Old Testament prophecies prepared people to envision the Messiah as a Shepherd, guiding and protecting His flock. Jesus Christ, in John 10:1, presents Himself as the true Shepherd who enters by the gate, the lawful way, distinguishing Himself from false messiahs who seek to deceive and control. As the legitimate Heir of the chosen seed, He fulfills these ancient promises. Jesus Christ embodies the Good Shepherd, as seen in John 10:10, 14-15, through His sacrifice for sinners who have strayed like sheep. His goodness is not merely physical but reflects a morally beautiful, noble, and true nature, perfecting godly attributes in others. He guides, supports, and sacrifices Himself for His sheep with unparalleled benevolence. As the Great Shepherd, highlighted in John 10:15, 17-18, Jesus Christ came in the flesh with authority and purpose from the Father, in complete agreement and zeal. He sacrificed Himself, rose from the grave, and ascended to heaven, where He now intercedes for His sheep, united with the Father in Their love for the flock. Jesus Christ is also the Ruling Shepherd, as noted in John 10:27-28, who will return to reward faithful under-shepherds caring for the flock. Combining the roles of shepherd, parent, and ruler, He declares with authority that He is the Good Shepherd, embodying the ideal kingship of ancient times. In John 10:4, 14, 16, Jesus Christ emphasizes His ownership of the sheep, leading them personally with a unique call, guiding them to beneficial pastures, and protecting them from danger. His sheep, marked by unconditional obedience and submission, are deeply familiar to Him, as they are owned by the Creator through whom all creation was brought into existence.

In the closing chapters of John's gospel, among the last sayings of Christ after His resurrection, we find the profound command, "Feed My sheep," repeated three times, emphasizing a great responsibility. These sheep are His, belonging to Him by creation and redemption, and as such, we must act according to His will, recognizing our duty to Him above all. As under-shepherds to the Chief Shepherd, our primary task is to feed His flock by teaching and communicating the Word of God, the sole sustenance for Christians. This responsibility, while encompassing many traits and areas of service, centers on providing spiritual nourishment through regular, orderly, comprehensive, prayerful, and obedient teaching of the Scriptures. We must approach this duty with the conviction that we are meeting with Him, sensitive to His guidance, and aware of the needs of others, ensuring that our lives and the lives of those entrusted to us are transformed by obedience to His Word. Thus, in fulfilling Christ's commission to feed His sheep, we experience the profound joy of knowing that He speaks through us to His people.

Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, embodies the sovereign role of benefactor and ruler over His sheep, maintaining a deeply personal and intimate relationship with them. He declares, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends," demonstrating His profound love through His life and death, and continuing to show it in His glorious leadership of His church with kindness and providence. The importance of the Good Shepherd knowing His sheep is evident as He states, "I know My sheep, and am known by My own." This mutual awareness allows Him to lead His flock effectively, guiding them to learn His teachings and obey His commands. The sheep, through this intimate bond, understand His thoughts, reflect His ways, and automatically imitate Him, anticipating His will and becoming one with Him, just as He is one with the Father. Leadership is essential for the Good Shepherd, as sheep rarely find their way safely on their own. His guidance ensures their safety, and through long familiarity, they discern His voice from that of a thief or stranger, turning away from misleading calls. His positive direction leads them in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. The necessity of the Good Shepherd's willingness to give His life for His sheep is profound, as He repeatedly affirms, "I lay down My life for the sheep." Of His own will, He offered Himself up, not taken by force, but given voluntarily as an act of obedience to His Father. His sacrifice highlights His special, intimate relationship with His followers, whom He calls "My sheep." In giving life to His sheep, the Good Shepherd ensures their security and abundance. He grants eternal life by removing the barrier of death through resurrection, a life shared through the same Spirit that dwells in Him, His Father, and His flock. No one can steal His sheep from Him, for they are securely held in His hand, and together with His Father, Their grip remains unyielding, protecting the church against all threats. His sheep recognize and obey His voice, following Him as He knows them intimately.

