The Good Shepherd

John 10:11

The Old Testament scriptures frequently refer to the Messiah as a shepherd. One significantly applicable passage is found in Ezekiel, where God complains about the shepherds of Israel who were feeding themselves at the expense of His sheep. "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, [even] my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken [it]. (Ezekiel 34:23-24)

The Pharisees certainly fit the description of those shepherds. and we know that Jesus was the Shepherd that God promised to set over the people. Jesus was not just one more shepherd, however. He was not just one more great prophet. Jesus was the Shepherd, God Himself, having become flesh in order that He might care for his sheep.

The Greek text literally has it as o pomen o kalos, "the shepherd the good one," with an emphasis on the word good. The root meaning of kalos is "beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious ..." It combines in one word the idea of the beauty of His person and the goodness of His charity.

Our good Shepherd was characterized by the beauty of His divine nature, the beauty of His holiness, the beauty of His willingness to serve, the beauty of an obedient Son, the beauty of a longsuffering God, the beauty of His loving kindness, His mercy, and His grace. So much has been written on the beauty of our Lord, yet the topic has never been exhausted, and we cannot do it justice in such a short devotion.

We need only to look at the Twenty-third Psalm to find a lengthy, although incomplete, list of the good things that He does for His sheep. Jesus provides for all of our needs, brings us peacefully back to God, restores our souls, leads and guides us in our attempt to live in his righteousness, protects us in danger, and walks with us even through the valley of death. He comforts us, rewards us with His fellowship in the presence of our enemies, anoints us to be His ambassadors, floods our cups with His grace, shows mercy and kindness to us, and grants us eternal life with Him in the house of the Lord.

Never before and never since has such beauty and goodness been combined in one fleshly body. There is one more thing about Him, however, that no man can ever forget. He said it Himself " Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (Joh 15:13 )

The good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep. It was not taken from Him. Jesus did not fall into the hands of the authorities because of some mistake that he made nor because they overpowered Him. He did not miscalculate the vicious intent of His enemies. Jesus literally laid aside His life like a garment as though to take it up again later. The Greek word tithemi also can be used in the sense of laying down money to pay off a debt.

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21)

Jesus' death was the result of a divine plan that was formulated before the foundation of the world in eternity past. His enemies did not strip his life from Him, because His Father raised Him up again. His resurrection is our hope, and He is the author and finisher of our faith.

How will you respond to such beauty, goodness, and grace?

Before The Throne:

Pray about your response to Jesus. Since He died for you, are you at least willing to live for Him? I am sure that your praise and worship music was beautiful this weekend, but what will you do for Him the rest of the week? Pray about it. Make yourself available to Him as He was and is available for you. Pray for a constant awareness of His presence in your life, so that you will remember to serve Him in righteousness every moment of every day. Thank Him for laying down His life for you, His friend.

For Further Study:

(v.11) *the good: Joh 10:14; Psa 23:1; 80:1; Isa 40:11; Eze_34:12, 23; 37:24; Mic 5:4; Zec 13:7; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25; 5:4 *giveth: Gen 31:39; 31:40; 1Sa 17:34, 35; 2Sa 24:17; Isa 53:6; Eph 5:2; Tit 2:14; 1Pe 2:24　

For Further Study is an edited excerpt from The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.