because God the shepherd condescends down to care for the poor, lost, not-so-smart sheep like you and me.

God compares people to sheep in the Bible to highlight our need for a spiritual shepherd—Jesus—for guidance, protection, and care, as sheep are known to be vulnerable, easily lost, and unable to find their own way to safety or truth. This metaphor also emphasizes the importance of recognizing and following God's voice, distinguishing it from the dangerous voices of the world, much like sheep would only follow their true shepherd. We are to be innocent as lambs - pure and righteous.