"The Shepherd"

We have always heard references of Jesus being called "The Good Shepherd". We see this throughout the Bible. Why is Jesus called "The Good Shepherd"? Is this why the people who follow Jesus are called His flock? How are we like the sheep?
"Therefore Jesus said again, "Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep." John 10:7 (NIV).
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11 (NIV).
In these two verses, Jesus calls Himself The Good Shepherd, and makes reference to the sacrifice that would be made. Jesus also tells of the sheep having to pass through Him because He is the gate. In verse 7 and 11, Jesus tells the followers or His flock that He is the only way to get to God The Father in heaven. Sheep are not the smartest animals and if we are considered His flock then Jesus knows that we are going to make mistakes and need His guidance. Sheep often travel in flocks and if one strays away from the flock, then more will follow the lost. If the sheep were to get loose and fall off a cliff or drown in a river, more of the flock will follow.
 This is similar to the way that we act in our own lives. We may know right from wrong, but more than likely we will follow the rest of the pack, our peers. Jesus is telling us that we need to look to Him for guidance in our everyday life. In my personal life, I was once the lost sheep. I was constantly doing whatever I wanted without any regard to my personal relationship with Jesus. It took several years, even after asking Jesus to come into my life, before I actually fully understood what this meant. I know now that Jesus is my Shepherd and I am His sheep. I will follow my Shepherd wherever he leads me.

"Very Truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber." John 10:1 (NIV).
"Now may the God of peace who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep," Hebrews 13:20 (NIV).
"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." Mark 6:34 (NIV).
"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 will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30 (NIV).

Thank You Jesus for allowing me (your sheep) to follow you!