Jesus Christ, as the Good Shepherd and Chief Shepherd, has appointed under-shepherds to watch over His flock, both physical and spiritual, from ancient Israel to the New Covenant church era and into the Millennium. While He provides the pattern for these under-shepherds, gifting them to reflect His own shepherding, false shepherds and hirelings also exist, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy, or abandoning the sheep in times of need. God pronounces woe on shepherds who scatter and neglect His flock, leading them astray with cruelty and self-interest rather than strengthening and healing them. Even though under-shepherds may not perfectly emulate the Good Shepherd, He has established their roles and ordained this order. Sheep face the danger of becoming too dependent on an under-shepherd, relinquishing responsibility and stunting spiritual growth by not testing all things or discerning good from evil. Such sheep may focus more on the under-shepherd than on the Chief Shepherd, believing their standing before God depends on their shepherd or group, leaving them unprepared for the Kingdom of God. Conversely, the condition of sheep without a shepherd is consistently negative and harmful, often resulting from being driven away or scattered by abuse and neglect. In such cases, sheep can only beseech the Good Shepherd to gather them to the under-shepherd of His choosing.

Sometimes, circumstances scatter Christians, leaving the sheep without a shepherd. However, if sheep choose to be without a shepherd, they reject one of the Chief Shepherd's major gifts to His flock, willfully stepping outside His established order. To purposefully become a sheep without a shepherd is to put oneself in serious danger, likely 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 have the responsibility to submit to godly shepherds, comparing their instruction with what God has already established in His Word, following a shepherd's faith only as it aligns with the teachings of Jesus. Despite chaos and confusion in the greater church, none of it is out of the Shepherd's control. He oversees the under-shepherds, ensuring His will is fulfilled, having laid down His life for His sheep, assuring that not one who looks to Him will be lost. If we are intent on following 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 comforts us, saying, Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, personally knows and cares for His sheep, guiding them as the door to salvation and pasture (John 10:9, 11, 14). Sheep are far from self-sufficient, requiring constant attention and direction, unable to thrive on their own due to their habitual and destructive nature. Left to themselves, they turn trails into ruts, graze areas into wastelands, and pollute their fields with parasites and disease. A skilled shepherd must keep the flock moving, changing pastures to ensure the best food and to prevent re-infection, avoiding the risks of malnourishment and sickness that come from staying in one place too long. As Christ refers to His church as a flock and individuals as sheep (Matthew 26:31; Luke 12:32; John 10:16), He similarly manages His people, preventing destructive habits and the pollution of sin that can harm themselves and others. When circumstances change, His sheep need not fear, for the Good Shepherd is in control, adjusting their environment to keep their lives from becoming static. Though sheep naturally go astray, each turning to their own way (Isaiah 53:6), the Good Shepherd remains faithful, calling them back before it is too late, often through circumstances that remind them of their absolute dependence on Him (Hebrews 13:5). His sheep hear His voice and respond willingly, yearning for His guidance even at the cost of personal comfort, trusting that He has a better path for them (John 10:27).

Christians are often likened to sheep, with ministers as their shepherds. Sheep naturally gather in flocks and follow a leader, allowing a single shepherd to manage many with ease. Yet, sheep need constant care, as they are creatures of habit, prone to overgraze and ruin pastures if not guided to fresh fields. A shepherd, defined as one who herds, guards, and cares for sheep, holds a vital role in their well-being. How, then, do sheep recognize their true shepherd and avoid deceptive wolves? In the Parable of the True Shepherd, many sheep from different flocks mix together in an enclosure at night. In the morning, the shepherd calls His sheep by name. Despite the intermingling, His sheep hear His voice and separate themselves to follow Him. The sheep know His voice and do not heed strangers. When the shepherd speaks, they respond immediately. The voice, in this sense, carries a message of revelation, a disclosure through speech that the true shepherd delivers, prompting His sheep to follow. To discern if the message is true, the sheep must test the spirits. Only those of God's flock can truly hear and understand the message of His ministers. The world may acclaim a worldly shepherd, but God's sheep recognize the spirit of truth over error through the shepherd's message. The shepherd's duty is to lead the flock down the right path, calling them out from where they mingled with others, guiding them with a voice they know and trust.

Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, shares a profound and intimate bond with His sheep, characterized by mutual recognition and trust. He declares, "I know My sheep, and am known by My own," highlighting a relationship where the sheep not only recognize His voice but also understand His thoughts and instinctively mirror His actions. This unity mirrors the oneness between the Shepherd and the Father, with the Shepherd possessing complete knowledge of each sheep. The necessity of the Shepherd's leadership is evident as sheep often stray without guidance. Unlike other creatures, sheep depend on their Shepherd to lead them safely. They can distinguish His voice from that of a thief or stranger due to their long familiarity, becoming alarmed at unfamiliar calls. This discernment ensures they follow only the true Shepherd, who guides them in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. The Good Shepherd's willingness to lay down His life for His sheep underscores His deep commitment. He voluntarily gave Himself up, not forced by external powers, as an act of obedience to His Father. This sacrifice emphasizes His special relationship with His followers, whom He calls "My sheep," distinguishing them as members of His flock. Furthermore, the Shepherd grants abundant, eternal life to His sheep by overcoming the barrier of death through His sacrifice. This life is shared through the same Spirit that dwells in the Father, the Shepherd, and the sheep. Secure in His hand, no one can snatch the sheep away, for the Shepherd and His Father are one, ensuring the flock's safety and unity. The sheep, in harmony with their Shepherd, recognize and obey His voice, following Him as He calls, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

Sheep have a natural inclination to assemble in flocks, a trait that allows a lone shepherd to manage hundreds of them. As sheep, we are part of a flock under the care of our Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who has appointed human shepherds to guide us. The importance of the shepherd is evident, as sheep require constant care, often following the same paths into ruts, overgrazing hillsides into wastelands, and polluting their ground with disease if left unattended. A shepherd must lead them to fresh pastures, guarding and caring for them. How do sheep recognize their shepherd amidst dangers like savage wolves or false prophets who seek to lead them astray? The answer lies in the voice of the shepherd. As described in John 10:1-5, the true shepherd enters by the door, and the sheep hear his voice, recognizing it as he calls them by name and leads them out. They follow him because they know his voice, refusing to follow a stranger whose voice they do not recognize. This voice, beyond a mere sound, represents a message or disclosure, a call that the sheep understand and respond to, separating themselves from others to follow their shepherd. This understanding of the voice as a message is crucial. As warned in I John 4:1, 5-6, we must test the spirits to discern truth from error, for many false prophets speak as of the world, and the world hears them. Only those of God truly hear and understand the message of God's shepherds. If the world understands a shepherd's message, that shepherd is of the world. God's sheep know the right path through the voice, the message of their shepherd, who leads them as an overseer in all respects. In the parable of John 10, we, as sheep, were penned with others, perhaps asleep in the night, yet we heard the voice of our Shepherd. Our ears were opened, and we understood the message, responding by separating ourselves from the larger flock to follow Him. As I Peter 2:25 reminds us, we were once like sheep going astray but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.