THIS week at Scargill House, we have been looking at the “I am” statements of Jesus in John’s Gospel. You know – “I am the light of the world”, “I am the Good Shepherd”, just to mention two. There are actually seven “I am” statements.

As part of the week, we welcomed Robert, the local farmer, whose family have been shepherds and farmers in Wharfedale for six generations. He gave us a wonderful insight into the joy and struggles of being a Dales farmer, the challenges they face with the weather, terrain, and long hours, as well as the hard economic facts that face farmers today.

Robert also mentioned that being a Dales shepherd was a way of life, a thought that has stayed with me as a way of life talks about commitment and an enormous amount of self-sacrifice.

Jesus says “I am the Good Shepherd”, a shepherd that not only cares for sheep, but also a shepherd that will lay down his life for the sheep. A shepherd who gives himself wholeheartedly until death because he loves his sheep. He loves you and me.

Jesus, when making these “I am” statements, was showing us what God, his heavenly Father, is like. A God who only wants us to know we are loved, forgiven, cared for and that we may begin to understand “life in all its fullness” (John 10.10).

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and we are his sheep, and he is longing to show us that we are loved and that there is a better, more fulfilling way to live. And as one of his sheep I can only joyfully bleat thankfulness.

The Rev Phil Stone,

Scargill House, Kettlewell