Leadership is what we do but being a shepherd is who we are.
“To the elders … be shepherds” (! Peter 5 v 1-2)
Into a context of being interrogated over who he is, where he is from and why he is here, Jesus tells a story.
Was it going to be a story showing the power of who he was? A warrior leading the people into battle over the Roman Empire? No! He tells the story of a shepherd (John 10).
The story is not of a powerful leader but of a caring and loving shepherd.
The Bible is full of a God who loves as a shepherd.
Joseph described God, “God who has been my shepherd all my life” (Genesis 48:15)
Isaiah prophesies, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (40:11)
And of course David says, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1)
So it isn’t strange in the slightest for Jesus to reveal who he is by giving a story regarding a shepherd and the sheep.
Of course there is more than loving and caring. There is the voice that is recognised. There is the leadership ability to lead them out. But the voice and the leadership is set in the context of being a shepherd.
Today I am attending a surprise event for someone who was in one of my churches that I led years ago. I was their leader, the ‘elder’ as Peter calls them, the one responsible for leading through teaching, leading in mission, leading in discipleship. They will have forgotten many details of my leadership except the main one. They will remember my love and care for them. They will remember I was their shepherd.
You never forget your leader who was a shepherd to you.
Missions Paul 