Post by foxjj on Mar 29, 2018 7:09:23 GMT
The Good Shepherd’s Fold.
Shepherding and herding were a way of life in the land of Israel. The Old Testament has many stories of people who were shepherds, though some were shepherds for only a season of their lives. We can look at Moses as an example. After fleeing Egypt he worked as a shepherd for his father in-law Jethro, before God called him from the burning bush instructing him to return to Egypt. It was in Egypt, under God’s leading and protection, that Moses undertook the role of shepherd to the Hebrew people as he led them out of captivity, and on their long journey to the promised land.
David was a young shepherd working for his father Jesse, before Samuel anointed him to be king over Israel. In the Old Testament, the king is often referred to as a shepherd to the people. Prophets and priest were also called shepherds because of their role as spiritual leaders. The most important shepherd to Israel was The Almighty who undertook for His chosen people. When corrupt spiritual shepherds came on the seen, He would speak out against them, as in Ezekiel 34:2 where we read: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?” Warnings such as this show how serious the role of a spiritual shepherd is to be taken.
Jesus proclaimed that He was The Good Shepherd when He explained: ”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; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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 10:14-16) As God incarnate, Jesus chose to lay down his life. Because no one has the authority to take His life, Jesus willingly surrendered His body to the cross. It was a sacrificial act of love for sinful humanity who required redemption. It is only because of, and through, this act of sacrifice that sinners can become members of the Good Shepherds fold.
Initially Jesus came to Israel as their Messiah, of whom the Jewish people were expecting as Jeremiah 23: 5-6 proclaims: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'” However, Israel rejected their Messiah and handed Him over to the Roman’s to be executed.
Notwithstanding, Jesus had said: “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.” Who are the other sheep of whom he is speaking? We the gentiles are the ones that Jesus also desires to be part of the fold under one shepherd, making one universal flock. Today we know this as the Church serving one Lord.
God knew before each one was born who would be part of his fold. Paul shows this when he wrote in Ephesians 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”
So how do we know if we are in the fold of The Good Shepherd? In verse’s 14 and 15, of John Chapter 10, Jesus said: “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” This is a very powerful statement. Jesus is saying that you and I can know Him, just as The Father knows Him. Humanly speaking this seems imposable. How can a sinful human know the sinless Son of God in the same way that the Father of Glory knows him?
For this to happen in a persons life, a spiritual rebirth needs to take place. The Holy Spirit moves upon our hearts exposing our sinful nature. However, he dose not leave us there, because he also reveals unto us our need of a Savior. Through the Holy Spirit, we see Jesus for the first time as our Redeemer and Lord. We receive a repentant heart, where we recognize our sin for the vile thing that it truly is. With tears of repentance, we fall upon our knees at the foot of the cross and call upon the name of our Savior and Lord. Then miracle of miracles we are cleansed and saved, becoming members of the fold, where we will follow the Good Shepherd all the days of our lives.
It is a serious step to become a follower of The Lord Jesus Christ. It is also the most important, and the most rewarding decision of our life. This decision affects our eternal life, and is one that no one can afford, not to make. God has given you and I a great opportunity to know him as our protector and guide - our shepherd- both in this life and the life to come.
Shepherding and herding were a way of life in the land of Israel. The Old Testament has many stories of people who were shepherds, though some were shepherds for only a season of their lives. We can look at Moses as an example. After fleeing Egypt he worked as a shepherd for his father in-law Jethro, before God called him from the burning bush instructing him to return to Egypt. It was in Egypt, under God’s leading and protection, that Moses undertook the role of shepherd to the Hebrew people as he led them out of captivity, and on their long journey to the promised land.
David was a young shepherd working for his father Jesse, before Samuel anointed him to be king over Israel. In the Old Testament, the king is often referred to as a shepherd to the people. Prophets and priest were also called shepherds because of their role as spiritual leaders. The most important shepherd to Israel was The Almighty who undertook for His chosen people. When corrupt spiritual shepherds came on the seen, He would speak out against them, as in Ezekiel 34:2 where we read: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?” Warnings such as this show how serious the role of a spiritual shepherd is to be taken.
Jesus proclaimed that He was The Good Shepherd when He explained: ”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; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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 10:14-16) As God incarnate, Jesus chose to lay down his life. Because no one has the authority to take His life, Jesus willingly surrendered His body to the cross. It was a sacrificial act of love for sinful humanity who required redemption. It is only because of, and through, this act of sacrifice that sinners can become members of the Good Shepherds fold.
Initially Jesus came to Israel as their Messiah, of whom the Jewish people were expecting as Jeremiah 23: 5-6 proclaims: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'” However, Israel rejected their Messiah and handed Him over to the Roman’s to be executed.
Notwithstanding, Jesus had said: “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.” Who are the other sheep of whom he is speaking? We the gentiles are the ones that Jesus also desires to be part of the fold under one shepherd, making one universal flock. Today we know this as the Church serving one Lord.
God knew before each one was born who would be part of his fold. Paul shows this when he wrote in Ephesians 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”
So how do we know if we are in the fold of The Good Shepherd? In verse’s 14 and 15, of John Chapter 10, Jesus said: “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” This is a very powerful statement. Jesus is saying that you and I can know Him, just as The Father knows Him. Humanly speaking this seems imposable. How can a sinful human know the sinless Son of God in the same way that the Father of Glory knows him?
For this to happen in a persons life, a spiritual rebirth needs to take place. The Holy Spirit moves upon our hearts exposing our sinful nature. However, he dose not leave us there, because he also reveals unto us our need of a Savior. