Jesus Came To Be The Good Shepherd
Jesus came to be the Good Shepherd.
For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.... I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and He shall feed them: He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken. –Ezekiel 34:11-12, 22-24
In Ezekiel 34 the Lord tells Ezekiel that the leaders of the people of Israel have failed them tremendously. It seems that the leaders have neglected their responsibilities to take care of the people of God. Ezekiel conveys both the disdain God feels for those who neglect their responsibility to care for those they lead and the compassion He shows for His neglected people.
Ezekiel uses imagery that the Israelites would have been very familiar with. He compares God’s love for His people to that of a shepherd and his sheep. God promises to send His people a leader who will shepherd them. He will be a shepherd that is in the line of David, who was anointed king while tending sheep. This would have struck a marvelous chord with the original audience. David was a great king, and God promised him that his line would continue forever (2 Samuel 7:13). This great shepherd would be the fulfillment of that promise and the realization of every faithful Israelite who was longing to be delivered from oppression and neglect.
As New Testament Christians, we have special privilege to see how beautifully this promise has been fulfilled in Christ. Jesus came to be the Good Shepherd. This theme is expressed repeatedly by the New Testament authors. Jesus had compassion on the crowds, because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36). He said that His sheep know His voice and obey Him, and that no one can take the sheep from the Good Shepherd (John 10:27-28). What an encouraging thought it is to know that the God of the universe left heaven to become a man so that He might lead and care for His people well. Jesus came to be the Good Shepherd to love, care for, and ultimately give His life for His sheep.
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