36. Christ Our Shepherd p5

Jesus the Shepherd and Overseer of our Souls

1Pe 2:21-25  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  (22)  "WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH";  (23)  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;  (24)  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.  (25)  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

I. Introduction

We have seen Christ’s redemptive suffering. He accomplished for us what we could never accomplish for ourselves – forgiveness of sins, redemption, reconciliation, adoption, freedom from the dominion of sin, freedom from the curse of the law, that being judgement. Freedom. Christ has indeed paid it all on our behalf We touched on verse 25 briefly but this morning we will look at it more in depth. Specifically the second phrase of the verse.

But the reason for Christ’s suffering is ‘you were t=straying like sheep. This points us back to Is. 53:6 ‘All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way but the Lord has caused the iniquity if us all to fall on Him. The Scripture often compares people to sheep. Mat 9:36  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. This is not necessarily a complimentary term when used as a comparison. Domestic sheep are not known for their natural intelligence. They are slow learners and have to be led to the same pastures and watering holes. They are defenseless and once separated from the herd are susceptible to predation. They will literally follow one another off a cliff. Recently a term ‘sheeple’ has been used by both political parties to describe those of the other party who blindly follow the political line whole sale without thinking through the issues. Again, not a complimentary term. To be called a sheep may offend our sensibilities because we like to think of ourselves as strong, independent people. But we are indeed like sheep. There is a cartoon called the Far Side by Gary Larson. He cartoons are one panel that tell a complete story with an illustration and a one or two sentence dialogue. In one I saw recently was a two sheep a husband and wife were giving a party in their home for other sheep in their flock. The wife was saying to the husband. ‘Larry, this party is a disaster. No one knows where to eat, or get a drink. They are all just milling around and no one knows where to go. The she says, “Thank goodness! The sheep dog has arrived.” That encapsulated how sheep are. Christ suffered and died because we were straying like sheep.

In this text when it is speaking of straying it is not implying that were one in the flock nut departed to be returned again. It speaks of natural state of straying from the commands of God. We have sin previously that we sin because we are sinners not the other way around. Our straying is living outside the true worship of God and obedience to His commands.

But is that wonderful word of contrast showing the shift from out state of straying to being returned. It shifts the focus or our previous state to our present one. Paul uses it to the same effect in Eph 2:4-5  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  (5)  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Now- indicates this is the present tense of this new state. What stands out is the absoluteness of the change in state. There leaves no room for doubt in the change of status of those who were once straying.

No longer straying sheep, but now have returned… In the Greek the word can mean turn or convert and is 2nd aorist passive indicative. What does all that mean? Aorist means that it is something that happened in a previous point in time that has on going affects or consequences. For example Connie and I were married in a ceremony May 15th, 1992. A point in time in the past. The ongoing affect of that is we are husband and wife 29.5 years later and are the parents of adult children. Passive means that the action is done to the subject not the subject doing the action. The text should literally read “but are now returned”. If you are using the KJV or the American Standard Version that is how the verse reads. Just to make sure I consulted several Greek references and they all agree that the tense of the verb is passive. So again, Peter is saying as straying sheep that the trajectory of our life was living in sin and the phrase, ‘but now are returned’ is indicative of our salvation.

We need to answer the question that the other translations present. The question is are we the agent of our own salvation. The translations that read ‘you have returned’ certainly imply it. Many times you have heard it said behind this pulpit that the best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture, that context is key to understanding Scripture. We always look at verse in relation to the paragraph, the paragraph in relation to the chapter and chapter to the letter and the letter in relation to broader teaching of the Scripture. When we go back to the beginning of Peter’s letter we read in 1Pe 1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.  

In verse (3)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Who is the agent in our salvation? God is. The Father elects, the Son procures our salvation, and the Spirit applies it. We have been returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. Who has returned us? That brings us to our first point.

