Old Testament prophecies prepared people to envision the Messiah as a Shepherd, guiding and protecting His flock. Jesus Christ, in John 10:1, describes the shepherd entering by the gate, the rightful way into a sheep pen, distinguishing Himself from false messiahs who deceive and seek control over the people. As the legitimate Heir of the chosen seed, He fulfills these ancient promises. Jesus Christ personifies the Good Shepherd, dying for sinners who, like sheep, have gone astray. 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 unmatched benevolence. As the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ was sent by the Father, receiving His authority, purposes, and power with full acceptance 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 embodies the Ruling Shepherd, set to return and reward His faithful under-shepherds. Combining the roles of shepherd, parent, and ruler, He declares with authority, "I am the Good Shepherd," reflecting the ideal kingship of ancient times. A good shepherd must own his sheep, as seen when Jesus refers to them personally as His own. Each shepherd separates his flock with a unique call, leading rather than driving them, guiding them to beneficial pastures and protecting them from danger. As the Creator through whom all was made, His sheep are familiar to Him, bearing the mark of ownership through unconditional obedience and submission.

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 knows His sheep, and they know Him, fostering a bond that allows Him to lead them effectively, teaching and guiding them to reflect His ways automatically as they anticipate His will. This unity mirrors the complete knowledge shared between the Father and the Son, ensuring the Shepherd's thorough understanding of each sheep. Leadership is crucial for the Good Shepherd, as sheep often go astray and rely on His guidance for safety. His sheep discern His voice through long familiarity, turning away from unfamiliar or misleading voices that might lead them from the truth. The Good Shepherd's positive guidance directs 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 commitment, as He voluntarily gave Himself up to die, not by force but by choice, in obedience to God, His Father. This act highlights His special relationship with His followers, the saints of His flock. Through His sacrifice, the Good Shepherd gives abundant, eternal life to His sheep by removing the obstacle of death, the penalty for sin, through resurrection. The same Spirit that dwells in the Father and the Shepherd also dwells in the sheep, ensuring their eternal security. No one can steal His sheep from Him, as they are securely held in His hand, united with Him and the Father, forming one flock under His intimate care, recognizing and obeying His voice.

Jesus Christ, as the Good Shepherd and Chief Shepherd, has appointed 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 shepherding attributes. However, false shepherds, not appointed by God, also exist, described by Jesus as thieves and robbers who come to steal, kill, and destroy, and as hirelings who abandon the sheep in times of need for their own safety. God pronounces woe on appointed shepherds who become derelict, destroying and scattering His flock, leading them astray, and failing to care for them, as seen in their dull-heartedness and self-serving actions. Despite imperfections, Jesus Christ has established the roles of under-shepherds, ordaining this order for His flock. Sheep face dangers in extremes, either becoming overly dependent on under-shepherds, leading to spiritual immaturity, or rejecting them entirely, a condition consistently depicted as negative and harmful. When sheep are scattered or driven away by abuse or neglect, they must beseech the Good Shepherd to gather them to the under-shepherd of His choosing.

Sheep are often likened to Christians, with ministers serving as shepherds. Sheep naturally gather in flocks and follow a leader, allowing a single shepherd to manage hundreds effectively. They require constant care due to their habitual nature; left alone, they follow the same paths into ruts, overgraze fields into dust bowls, and corrupt their pastures with disease and parasites. Thus, shepherds must continually guide them to fresh pastures, highlighting the critical importance of their guidance. A shepherd is one who herds, guards, and cares for sheep, and Jesus Christ, our Chief Shepherd, has appointed human shepherds to tend His flock. Sheep recognize their shepherd through his voice, as illustrated in the Parable of the True Shepherd. In an enclosure where multiple flocks mix at night, the shepherd calls his sheep by name in the morning, and they separate from the others to follow him. The sheep know and respond to his voice, ignoring strangers. This voice represents a message or revelation that the true shepherd delivers, prompting the sheep to follow immediately. To discern a true shepherd, the sheep must test the spirits and understand the message, distinguishing the spirit of truth from error. A true shepherd leads the flock down the right path, calling them out from the enclosure to the paths of righteousness. God's sheep, with opened ears, hear and follow this voice, responding correctly if they remain diligent.

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.