Old Testament prophecies prepared people to think of the Messiah as a Shepherd, and Jesus Christ fulfills this role as the legitimate Heir of the chosen seed. As the Good Shepherd, He died for earth's sinners, guiding and supporting His sheep with perfect goodness, sacrificing Himself for them with unmatched benevolence. As the Great Shepherd, 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 to seek and save the lost. As the Ruling Shepherd, He will return to reward His faithful under-shepherds, embodying the ideal kingship by combining the qualities of shepherd, parent, and ruler in His authority. His ownership of the sheep is personal, leading them with a unique call, guiding them to beneficial pastures, and protecting them from danger, as His sheep bear the mark of unconditional obedience and submission to Him.

Jesus Christ is referred to as the great Shepherd of the sheep. The Son is the great Shepherd. Christ acts as Shepherd to us, His sheep. As our shepherd He is responsible for our feeding, care, growth, successful completion or perfection or maturity, however one wants to think of that process, and ultimately He is responsible for our entrance into God's Kingdom. He is responsible for the entire process of our sanctification from the time God hands us over to Him after we are called all the way to the first resurrection and actually beyond because we are going to be His bride and He will care for us in the same way. Among our Shepherd's top goals is to create an environment for the sheep to prosper and grow. That environment is one of peace and contentment. One that is without fear, without conflict, without uncertainty. Jesus reveals Himself as the great Shepherd or the Good Shepherd. He leads them, protects them, maintains their lives with feeding and care, and not just maintains their lives but provides for them so much that they end up living abundant lives more than they need for life, with a lot of extras too. He knows each one personally, and they know Him. It is a special relationship, intimate and personal. He is a unifier of sheep and flocks, drawing them into one flock like He and the Father are one. And ultimately, He gives them eternal life. The peace that He wants us to develop is a precursor of God's rest that we will have fully in His Kingdom. He wants us to have a taste of His rest, and we can have it if we walk at peace with Him.