bigger and wider search-and-rescue mission than his first-century hearers might have been able to imagine!

20

bigger and wider search-and-rescue mission than his first-century hearers might have been able to imagine! He still is on that same mission today. Though, perhaps like some of those listening to Jesus in the first century, we are often so caught up in the boundaries of our immediate concerns and circumstances that we fail to remember His concern is not only for us individually, but for those who are scattered, lost or strayed throughout His creation. The Good News of the gospel is not just for a handful of believers who fit the right criteria it never has been. We have been invited to join Jesus search-and-rescue mission, to share this Good News, going to make disciples of all nations as our Good Shepherd commissioned in Matthew 28:20. We have the amazing Eastermorning, new-life-from-deadness, world-changing news of a Good Shepherd. Consider: How has God invited you to participate in His work of gathering the scattered flock? Where do you have opportunity to engage in bringing about unity within broken relationships, the local Body of Christ, or the global diversity of His international Kingdom? Ask the Lord to reveal to you how and where you are to join Him in His mission of seeking, gathering and uniting. 2 19

who seeks the lost, gathers those who are scattered or strayed, and will unite the flock under His own headship. Some 600 years before Jesus was born, various prophets recorded details of God s promises regarding the Messiah who would come to redeem and rule Israel. We have looked at some of those prophetic words this week in passages from Micah, Isaiah, and now Ezekiel, each of which depict a shepherd for the flock of God s people. The Ezekiel verse above declares a shepherd who is concerned with the lost, strayed, injured and weak. It is found in a chapter that contrasts the coming Messiah with the selfish and idolatrous leadership of Israel s kings and priests during Ezekiel s time. Later, Jesus words recorded in Luke 15:1-7 echo the same theme. He tells the familiar parable about the value of one lost sheep to a group of grumbling Pharisees, who are supposed to be Israel s shepherds. They were upset because lowly tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Jesus. But Jesus insists to them that seeking and bringing back into the fold any one stray has a greater value than they can imagine. In His earthly ministry, Jesus also spoke about uniting sheep under His headship, asserting in John 10:16 that there are other sheep that He will bring into the flock, so that there will be one flock, one shepherd (see also Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). Looking forward into the fully realized Kingdom of God, the book of Revelation gives us a picture of united believers of great diversity with worship coming from people of every tribe, nation, or language (Revelation 5:9, 7:9). Jesus the Messiah was on a much 18 THE SHEPHERD & THE LAMB Introduction The Bible is filled with sheep and their shepherd caretakers. It is possible, though not specified, that sheep provided the skins God used to clothe Adam and Eve s nakedness in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:21). The first explicit reference is Genesis 4:2, where we find Abel who was a keeper of sheep. From this point onward, the Bible is filled with imagery of sheep, lambs, and shepherds. Sheep are portrayed as indicative of personal wealth throughout the Old Testament, and they are among the various animals prescribed for sacrifice in the laws regarding offerings recorded in the Pentateuch. When Moses sought a successor to himself to guide Israel into the Promised Land (Numbers 27:15-18), he asked so the congregation of the Lord may not be a sheep that have no shepherd. This marks the first time we see the Biblical metaphor of God s people as sheep and their leaders as shepherds. It is certainly not the last. Ezekiel 34:30 declares: And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. And you are my sheep, my human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God. Indeed, the Psalms, the prophets of the Old Testament and the New Testament gospels use this imagery again and again. A striking prophecy of the coming Christ as shepherd is found in Ezekiel 34:23: And I will set up over them one shepherd, my 3

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. This cannot be a literal reference to David, since Ezekiel spoke the prophecy some 200 years after the death of King David, but is a pointing to the Messiah. Sheep and shepherd, a rich image, was made all the more profound by the way Jesus Himself employed it during times of teaching and leading His disciples. As we were reminded in the sermon on Sunday, Jesus identified Himself as our Good Shepherd. And as we are reminded every time we think upon the events of the cross, Jesus Himself is the Lamb who was slain to atone for our sins. This Holy Week, we are going to look more closely at Jesus the Shepherd and Jesus the Lamb. By meditating on this Shepherd and His ways this week, may you be moved to see the riches that are yours in Him because of what He has done for you on the cross as the Lamb slain for you. May you find yourself drawn into deeper worship of Our Lord and Savior as we move this week toward marking His death and celebrating His resurrection. Saturday, March 26 The Shepherd Seeks, Gathers, and Unites I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak (Ezekiel 34:15-16) What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? (Luke 15:4) And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (John 10:16) And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Revelation 5:9) As we look forward to celebrating tomorrow the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is worthwhile to pause and consider another of the roles of our Good Shepherd. As we see in the passages above, He is the one 4 17

