Why was Jesus referred to as a shepard? Does that mean Christians view themselves as his sheep?

Shepard's keep sheep to slaughter!

They also say he was a fisher of men but fishermen catch fish to eat!

The phrase “the Lord is my shepherd” comes from one of the most beloved of all passages of Scripture, the 23rd Psalm. In this passage and throughout the New Testament we learn that the Lord is our Shepherd in two ways. First, as the Good Shepherd, He laid down His life for His sheep and, secondly, His sheep know His voice and follow Him (John 10:11, 14).

In Psalm 23, God is using the analogy of sheep and their nature to describe us. Sheep have a natural tendency to wander off and get lost. As believers, we tend to do the same thing. It’s as Isaiah has said: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). When sheep go astray, they are in danger of getting lost, being attacked, even killing themselves by drowning or falling off cliffs.

Likewise, within our own nature there is a strong tendency to go astray (Romans 7:5; 8:8), following the lusts of our flesh and eyes and pursuing the pride of life (1 John 2:16). As such, we are like sheep wandering away from the Shepherd through our own futile self-remedies and attempts at self-righteousness. It is our nature to drift away (Hebrews 2:1), to reject God and to break His commandments. When we do this, we run the risk of getting lost, even forgetting the way back to God. Furthermore, when we turn away from the Lord we soon find ourselves confronting one enemy after another who will attack us in numerous ways.

Jesus declared that He is our Shepherd and demonstrated it by giving His life for us. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Through His willing sacrifice the Lord made salvation possible for all who come to Him in faith (John 3:16). In proclaiming that He is the good shepherd, Jesus speaks of “laying down” His life for His sheep (John 10:15, 17-18).

Like sheep, we too need a Shepherd. Men are spiritually blind and lost in their sin. This is why Jesus spoke of the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-6). He is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us. He searches for us when we’re lost, to save us and to show us the way to eternal life (Luke 19:10). We tend to be like sheep, consumed with worry and fear, following after one another. By not following or listening to the Shepherd’s voice (John 10:27), we can be easily led astray by others to our own destruction. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, warns those who do not believe and listen to Him: “I did tell you, but you do not believe . . . you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:25-28).

Psalm 23:1-3 tells us that the shepherd meets the sheep’s every need: food, water, rest, safety and direction. When we as believers follow our Shepherd, we too know that we will have all we need. We will not lack the necessities of life for He knows exactly what we need (Luke 12:22-30).

In Psalm 23:3; the Hebrew word translated “paths” means “well-worn paths or ruts.” In other words, when sheep wander onto a new path, they start to explore it, which invariably leads them into trouble. This passage is closely akin to what the Hebrew writer warns us about: “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings” (Hebrews 13:9). The apostle Paul also alludes to this idea in Ephesians 4:14.

Finally, the shepherd cares for the sheep because he loves them and wants to maintain his own good reputation as a faithful shepherd. As we’ve seen in Psalm 23, the analogy of the Lord as the Good Shepherd was also applied by Jesus in John chapter 10. In declaring that He is the shepherd of the sheep, Jesus is confirming that He is God. The Eternal God is our Shepherd. And we would not want it any other way.

Yup, and as a farmer, I know EXACTLY what happens to sheep and other livestock. The shepherd may protect and raise them while they live, but once they're grown, well...you know what happens.

Frankly, that analogy always did bug me about Christianity and it didn't help to grow up in a church that didn't like change and did things the exact same way from sunday to sunday. Right before I moved out on my own and quit going, it unnerved me to see how people in my church behaved during service, all completely in sync.

Basically, it all comes down to two words: herd mentality.

(John 10:25-30) 25 Jesus answered them: “I told YOU, and yet YOU do not believe. The works that I am doing in the name of my Father, these bear witness about me. 26 But YOU do not believe, because YOU are none of my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 And I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father. 30 I and the Father are one.”

As in "Shepherd" [shep-erd], it may mean:

a. a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep.

b. a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people.

c. a member of the clergy.

We can still use letter B perhaps...

Jesus is our shepard and we our his sheep. Shepards (Jesus) take care of their sheep (Christians) and protect us from wolves (Satan). Does this help?

Exactly. Ministers are called pastors and congregations are called flocks. Why is that a problem for you?

the reality is sheep are one of the most stupid animals without a spirit and their behaviour resembles ours...thing is we chose to be like sheep because of the selfish human spirit...and God...who loves us....gave us a shepherd to guide us....sheep ..when they are shepherded are good animals and they wont hurt themselves....and whether we want to admit it....we need a shepherd...to guide us through this life...not control us...just guide...

I credit sheep with more intelligence.

Its kind of like leader and the sheep follow the leader.

In that time shepard was a very common job.