What does the Bible say about Jesus Christ – the Good Shepherd?
The Bible is filled with verses describing Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd of the sheep. The Shepherd who knows His own – every quirk, every heart desire, every unspoken prayer. We, Christians, are the sheep of His pasture – Psalm 100:3, safe in His care. Our Shepherd is our Savior.
Bible Verses Declaring Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd
John 10:11 NLT “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
- John 10:1-5 NLT “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
- Isaiah 43:1 NLT “But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”
- John 10:14-16 NLT “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”
- Ephesians 2:14-18 NLT “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.”
- 2 Timothy 2:19 NLT “But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: ‘The LORD knows those who are his,’ and ‘All who belong to the LORD must turn from evil.'”
- Psalm 23:1 NLT “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”
- 1 Peter 2:25 NLT “Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.”
- Isaiah 53:3-6 NLT “He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.”
- Revelation 7:17 NLT “For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
- Matthew 26:31 NLT “On the way, Jesus told them, ‘Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
- Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT “Now may the God of peace – who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood – may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
Jesus Christ – The Good Shepherd
Christian Book Excerpt from Revival of the Hearts by Alysa VanderWeerd
Healing for the nations is found in Jesus Christ.
“The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” – Revelation 7:16-17 NKJV.
Our Good Shepherd is in our midst – for He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow – Hebrews 13:8.
There is something to be said for the consistency of Jesus Christ – He is our stability. Whether, our current situation is confusing, overwhelming, draining, joyful, seemingly unstable with nothing certain – we know Christ is our Rock, and we have a strong foundation to walk steady when everything else sways. His stability and consistency in our life is healing. He is faithful to fulfill His promises. He is always there and He always will be.
- The Lord is the strength of our life – Psalm 27:1.
- He is our support – Psalm 18:18.
- We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us – Philippians 4:13.
- Because Christ is risen, we are never alone – Matthew 28:20.
- We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony – Revelation 12:11.
- The Lord will give us shepherds after His own heart who will guide us with knowledge and understanding – Jeremiah 3:15.
- He loves us with an unfailing love, drawing us to Himself – Jeremiah 31:3.
- No good thing will He withhold from those who do what is right – Psalm 84:11.
- He gives us every spiritual blessing – Ephesians 1:3.
- Adoption – Ephesians 1:5.
- Redemption & forgiveness of sins – Ephesians 1:7.
- An inheritance – Ephesians 1:11.
- Inner strength – Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 3:16.
- Faith – Romans 5:2.
- Grace – Romans 5:2; Hebrews 4:16.
- Hope – Romans 5:5.
- Love – Romans 5:5.
- Peace – John 14:27.
- Joy – Psalm 16:11.
- Mercy – Hebrews 4:16.
The healing touch of Jesus Christ is the touch we need on our life. The perfect touch of a Savior.
We read in Scripture that the multitudes swarmed Him begging for their sick and lame to be healed. But Jesus never healed in the same way. Why? They had similar ailments, right? But could it be just like when David inquired of the Lord on how to defeat the Philistines – the Lord gave him a different “route” the second time – 2 Samuel 5:17-25? It’s not the action that provides deliverance. It’s the Lord!
God has a specific purpose in every decision He makes – Isaiah 55:8-9. Every time He healed, His action proclaimed a message that continues to reverberate through time. Jesus Christ saves. If Jesus had healed in the same way each and every time, the people in their weakness would have idolized the action, taking their eyes off of their Savior. Jesus knows our weakness. Humans are drawn to power; desiring power. Thus, He redirects our eyes to the One who holds power – Himself. We need Jesus. He desires that we trust Him, realizing He is the source of healing; the powerful action is not the source.
Truly, a miracle is God’s divine intervention in a situation. His touch on a life. Every miracle reflects the saving nature of Jesus Christ, witnessed on the cross of Calvary. For He alone saves. He alone heals. It’s not the action; it’s the right touch of a Savior.