the cross as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, as John the Baptist declared Him (John 1:29). Consider: The gospel accounts of Jesus crucifixion are found in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19. Perhaps you would consider reading and returning to these texts throughout the day today, meditating on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf. Another opportunity is to attend the Good Friday service in the Grace Church sanctuary today at noon, where you will have the opportunity to walk through some of the events of Jesus crucifixion in a self-guided meditation time. Finally, review and sing the words to the wonderful song How Deep the Father s Love for Us, which captures the truth of the events of the crucifixion, when our Shepherd, the Lamb, offered Himself for us. Monday, March 21 The Shepherd Enters by the Door Truly, truly I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens (John 10:1-2) How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the chosen One, Bring many sons to glory Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished 16 I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom On Palm Sunday we celebrate the event recorded in Scripture known as The Triumphal Entry a time when Jesus came quite boldly and openly into the city of Jerusalem to the shouts and acclaim of pilgrims on their way to the city for the Passover feast. This was no back door arrival. At this point in His ministry and on this, His last, visit to Jerusalem, Jesus made quite an entrance. Matthew 21:10 records: And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying Who is this? And the crowds said, This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee. This arrival in Jerusalem calls to mind Jesus words recorded in John 10:2: But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. During the Triumphal Entry, we see Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem as its rightful leader and shepherd. Even the manner in which He arrived speaks to His royal status, mounted on a donkey, historically a symbol of a ruler coming in peace (as opposed to a king riding in on a horse, a declaration of war). 5

There are other Biblical images of Jesus and entrances or doors Revelation 3:20 famously describes Jesus knocking at a door with an invitation to fellowship and intimacy. This verse is part of a passage addressed to the lukewarm group of believers at Laodicea, whose members were so comfortable and prosperous that their self-sufficiency had dulled them to their wretched state of poverty and blindness to the Truth. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3:19). Jesus is at this door calling the Laodicean gatekeepers to repentance so that they may have intimacy and fellowship that was so lacking in their tepid church. Jesus has come to us plainly. For believers, he has already entered by the door as our shepherd. But are we now lukewarm? Have we allowed thieves and impostors like those described in John 10:1 or Revelation 3:17 to climb into our hearts and take the place of the rightful Shepherd? As gatekeepers of our hearts affections and our minds attention, we have the daily opportunity to choose to open the door to intimacy and fellowship with Jesus. Or have we become so comfortable and prosperous we don t see the need? Consider: As we begin this Holy Week, contemplate the Shepherd, Christ. How widely have you opened the door to this true Shepherd? Are there thieves and robbers trying to climb in as leaders of your life where only the rightful Shepherd should have dominion? Are there idols, impostors, lies that you need to kick out of your sheepfold? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of examination and response. Friday, March 25 The Shepherd Lays Down His Life I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11) The next day [John] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) [Jesus] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8) We have spent the week meditating on some of the many wonderful truths about our Good Shepherd, Jesus. He has come for us, called us to follow Him, and desires to lead us into good places and walk alongside us in the hard places of this fallen world. But let us not forget that the opportunity for you and me to be a part of this eternal and well-tended flock did not come without a great price. For in order for us to receive the benefits of this Good Shepherd, He first had to open up the breach and go before (Micah 2:13). The one who is our shepherd submitted Himself to death on 6 15

Good Shepherd became the Lamb He willingly laid down His life so that, as the psalm says, goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and that we may dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Consider: How have you experienced the tender leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, purchased for you by the blood of Jesus? Ask God to lead you in a time of meditation and worship for all you have in Christ. Tuesday, March 22 The Shepherd Calls His Own Sheep The sheep hear [the shepherd s] voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. (John 10:3-5) I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father (John 10:14-15a) We can hear and know the voice of God. It may not always seem like it in a world of abundant and ceaseless noise, voices and messages. But according to Scripture and according to the very words of Jesus in John 10, we can hear, recognize and know the voice of our Shepherd. He goes on to identify Himself as the Good Shepherd of His sheep and to assert that the relationship between sheep and Shepherd can be as intimate as the relationship between Himself and His Father. Wow. 14 How is it that we miss, question, or flat out ignore the voice of our Shepherd? When we read the Bible, we can see that the problem is definitely on our side of the equation. Scripture says the sheep follow Him because they know His voice. We can hear and know the voice of God. But discerning His voice is something learned with His guidance 7

