Who is Jesus pt. 5: The Good Shepherd
Anyone who has given much thought to the character of God had found that some of His characteristics seem to be at tension with one another, like justice and forgiveness, for instance. I do not mean to call these qualities into question, I only mean to say that it is hard for us to understand how one can perfectly embody both.
When we first learn that the Bible refers to Jesus as both lamb and shepherd, this too, may seem like a contradiction, but resolving this is actually quite simple. As discussed in the previous post, the lamb typifies Christ only in the sacrificial sense. Outside of that context Jesus is not like a lamb, but a shepherd. The helpless lambs who need this shepherd, well, that’s you and me.
““All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way...””
The vocation of shepherd was very familiar to the people that Jesus first came to, and the Bible is rich with stories, psalms, and parables about these humble flock-keepers. A shepherd’s job was to care for the sheep in every way, namely, to lead, feed, and protect. It should also be noted that although I have used words like “vocation” and “job” here, shepherding was less of a nine to five and more of a lifestyle.
““Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?””
To better understand Jesus as the good shepherd, we must go back to the Old Testament. In the above scripture from Ezekiel 1 , and in the verses that follow, God has some strong words for the “shepherds of Israel”. God has always provided a shepherd for His people, from the patriarchs to Moses, the priests, the judges, and then reluctantly the kings. The shepherds of Israel were those that were charged with leading the people, which I think includes the prophets, priests and kings. 2
The charge in Ezekiel 34 is clear, the leaders were putting themselves first while neglecting the flock. Not only were the shepherds not feeding the flock, as seen above, but we also find that no attention was being given to the sick and broken, and no attempts were being made to gather back in those that had been driven away or otherwise lost. 3 Because of this, the sheep had been scattered and were wandering about the mountains and high hills. 4
Sadly, this was not just an Old Testament problem. Even after the harsh rebukes of prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah, the neglect continued, and even worsened. Hundreds of years after Ezekiel prophesied, another prophet came along with more harsh words for the shepherds.
““Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.””
By the time Jesus came along the only shepherds remaining were the religious leaders, like the scribes and Pharisees, as the royal lineage had been cut off hundreds of years prior and replaced with appointees from whatever empire ruled at the time, which in Jesus' time was Rome. The above scripture from Matthew is one of seven "woes" pronounced by Jesus to those leaders. It is very plain to see that the practice of neglecting the flock while exalting themselves had continued.
Perhaps worst of all, the scribes and Pharisees were in bed with the oppressive power of Rome 5 , increasing the oppression instead of alleviating it. Because of these injustices, God promised to judge these so-called shepherds. 6
““I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.””
But like I said before, God has always provided a shepherd for His people. God, through the prophets, didn't just point out the problem, but promised a solution. God Himself was the solution (as He always is), and He promised in Ezekiel 34:11-16 that He would feed, bind, heal, seek, gather, and lead the flock into a new land. Essentially, He promised to do all that the failed shepherds were supposed to do.
These promises, of course, have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Understanding this context gives greater meaning to passages like the one found in John 10, where Jesus labels the previous shepherds as nothing but thiefs and robbers and reveals Himself as the true shepherd.
But not just another shepherd. Jesus came to be the kind of shepherd that would leave the ninety-nine to search for even one, and would search diligently until he find it. 7 While the shepherds of old put themselves first, Jesus came to be the kind of shepherd that put the needs of the flock before His own needs, even to the point of laying His life down for them.
Jesus didn't come to be a shepherd, but the GOOD SHEPHERD!
God bless!
““...and I lay down my life for the sheep.””
Footnotes:
1 See also Jeremiah 23.
2 "For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD." - Jeremiah 23:11
3 “The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” - Ezekiel 34:4
4 "And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them." - Ezekiel 34:5-6
5 "And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him." - Mark 3:6
“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” - Revelation 17:3
"His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay." - Daniel 2:33
6 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.” - Ezekiel 34:10
Also see Matthew chapters 23 & 24
7 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. - Luke 15:4-6
