Getting to Know Jesus by Name #29: Great Shepherd

Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus is The Great Shepherd. We saw two days ago the extensive nature of this verb Great:  "Elaborate, ample: predominant; remarkable in magnitude, degree or effectiveness; eminent, distinguished, chief or preeminent over others; grand, markedly superior in character or quality; noble; remarkably skilled."* We now add that great picture of a Shepherd: "one who tends, guides and guards, a pastor."  This picture of God as a Shepherd is found throughout the Old Testament, but here it clearly is ascribed to His Son, Jesus, as the one Who laid down His life, Who is always there to guide and protect, making sure the well-being of His sheep is always His job.  There is none better to Whom we can trust with our souls.