The following article is an excerpt from the book Jesus Now by Frank Viola Author

A friend of mine tells the story of traveling through the steppes of Afghanistan and northern regions of Iran, being struck by the pastoral style of life present there.

It’s a simple life, relatively the same as it was two thousand years ago when peasants moved from site to site, herding their livestock. One day my friend, through a translator, asked an older herdsman what the greatest challenge of being a shepherd was. His response, given in a measured chuckle was: “Getting the sheep to know that I’m the shepherd, and they’re not!” This about sums up the Christian life, doesn’t it?

While He was on earth, Jesus described Himself as the good shepherd, and one of His foremost disciples calls him “the chief shepherd.”:

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (John 10:11–15)

Since His resurrection, He is also called “the great Shepherd of the sheep.”

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord. (Heb. 13:20)

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:4)

What exactly is the Lord’s role as chief shepherd? And what does it mean when He calls himself “the good shepherd?” These are questions I’ve wondered about for quite some time. Perhaps the best text in the entire Bible that answers them is Psalm 23. Let’s look at it with an eye to understanding the present-day ministry of Jesus Christ.

On Shepherds and Sheep

Sheep are the most frequently mentioned animal in all of Scripture. God’s people are often depicted in the Bible as sheep.

David, who wrote Psalm 23, was a shepherd by trade. He had an intimate knowledge of shepherding and of sheep. I’ve always thought that was interesting. David was perhaps the greatest king in all of Israelite history, and certainly the founder of an entire dynasty of rulers.

Usually when a king or a ruler in ancient cultures came to power, what he did was re-write his backstory. Think of Octavian, the nephew of Julius Caesar, rising to power—what did he do? He changed his name to Augustus (which means “one worthy of worship”) and had several new biographies commissioned, each one linking him to the gods and and heroes of Roman mythology.

But with David we see something different. It seems that when people remembered him, they proudly recalled his humble beginnings. I wonder why? Part of my own belief is that being a shepherd–being attached to sheep–was not only a valid way of living, it was also recognized to being deeply connected with God’s own heart.

Shepherding is fit for a king because it reflects the occupation of the Creator of all things. From a Christian worldview many of David’s songs all point to Christ. This is no more true than with several of his “shepherd’s songs.” Interestingly, Psalm 22, 23, and 24 all foreshadow different aspects of Christ’s ministry.

Psalm 22 points to Christ’s crucifixion (past).

Psalm 24 points to His second coming (future).

And right in the middle, Psalm 23 points to the Lord’s present-day ministry. Thus it is a text that firmly belongs to us.

The LORD is my shepherd,

I shall not want;

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Ps. 23)

Let’s break down each part of this passage with an eye toward understanding the present-day ministry of Christ as our great shepherd.