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203. "I Am the Good Shepherd"

Micah 2:12-13, Ezekiel 34:1-16, Psalm 23, John 10:11-21,
Key Verse: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
John 10:11

In our reading from Ezekiel, written during the exile, between 500 and 600 years before Christ, we learn what God Himself defines as a bad shepherd. Throughout the prophesies of the Old Testament, as in Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Isaiah, God referred to the priests as shepherds. The Priests have always been the shepherds, or leaders of Israel, entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the people on the safe path of following God. In Ezekiel, however, God accuses the priests, "shepherds," of "only taking care of themselves." (Ezek. 34:2) "You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the week or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally." (Ezek. 34:3-4)

If you were to read further in chapter 34, you would see that Ezekiel goes on to describe "the good shepherd." Now, Jesus calls Himself the good shepherd, inditing the leadership of His own day, who were very familiar with Ezekiel, and thus letting the people know just what manner of shepherd He is in contrast to them.

The Prophet Micah, who was also a shepherd by the way, and who lived more than 700 years before Jesus, also prophesied along with Ezekiel that the good shepherd would gather His own. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know Me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:15-16) There is a hint here already that Jesus will also be shepherd of the Gentiles who hear his voice.  But just by calling himself the good shepherd the leadership understood what Jesus was saying. That's why they were so angry. He was saying, "I am the one who was foretold." I am the good shepherd that was prophesied about and promised from God to Israel.

Then He says: "I lay down my life for the sheep. I have authority to lay down my life and authority to take it up again." (John 10:18B) It is true that a shepherd will sacrifice himself for his flock. David became a skilled warrior by fighting off bears and lions. (1 Sam. 17:34-36) A hireling may be more apt to run from danger, but the shepherd regards his sheep as children. As a parent would lay down their life to protect a child, so a shepherd protects a sheep, and Jesus laid down His life for us. Yet, He does not lay down His life as a desperate victim, but as one who is in control, control to lay it down and control to take it up again, as he proved at the resurrection.

To the leadership, who were already skeptical, this was only further blasphemy. Only God could have that kind of control. Only Messiah could be "The Good Shepherd." His words brought confusion on the leadership once again, but instill confidence in those who believe that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is in control of His life, and of ours too. Though it is hard, we must trust where He is leading for our ultimate good.

Hymn: "The Lord’s My Shepherd a Keith Green piece
The Lord’s My Shepherd
I am the Good Shepherd, by Fernando Ortega

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