and with practice. We must be intentional. There are so many competing voices, and we can fall prey to leaning on our own wisdom. The voice that leads is marked...in Scripture by such phrases as follow Me, come after Me, go wash in the pool. In the gospels, Jesus call to discipleship was a call to follow, to come after. It was a call for volunteers; His was not a voice that conscripts. He calls but you must choose whether to follow. But there is another voice. It is the voice that drives: the voice of the thief, the enemy. You can recognize this voice too: 1. It threatens and intimidates, working on the basis of fear. If you don t do this, bad things will happen. 2. It orders, seeking to compel and using force. 3. It is urgent and compulsive. Do it right now. Since the relationship that the Lord desires with you is one of trust and voluntary obedience. His approach is that of a lover. There is always that aspect of invitation, of calling you. That is how you, His sheep, know your Shepherd s voice. (Peter Lord in Hearing God, pages 148-149) Today, spend some time meditating on the voice of the Lord. He calls to us. He doesn t bully us. Consider: What is your response to this calling, to discerning the voice of the Lord? Ask Him to deepen your understanding of the contrast between His voice and the voices of thieves and impostors who desire to lead you away from Him. Make a list of the ways in which the Lord speaks to you in a way that clearly communicates to you that it is Him (through His Word, for example). Now contrast that list with the characteristics of the voices you are surrounded with that are not of Him think of things like advertising, popular culture, news and media sources, etc... 8 takes us to gaze upon the cross upon which the Lamb of God was slain. The Shepherd who came boldly into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday will on Good Friday become our Lamb of sacrifice to open up a way for us, so that we have the opportunity to follow Him fully. Earlier this week, we looked at the fact that Jesus calls us to follow Him and that His is a voice that leads rather than one that drives or bullies us. What does that leading look like? According to Scripture, it is often quite gentle and tender, as we see in Isaiah 40:11 and also in passages such as Matthew 11:28-30. Our Good Shepherd s leading is also compassionate, as noted in Matthew 9:36 and also in Mark 6:34 both instances where Jesus compassion is evoked by the crowds needing a shepherd. Another point of meditation related to this role of the Shepherd as leader and guide is that of noticing what Scripture has to say about where He leads us. In Psalm 23 there are green pastures, still waters, and paths of righteousness. Revelation 7:17 says He will guide His flock to springs of living water, which recalls a conversation with a certain Samaritan woman at a famous well. In the exchange recorded in John 4, Jesus spoke of this same living water, which is His to give and has an eternal value. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life, he declared. Later in the same conversation, Jesus revealed Himself to this woman as the Messiah (John 4:26). John also records Jesus later making the same offer of living water to an audience in Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths: If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:37-39). Jesus, our Good Shepherd, leads us in ways that are gentle and compassionate to restoration and to life an eternal life that begins now and is fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are rich indeed if we follow this leader. But let us not forget that our 13

Thursday, March 24 The Shepherd Leads and Guides Wednesday, March 23 The Shepherd Goes Before Us He will tend his flock like a shepherd he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23) For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7:17) In each of these passages, we have the strong image of one of the most tender and comforting roles of our Shepherd that of compassionate leader. The prophetic imagery from Revelation is but a recapitulation of earlier prophecies and images from Isaiah and the Psalms all fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Notice the wondrous juxtaposition we see in Revelation 7:17 of Jesus as both the Shepherd and the Lamb. This is a reminder of where Holy Week 12 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them (John 10:4) I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men. He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the Lord at their head. (Micah 2:12-13) For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. (John 13:15) One of the things a shepherd does is to go before his sheep. As our Good Shepherd, Jesus does this going before in several different ways. The first is that He goes out in front of us to open up the way before us. The prophet Micah, amidst his prophecies of the destruction of Samaria and Jerusalem, paints the beautiful picture of restoration quoted above. In it we see the image of the Lord gathering His sheep and breaking them free from the oppression in which they have been yoked. He who opens the breach in Micah 2:13 is sometimes translated The Breaker (as in the King James Version) and is a title one that can be applied to Jesus in His role as the one who has made a way for us out of sin. This is a prophetic echo in line 9

with David s famous Psalm 23, which describes the Lord as a shepherd who leads in paths of righteousness (verse 3). The Shepherd goes before us, to open up the way that we cannot open up for ourselves, as Romans 8:3 reminds us: For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Our Shepherd has gone before us to open a way for us to walk in righteousness. Consider: How have you tried to be a good Christian in your own strength? In what situations are you most likely not to follow God or rely on His Spirit? Spend some time reflecting on Romans 8. Ask the Lord to speak to you regarding how He has opened up a way for you personally and how you can follow Him in the Spirit. If you have time, explore some of the passages listed above and meditate on the role of the Holy Spirit in Christ s life. Another thing our Shepherd does is give us an example to follow. John 13:15 is a plain statement that Jesus intends for us to follow His example. In the context of that verse, He is talking about humility and service. In the Gospel accounts of Jesus life, there are many other characteristics that set for us a model of how to live. But there is another, deeper and significant example to follow in the life of Jesus living by the Spirit. As Dan Arsenault reminded our congregation in a recent sermon, Jesus lived as a man living by the power of the Spirit of God ( The Onslaught and Solution to Sin http://www.gracenews.org/sermons). Living by the power of the Holy Spirit is exactly what we are designed and encouraged to do (see Romans 8:1-17). Dan pointed out several passages that draw attention to the enlivening presence of the Holy Spirit in Jesus earthly life and ministry (among them Matthew 1:20-21, 3:11-17, 4:1, 12:22-32; Luke 4:16-22; Hebrews 9:14; Romans 1:4). Our shepherd, Jesus, has gone before us to demonstrate what a life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit looks like. The Good Shepherd goes before us to make a way for us to follow, to enable us to follow. Let us incline our ears to Him, to follow Him in the power of the Holy Spirit. 10 11