Shepherding Jesus

Psalm 23

So just who was the shepherd for Jesus? When we say Jesus was fully man and men have need for a shepherd then who was His shepherd? So often He is recorded as getting alone to pray. He needed help to be human. Yes, He sought His Father's help, guidance, direction, strength to live as a human. Knowing Jesus Christ this way it isn't a far reach to say thatJesus could have prayed what is maybe the most familiar psalm of all, Psalm 23.

His Father was His shepherd. As fully human we must ask could Jesus have ever been in a position to possibly want? With such a drive at twelve years old would Jesus have need to rest in green pastures or beside still waters? Was not His determination to go through Samaria to meet that woman at the well outside Sychar being lead in the path of righteousness for the sake of God's name? Did not Jesus walk through the valley of the shadow of death with the widow of Nain, with Jarius' daughter, with Lazarus? Then might it be considered having a table spread before Him in the presence of His enemies, actually spread when the woman washed His feet with her tears, then anointed His feet? And now there is no question He is dwelling in the presence of His Father in His glorified now heavenly body forever still bearing the scars of all His torture as He was crucified.

Exploring through Psalm 23 then thinking of the number of times this psalm has been read, memorized, quoted, used at funerals, and many more occasions. Sometimes it is so familiar we miss the individual significance for ourselves. To stop and think how Jesus Christ, the fully human Jesus Christ also walked in ways that we ourselves find our paths. To learn that Jesus sought the Shepherd that looked after Him may we think more deeply when we say, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."