I Just Wanna Be a Sheep

"He would whack him on the head with the staff!"
Today, in their weekly chapel, the preschoolers were hearing about Jesus being the good shepherd. The teacher was reading them the 23rd psalm and showing them pictures in a book. She explained how the shepherd has a staff with a crook to keep the sheep in line and protect them. There was a picture of a wolf in one of the pictures and she asked, "What does the shepherd do when a wolf comes?" To which a 4 year answered, "He would whack him on the head with the staff!"

The image of Jesus as shepherd is used a lot in the church and in the Bible and it is a good image. But I always think about the calm sheep and green pastures and the idyllic life of a shepherd. This four year today reminded me that being a shepherd is hard, dirty, dangerous work that has a dark side. The four year old was exactly right however. (Perhaps someday he will be a brilliant theologian or preacher.) When Satan comes after us, Jesus, the good shepherd, bashes him on the head with his staff. In fact, Jesus on the cross is that crushing blow. Satan prowls like a roaring lion and when he gets close to Jesus' flock Jesus takes his staff and strikes him a mighty blow. And thank God he does. We are no more than stupid sheep and would be devoured for sure.

PS Shepherd imagery worked great in the Bible because they actually had shepherds around. We don't anymore and so I think we lack a lot of understanding. There is a great child's book about a boy shepherd and it gives a great picture of the difficulties of being a shepherd. I recommend it to everyone, especially people who are going to be pastors. It is called The Hay Meadow by Gary Paulson. (Probably not related to Prof. Paulson.)