Charlton House Independent School Newsletter

There is a lot to learn from this short passage.  Jesus makes it clear that he is the good shepherd, the one who takes care of the sheep; meaning us. When Jesus compares us to sheep, he is not paying us any compliments. Sheep aren’t the cleanest of animals, are they? Not only are sheep dirty, they are pretty daft too.  Sheep don’t think for themselves. They just follow other sheep who seem to be in charge. Sometimes we are so eager to fit in, to be cool or liked that we do or say things that other people do or say without even thinking about it. It is very important for us to think through our actions and words and even our beliefs. Sheep are also rather directionally challenged! If they wander off from the flock and shepherd, it’s hard, if not impossible, for them to get back on their own. The shepherd has to come and find them. This is what our good shepherd, Jesus, does with us when we start to wander away from him. He comes after us and carries us back to the fold, and then he celebrates that we are back in right relationship with him. 

 When we wander from the flock, when we stop going to church and spending time with other Christians, we have a harder time living like Jesus wants us to. We can’t protect ourselves from the dangers and temptations of the world. If we want to be like Jesus, which is what life is all about, then we need to spend time with Jesus and others who are learning to live like him.