The twenty-third Psalm reveals Jesus as the believers’ Shepherd.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Heb 13:20

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant

          Jesus is the good Shepherd who cares for His sheep. His sheep are the people who have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior, and are following Him in faith, love and holiness.

          A shepherd’s job was an important one in the Bible time.  But it was a tough one.  The shepherd spent much of his life with his flock.  He led them to fresh grazing each day.  Each night, he counted the sheep into an open fold.  Then he laid across the entrance of the sheepfold.  He had to keep a keen watch for the wild animals which sneaked up from the tangled jungle and mountains to kill and devour his sheep.

          Jesus, the good Shepherd, endured the greatest hardship and perils, and gave His life to save His own sheep (John 10:11).  In order to save His sheep from the grip of sin and Satan, He allowed Himself to suffer a cruel treatment and death that He did not deserve.  

All who believe in Him are saved from eternal death.

John 3

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

and are redeemed from sin and Satan

(Titus 2:14; Jer. 125:21, 1 Tim. 2:5-6).

          True believers in Christ are Christ’s sheep

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

He leads His sheep across barren country of need, out of the dark and barren canyons of error and deception, to the green pastures and fresh water of blessing, righteousness, peace and divine grace.  He feeds His sheep well with the word of life and nourishes them with the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 10:14

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Jesus knows His sheep. He knows the genuineness of their faith as opposed to the superficiality of the faith of nominal Christians.  He knows the need of His sheep and He is not uncertain as to how to meet the needs (Phil. 4:19).  His sheep – His – also know Him.  The love Him and trust with all their hearts.  They cast their cares upon Him (1Peter 5:7) and refuse to follow the evil one (John 10:27).

          There are many cult organizations peddling false teachings, today.  Some of them use the Bible and the Name of Jesus, pretending to be the only genuine Christians in the world.

Many are being deceived by them (2Peter 2:1).  But the true followers of Jesus recognize the false teachers for what they are and shun them and heir heresies.