His Flock

His Flock
By Jenny Komenda after William Charles Estall

“And I will set up over them one shepherd, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God.”
Ezekiel 34:23-24

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32

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In the ancient hills of Judea, shepherds moved among their flocks with a familiarity that city dwellers could scarcely comprehend – knowing each sheep by name, by peculiar habit, by unique need. When Christ declared, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep,” He revealed not simply a pastoral metaphor, but the very nature of divine care.

Consider how a shepherd leads: not with harsh commands made from a comfortable distance, but by walking alongside and ahead of his flock, weathering the same blistering sun, traversing the same treacherous terrain, offering his life in defense of the sheep. Moreover, the Good Shepherd does not merely guard the flock’s perimeter but seeks out and cares for the one. His familiarity with our needs is not theoretical but experiential. He knows His sheep individually, and can recognize the particular sound of each disciple’s distress.

In moments of personal trial, the assurance that Jesus knows each of His sheep by name can be a source of profound solace. As Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught, “You may feel that your life is in ruins. You may have sinned. You may be afraid, angry, grieving, or tortured by doubt. But just as the Good Shepherd finds His lost sheep, if you will only lift up your heart to the Savior of the world, He will find you. He will rescue you. He will lift you up and place you on His shoulders. He will carry you home.” We can feel assurance that, no matter how isolated or lost we may feel, the Savior's reach is infinite, and His concern for us is deeply personal.

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