THE GOOD SHEPHERD

I am the GOOD SHEPHERD. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep – John 10:11

The Good Shepherd is the CRUCIFIED CHRIST Who gave His Life for the sheep (Jh.10:11). In fulfilling this Ministry, He had to take on human form, and be born as the baby in a manger. He was the One who came out of Mary’s virgin WOMB. Psalm 22:9-10 alluded to this: “I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.” He tasted of the reality of humanity in order to become our Perfect Saviour! Moreover, the Good Shepherd could be described as the PROPHET WHO CAME FROM GOD TO MAN!

This dimension of the Lord’s Shepherd-hood reflects His PAST substitutionary sacrifice. He had to carry the cross up the steep slope of Golgotha and tasted the death of sinners on Calvary’s Cross: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil.2:8). His agonizing cry roared and resounded from the prophetic past to the heights of Golgotha: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?” (Ps.22:1). Matthew 27:46 bears record to this prophetic fulfilment: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”

Although the Good Shepherd was the One whom the patriarchs of Israel trusted in for deliverance, paradoxically He took our place and shame on the Cross, and was laughed to scorn, reviled, mocked, and taunted to deliver Himself (Ps.22:4-5, 7-8; Lk.23:35-39). He was compassed about by “strong bulls of Bashan,” “dogs,” and “the assembly of the wicked” in the forms of the persecuting chief priests and elders of Israel (Ps.22:12,16; Mt.27:1). Psalm 22:14-16 vividly foretold of His painful sacrifice on the cross: “I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.” His garments were parted among the soldiers and His hands and feet were pierced (Ps.22:16-18; Mt.27:35).

The Good Shepherd is faithful, gracious, merciful, longsuffering, and loving. He humbled Himself and became the Perfect Sacrifice for our eternal redemption. He died that we may live. He gave His life for the sheep and has in turn been highly exalted and given a Name that is above every name (Phil.2:9). The Kingdom is His and “He is the Governor among the nations” (Ps.22:28). Alleluia!