Page 22 - September 2026 - Truth & Tidings

Christ is not distant. His knowledge of relationship with His own is more than
His people is full, and His attention is up collectively; He knows and calls each
close and unbroken. sheep personally. Individually, He saves,
This truth would have been especially shepherds and oversees our lives.
precious to scattered believers facing in- This truth of His present shepherd-
tense suffering. Their circumstances have ing and overseeing work is beautifully
not placed them beyond His ever-watchful exemplified in His post-resurrection ap-
care. They remain under His direct, per- pearances. Taking one example, consider
sonal oversight. And unlike mere human Mary Magdalene in John 20 as she stood
observation, which is limited by partial weeping at the tomb. Although the risen
knowledge, His oversight never mis- Lord was present, she did not recognize
judges, overlooks or fails to understand. Him. Grief clouded her perception, and
she supposed Him to be the gardener.
Of Our Souls But then He spoke her name: “Miriam”
Peter emphasizes the soul through this (translated “Mary” in John 20:16, distinct
epistle. He writes of “the salvation of from verse 1 and verse 11, where John
your souls” (1:9), “purifying your souls” used the equivalent of “Maria” to refer to
(1:22), “lusts which war against the soul” her in the narrative). He spoke to her in a
(2:11), “commit[ting] their souls to Him in way only One who knew her personally
doing good” (4:19), and in our verse, the would. And with a word He addressed the
“Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” need of her sorrowing soul. Everything
The soul, in this context, speaks of our changed at the sound of His voice.
inner life – our thoughts, ambitions, and Mary responded with a unique name for
our spiritual lives meant to be lived in Him: “Rabboni,” “my Lord and Teacher,”
fellowship with God. As the Shepherd or “my honored Master.” The Shepherd
and Overseer of our souls, Christ’s care speaks, and the sheep hears and is re-
reaches deeper than our circumstances assured. The Overseer speaks, and the
and our physical challenges, even to the disciple responds with readiness to fol-
most inward parts of who we are. His low and to be directed. In all this we see
shepherding and oversight include not that His shepherding care did not end at
just our physical needs but more impor- the cross. The One who saved Mary from
tantly our ongoing spiritual development. seven demons revealed Himself to her in
In the words of the Shepherd Psalm, “He resurrection power, addressing her by
restores my soul; He leads me in the paths name. He continued – and continues – to
of righteousness for His name’s sake” make Himself known to His own as the
(Psa 23:3). Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. We
rightfully appreciate His saving work.
He Calls We hopefully look forward to His com-
We’ve already seen that the context of ing glory. But are we expectantly hearing
His title “the Shepherd and Overseer of His voice today? Are we reassured by His
your souls” is the call to follow Him, even care? Are we responding with a readiness
through suffering (v21). And, as our Lord to follow Him, no matter where He leads?
explained earlier, He “calls His own sheep That’s how we are to know Him as the
by name and leads them” (Joh 10:3). His Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.

278 TRUTH kTidings Sepember 2026