Football and Shepherds / 好牧人

[Dexu Xia]

Football and Shepherds

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

An intriguing element of English football is the team anthem sung by the fans at the start of each match. These songs range from the fun (“Glad All Over”) to the whimsical (“I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”) to the surprising. “Psalm 23,” for instance, is the anthem of the club from West Bromwich Albion. The words of that psalm appear on the façade inside the team’s stadium, declaring to everyone who comes to watch the “West Brom Baggies” the care of the good, great, and chief Shepherd.

In Psalm 23, David made his timeless statement, “The Lord is my shepherd” (v. 1). Later, the gospel writer Matthew would tell us, “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). And in John 10, Jesus declared His love and concern for the human “sheep” of His generation. “I am the good shepherd,” He said. “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (v. 11). Jesus’s compassion drove His interactions with the crowds, His responses to their needs, and, ultimately, His sacrifice on their (and our) behalf.

“The Lord is my shepherd” is far more than an ancient lyric or a clever slogan. It’s the confident statement of what it means to be known and loved by our great God—and what it means to be rescued by His Son.

好牧人

我是好牧人，好牧人为羊舍命。-约翰福音10章11节

英国足球联赛有个很有趣的特色，就是在每次比赛开始前，球迷们都会高唱球队的队歌。这些歌曲各有特色，就像轻快的《快乐无比》，或是俏皮搞怪的《我总是在吹泡泡》。其中也有令人惊喜的歌曲，如《诗篇23篇》就是西布朗维奇足球俱乐部（West Bromwich Albion）的队歌。这首诗篇的经文就展示在这支球队主场的正面，向每个来看西布朗球赛的球迷，宣扬那位良善、美好的大牧者对人们的关爱。

在诗篇23篇，大卫写下千古不变的宣告：“耶和华是我的牧者”（1节）。福音书的作者马太也告诉我们，耶稣“看见许多的人，就怜悯他们，因为他们困苦流离，如同羊没有牧人一般”（马太福音9章36节）。此外，在约翰福音10章，耶稣也清楚表明自己爱那个时代的“羊”，关怀这些迷失的人。祂说：“我是好牧人，好牧人为羊舍命”（11节）。耶稣的怜悯促使祂进入人群，回应他们的需求，最后甚至为他们（也包括我们）流血舍命。

“耶和华是我的牧者”不只是一句古老的歌词，也不只是漂亮的口号，而是满有信心的宣告：我们确信这位伟大的上帝认识且深爱我们，我们也得着祂独生子的救恩。

天父，感谢祢将大牧人赐给我们，
这是何其宝贵！求祢帮助我们能回应祂的声音，
引领我们更亲近祢。

上帝以何种方式眷顾你？今天你可以向谁述说上帝的作为呢？