Answer: Our Lord Jesus is described here as "that
great Shepherd of the sheep," (verse 20).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Psalm 23: "The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green
pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my
soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name's
sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your
staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup
overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the
days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever."
Isaiah 40:10-11: "See, the
Sovereign Lord comes with power, and His arm rules for Him.
See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies
Him. 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."
Ezekiel 34:11-16: "'For this
is what the Sovereign Lord says: I Myself will search for My sheep
and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered
flock when he is with them, so will I look after My sheep. I will
rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day
of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the
nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them
into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of
Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the
land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain
heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie
down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich
pasture on the mountains of Israel. I Myself will tend My
sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I
will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up
the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I
will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with
justice.'"
Matthew 2:6: "'But you,
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the
rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler Who will be the
Shepherd of My people Israel.'"
John 10:11-18: [Jesus said,] "I am
the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the
sheep. The hired hand is not the Shepherd Who owns the sheep.
So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs
away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The
man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the
sheep. I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep
know Me--just as the Father knows Me and I know the
Father--and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have
other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.
They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and
One Shepherd. The reason My Father loves Me is that I lay
down My life--only to take it up again. No one takes it
from Me, but I lay it down of My Own accord. I have authority to
lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I
received from My Father."
1 Peter 2:21-25: "To this you were
called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,
that you should follow in His steps. 'He committed no
sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.' When they
hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He
suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him
Who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on
the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;
by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep
going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and
Overseer of your souls."
1 Peter 5:1-4: "To the elders among
you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings
and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be
shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as
overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing,
as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to
the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will
receive the crown of glory that will never fade
away."
Revelation 7:17: "For the Lamb at
the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them
to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes."
