Do we smell like sheep?

Shepherds in Biblical times would live with their sheep. They would stay in the fields to protect and lead them for weeks on end. They would also apply an ointment to the head and back of their sheep to ward off bugs and parasites. (Perhaps this gives new meaning to “Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over”). After so much time spent with the sheep, anointing their head and back with ointment, picking up the wounded lamb, and feeding them daily – the shepherd would literally smell like the sheep.

Christ came to earth as the Good Shepherd. He walked with man, lived with man, was “tempted in all ways like as we are”, and bled and died as a man. He ‘smelled’ like His sheep.

Do we? Do we as pastors spend so much time with our sheep, so closely affected by their hurts, wiped away so many tears, dealt with so many problems, that we appear to ‘smell’ like our sheep?

Christ – “Lovest thou me?”
Peter – “Yes Lord”
Christ- “Feed My Sheep!”