The Day of Atonement emphasizes humanity's universal sinfulness, necessitating a divine solution. All humans from infants to seniors are incapable of redeeming themselves through charitable deeds or sacrifices. No human or animal offering has the capability to atone for sin. For this reason, the Creator God, Jesus Christ, became human, living sinlessly, offering Himself as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice, paying for the sins of all humanity, fulfilling the role of the ultimate sin offering. As the most solemn of the biblical feasts, this event points to the High Priest and atoning sacrifice. Leviticus 16 describes a two-goat ritual: one goat represents the payment for sin, while the second goat carries sins away, symbolizing sins total removal. Isaiah 53, as well as passages from the New Testament in Romans, Hebrews, Matthew, John, and I Peter all substantiate Christ's dual role in shedding His blood and bearing away sins, thereby reconciling humanity to God. This sacrifice grants access to Almighty God, enabling believers to pursue spiritual maturity under the guidance of Jesus Christ. Accepting Christ's sacrifice is only the beginning. Our Savior commands believers to strive for spiritual perfection, aligning themselves with God's will, yielding to Him as their Shepherd and High Priest.

Jesus Christ, as the Good Shepherd and Chief Shepherd, sets the ultimate example for shepherding His flock. He appoints under-shepherds to watch over His physical and spiritual flock, a practice that extends from ancient Israel through the New Covenant era and into the Millennium. The Chief Shepherd provides the pattern for these under-shepherds, gifting them to reflect His own attributes in their responsibilities. Despite this divine order, false shepherds and hirelings exist, seeking to harm or abandon the sheep for their own gain. Even appointed shepherds can become derelict, scattering and neglecting the flock, as condemned by the One who became Jesus Christ. While under-shepherds may not always perfectly emulate the Good Shepherd, He has established their roles to serve His flock. The condition of sheep without a shepherd is consistently portrayed as negative and harmful, and in such cases, the sheep must beseech the Good Shepherd to gather them to the under-shepherd of His choosing.

Jesus Christ, as the Good Shepherd, embodies a profound care for His sheep, personally knowing and tending to their needs. He declares, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture," highlighting His role in providing sustenance and safety. Sheep, utterly dependent and prone to destructive habits, mirror the vulnerability of His flock, requiring constant guidance to avoid desolation and disease. Without His intervention, they would graze pastures into wastelands and contaminate their environment with parasites. As the Good Shepherd, He ensures His flock is well-fed and healthy by keeping them on the move, changing their pastures to prevent malnourishment and re-infection. He adjusts their circumstances to avoid static, harmful patterns, reflecting His care for the church as a flock. Despite the sheep's tendency to stray, as noted in Isaiah, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way," He remains steadfast, calling them back before it is too late. His sheep hear His voice and follow, trusting in His guidance over their own paths, even when it leads away from familiar comforts. The Good Shepherd continually adapts their environment to bring out the best in them, safeguarding both individual sheep and the flock as a whole.

Jesus Christ, as the Chief Shepherd, provides ministry to the church to equip and encourage the growth of His flock. When sheep choose to be without a shepherd, they reject one of His major gifts, willfully stepping outside His established order. Though Christ is indeed their Shepherd, and each relationship with God is individual, He has gifted human under-shepherds to aid in bringing all sheep to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to the measure of the fullness of Christ. Only when a sheep has grown completely into the image of the Lamb of God does he no longer need an under-shepherd. Our Savior oversees these under-shepherds, holding them accountable for their responsibilities. To purposefully become a sheep without a shepherd places one in serious danger, likely leading to turning to one's own way, developing bad spiritual habits, becoming prey for satan, and ultimately becoming malnourished and spiritually diseased. Christ establishes that sheep must submit to godly shepherds, comparing their instruction with God's Word, rather than wandering away. Despite chaos and confusion in the greater church, none of it is out of the Shepherd's control. He limits the harm hirelings can cause, using even their harm for ultimate good if the sheep continue to look to Him. He has laid down His life for His sheep, ensuring that not one who looks to Him will be lost. If we follow the Shepherd's guidance, continually looking to Him for direction, He will lead us to the best pastures, producing a singular focus on Him and a faith trust that will carry us into the Kingdom. The Good Shepherd assures His little flock not to fear, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give them the Kingdom.

Concluding our exploration of Psalm 23, we see in verses 5 and 6 the destination and rewards as we finally achieve the rest at the end of our walk. People of the world who looked down upon the followers of God and His commandments will watch as the keepers of His word will be raised up and rewarded for their service and obedience. The shepherd goes ahead and examines the pastures so the sheep do not feast on the wrong things that would make them sick, keeping them from gorging on false rewards and harmful food. They are defended against harmful ideas, symbolized as parasites, while the shepherd anoints their head with oil, providing protection. The end shows that the pasture for the sheep is the "House of the Lord" where God's called out ones will dwell forever. By accepting the guidance of the Shepherd, we are taught to avoid the cup of wrath and have the cup of blessings overflow in that pasture.