II. Christ the Shepherd of our Souls

Most translations capitalize the first letters of Shepherd and Overseer to indicate that it is no mere man. It is Christ Jesus the Lord. Beginning in verse 22 we see Jesus as the perfect example in suffering. In verse 24 He is the perfect substitute, in verse 25 Christ is exalted as the perfect Shepherd and Overseer. This is a description of a vocational shepherd in Jesus’ day found in Easton’s Bible Dictionary. The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like Judea were very onerous. "In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often, he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief.

The Shepherd seeks and finds that sheep which has gone astray. We were like sheep going astray. Jesus seeks and saves that which is lost. Luk 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Our going astray is synonymous with being dead in our trespasses and sins. Our being returned is synonymous with our salvation. Who has returned us? The Shepherd has. He has purchased us, He has redeemed us from our futile way of life inherited from our forefathers. 1Pe 2:24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. The sheep are His own. He is no hireling who flees at the first sign of trouble. Jesus says, Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Joh 10:14-15  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,  (15)  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

It is short sighted of Christian people to suppose that they are lost in the crowd, that Christ deals with them as a whole unit as a general might deal with his army, with little notice of individuals least of all of privates. Yet in nothing do we wrong Christ more.

Joh 10:3  To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Not only are we known by name but Jesus says Matt 10:30 “The hairs of our head are all numbered.”

Luk 15:4-7  "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  (5)  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  (6)  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'  (7)  I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

This parable teaches us that Jesus not only saves as the Shepherd, He keeps us as the Shepherd. The lamb that had gone astray was found. And once rescued is carried out on the shoulders of the Shepherd. Jesus carries us on His shoulders and will do so until we are securely at home with Him and heaven

Joh 10:28-30  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  (29)  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.  (30)  I and the Father are one.”

The Shepherd feeds His sheep, waters them, leads them, cares for them, protects them,

These are not the actions of someone who is far off but of Someone who is very near, who is actively involved in our every day lives not only of our physical bodies but our souls. There is nothing the Good Shepherd will not do to bring His sheep safely home. Jesus tends us with pastoral care providing all that we need for our growth in grace.

III. Christ the Overseer of our Souls

The functions of overseer and shepherd overlap in many ways. Shepherding is primarily the nurture of the flock. Overseer emphasizes the protection of the flock from false teachers and teaching. From the wolves and the lions prowling about seeking whom, they may devour. Paul uses the term wolves in speaking to the Ephesian church elders. Act 20:28-31  Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  (29)  For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.  (30)  Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.  (31)  Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

Peter uses the term lion 1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Both of these refer to the work of the devil in his war against the saints. Jesus is the Overseer of our souls. Guarding and protecting. Standing watch over His people with eyes that never slumber nor sleep.

Why should this be such an encouragement? Remember what one of the major themes of Peter’s letter is. It is suffering and persecution. The true Christian will be less concerned about losing their possessions. They will be very concerned with the integrity of their testimony, of falling away. The great comfort is this. Jesus is the Shepherd and overseer of our souls and that means no one is able to snatch us out of Christ’s hands and no one is able to snatch us out of the Father’s hands. What a blessing to know that our perseverance to the end is not dependent on our strength and ability but wholly upon Christ Jesus and His perfect atoning work on our behalf.

The question that comes up is how. Christ is seated at the right hand of God. As we have been learning in Sunday School He is interceding and advocating for us presently in the throne room of heaven. Going back to the verse 2 ‘by the sanctification of the Spirit. That is the Spirit applying to us what Christ has purchased, leading and guiding us, correcting, disciplining as needed.

But Christ has also provided for His church under shepherds and overseers in the office of elder. 1Pe 5:1-4  The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:  (2)  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;  (3)  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;  (4)  and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Eph 4:11-12  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,  (12)  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Paul speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus.

Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood

Christ the Chief Shepherd and Overseer of our souls, in His infinite wisdom has provided for His flock pastors. At some point we will study the church, it’s form and function. The offices of the church, the duty and responsibilities to the church and the duty and responsibilities of the flock to the officers of the church, but not today.

The point is this. Christ has provided everything in the midst of suffering and persecution for the watch care of our souls. He is our Shepherd. He is our Overseer and He has given everything to show us that He is the good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep.