The Healing Shepherd

Introduction

The message today centers in a truth that I have emphasized time and time again during this period where I’ve ministered God’s Word.  In the beginning, the objective was to remind you during uncertainty. We did not know if Pastor Emanuel would be granted his documentation or how long the process would run.  Therefore, to remind you that you were not without a pastor was important.  Jesus was your pastor during those moments.  Even now, with the process complete and the time of Pastor Emmanuel’s return is eminent, I need to remind you.  He is the under shepherd.  The true Shepherd is among you, has been among you and always be among you. Look with me at 

1 Peter 2:24-25

1 Peter 2:24–25 CSB

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

The Healing Shepherd

1.  The Shepherd took care of our sins

Who is central: He Himself

If there had been any other way, it would have been used.   The only way to reconcile man to God was for God to become man and to do it for us.

What is critical: bore our sins

Sad sign”we bear all”; testimony of our perversion.  He bore all…

Our sins:  thankful for the plural.  2 Cor. 5:20 speaks truth: He became sin for us.  The whole issue of sin separating us from God was handled.  This is more specific: every individual sin that you will commit in your lifetime was dealt with: he bore it

How?  He was human; completely.  In his own body.   Listen to me clearly: I hope to rob you of something; I hope to spoil something completely for you.  Every time you do that sin…whatever it is…that sin…that feels so good…that sin…that you make excuses for…that sin…hurt the physical body of Christ.  

Incorrect thinking: it should have been me….it wouldn’t have done anything had you been there.  It was HIM….but you show your respect for what He did by understanding and resisting sin when the opportunity is available.

Why is essential:

Purpose clause; why did He do what He did.:  this is the problem with hellfire/damnation preaching.  It isn’t enough and it isn’t true.  Jesus did not die to keep you out of hell.  Part but only the sweet by and by part; here and now: Jesus died so that you could live righteously.

Immediate outward dimension: vile sins must begin to be put away

Immediate inward dimension: Inner decision making changes to reflect who you are in righteousness

Affects our character in every way.  Learn the disciplines of correct reasoning.

Hannah Whitehall Smith: Have you never tasted the luxury of indulging in hard thoughts against those who have, as you think, injured you?  Have you never known what a positive fascination it is to brood over their unkindnesses, and to pry into their malice, and to imagine all sorts of wrong and uncomfortable things about them?  It has made you wretched, of course, but it has been a fascinating sort of wretchedness that you could not easily give up.  

Point is: when you walk with the Lord, you begin to recognize this in yourself and to deal with it: world rarely deals with this positively…Christians learn to confront and overcome it….

Eventual inward dimension: mind control.

Living for righteousness is not punishment: it is life.  

Steve Brown said it this way: Contrary to popular opinion, sin is not what you want to do but can't; it is what you should not do because it will hurt you--and hurt you bad. ... God is not a policeman; He is a Father concerned about His children. When a child picks up a snake and the father says, "Put that down right this minute!" the child thinks he's losing a toy. The fact is, he is not losing a toy; he is losing a snake.

2.  The Shepherd  leads us on our path

Shepherd theme – important to Peter See it once again in ch. 5.  

Why?  Explore John 21:1-21

John 21:1–21 CSB

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together. “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea. Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. So Simon Peter climbed up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.” So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them, the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

For Peter it was graphic: betrayal; restoration; shepherd

Self confident Peter is long gone– restored Peter writes after years with this shepherd. now he understands He has more than a pastor.  Bispo?  Can confuse thhe deepest concept.  Not an officer of the church.  No, guardião.  A guardian for his soul.

Knows the price Jesus paid; knows the depth of His forgiveness; knows how the return works….God comes to you and asks to meet with you.

Who is the Shepherd for?  Sheep going astray

Living Lord is our constant Shepherd:.Actively leading; actively guiding; actively protecting; actively providing.