The Good Shepherd

Stories of Jesus  ·  John 10:11, 14; Psalm 23:1

Jesus is my shepherd and I am safe.

A shepherd's whole job is to take care of their sheep. To keep them safe and fed and loved. Today we hear Jesus say something that made everyone listening stop and think: 'I am the Good Shepherd.'

Jesus is talking to a big crowd of people.

He says: 'I am the Good Shepherd.'

Everyone listening knew about shepherds. A shepherd stays with the sheep day and night. He leads them to green grass and fresh water. When it gets dark and scary, he is right there.

And if a wolf comes to hurt the sheep, a good shepherd doesn't run away. He stands between the wolf and the sheep. He protects them.

A hired worker might run when it gets dangerous. But a Good Shepherd loves his sheep too much to leave.

'I am the Good Shepherd,' Jesus says. 'I know my sheep. And my sheep know me.'

Can you take a big breath and let it out slowly? Like a sheep resting safely in the grass.

Jesus knows your name. He sees you. He watches over you. He won't leave when things get hard.

Psalm 23 says it too: 'The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need.'

You have a Good Shepherd. And He is the best there is.

Prayer

Let's pray. Repeat after me:
Dear God,
Thank you for being my shepherd.
Thank you that you never
leave me or let me go.
We love you!
Amen.

Listen to this devotional with audio narration and illustrations in the Seedling: Bible Stories app — short devotionals for Christian families with children ages 2–5.