New Shepherd

Introduction

We have spent the past 4 weeks studying and learning from old testament prophet writings. We wrap up this series today with a transition to understanding Jesus as the new shepherd. This also is known as Christ the King Sunday in the Christian calendar. Today is about understanding Jesus as our Shepherd and how Israel needed a new understanding of a shepherd that takes care of God’s people.

Old Shepherd

As we have talked about over the past few weeks, Israel and Judah drifted away from God. The first relied on judges to lead them and then demanded a king lead them. The Levites were the first though to be designated by God to lead the people in their relationship with God. Yet, with all the conflicts between what the people wanted, what their neighbors had, and what God wanted of his people, this never really changed them as a people.

Imagine, having a king, the leader of their nation leading them to worship false gods. Imagine being a priest like Eli, whose sons were corrupt and abusing the people trying to offer their sacrifices. Imagine the very people who needed help the most were also the people most often taken advantage of and neglected or abused.

When reading the histories in Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, you get a bleak picture that while there are times where the people followed God and their leaders led them righteously, there are also plenty of times they did not. We are also in a lot of ways no better in our own ability to lead ourselves into a better practice of loving our neighbors and loving God. We at times may manage to do certain acts or speak kind words but old habits die hard and change takes a lot of effort and time.

I say all this to ask, are we as shepherds leading lost sheep or hurt sheep any better? Or do we continue with old ways and old habits, despite knowing it is wrong?

Israel needing a new shepherd because none of the others could handle the task of guiding the people and changing their lives. We too are capable of small changes or temporary changes but we also need a better shepherd than what any human being can offer.

New Shepherd

When Jeremiah was around, there was much lost. There were many people lost without hope. They were exiled, lost their homes, taken advantage of and abused by captors. They also needed more than just a temporary fix to their plight. Israel needed a new Shepherd that would not just encourage them to try better but one who could forgive them like no other could and one who would go to great lengths in saving them from themselves. They needed Jesus to guide them and watch over them so they could once again thrive as God’s people.

I was reading a devotional this past week and the author brought up a point I had never considered. Despite something being wrong, a parent will always defend their child with love. The devotion focused on Jesus’ words on the cross for God to forgive his enemies sins and not count this against them in judgment. The very people that ridiculed, beat, and ultimately murdered, Jesus asked the Father to forgive them of all of this. The author of this upper room devotional likened this to a parent’s love that defends their child claiming they did not know any better. The parent uses this argument to defend against punishment and judgment by others. If they did not know any better, they do no deserve to be punished because of their ignorance. Jesus used this same defense when asking the Father not to hold this against them because they were ignorant of what they were doing. I am left without excuse when I see Jesus in this light defending even the worst of enemies because of a love that goes much deeper than the pain and suffering they were afflicting on him out of ignorance.

We too can learn from Jesus as the great Shepherd who defends his sheep, when they wander away and rescues them from those who want to destroy them. The sheep does not and cannot reciprocate this kind of love the shepherd has for them. The sheep are, well sheep, sometimes ignorant of what they do and the danger and harm caused by what they do and the decisions they make.

While we may make light of our sins, Jesus does not. The Shepherd knows the danger and harm caused by each of our sins. The Shepherd watches over us, even in our darkest moments. Even in our weakest state, Jesus is with us. Even in our filthy sinful state, Jesus still loves us and still is guiding us to a better place and place where we bear much fruit once again.

Today is when we take serious our call to follow Jesus. Today is the day we take action, not just in words but in deeds to work towards loving God and our neighbors. As we enter this Thanksgiving week, may you remember and be thankful that you have a great Shepherd watching over you and tending to you daily bringing you towards a brighter future.