The
theme of the good shepherd is seen in both the Old and the New Testament alike.
The Profit Ezekiel writes of the good shepherd as the Lord God who will come
and rescue his sheep. Chapter ten of John’s Gospel fulfills this prophesy as
Jesus shows that he is the good shepherd. The image of Jesus as the good
shepherd continues to shape the imagination of Christians today as Jesus is
often seen in paintings and stain glass leading a flock of sheep. This imagery
is so prevalent in Christian tradition that the ordained are referred to as the
“Pastor,” the one who ministers to the flock, obedient and chosen by God.
The
theme of the shepherd is found throughout the Old Testament in Genesis,
Numbers, Psalms, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah and so on. In the
Old Testament, often the past shepherds of Israel have led their sheep astray by
irresponsible tending. Ezekiel addresses this concern with his prophesies about
the good shepherd who is to come. Ezekiel’s prophesy is twofold. First, he
addresses the problem of the past shepherds and then tells how God plans to
make things right.
