The Ministerial Alliance Minute

By Pastor Brian Johnson, First Baptist Church, Winnie

The Good Shepherd

  In John 10:11, Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” When we picture a shepherd, we see far more than someone who simply watches over animals. A true shepherd lives among the sheep. He is with them in the cold and in the heat, during droughts and floods, and through every storm. Wherever the sheep are, the shepherd is there. The shepherd leads his sheep toward nourishment and safety. He knows the land intimately—where danger hides and where abundance can be found. He understands where his sheep will thrive and the best path to get them there. He does not push or drive them with fear but leads them with patience and purpose. When a sheep falls, he lifts it up. When one is sick, he tends its wounds and guides it toward healing. When a predator comes to steal or destroy, the shepherd stands in the gap, risking his own life to protect the flock. The sheep do not need to figure everything out on their own. Their responsibility is simple: trust the shepherd and follow his voice. This is exactly what Jesus does for us today. Here is the good news—you do not have to walk through life alone, hoping you make the right choices. You can fix your eyes on the Savior and follow Him. He not only knows the way; He is the way.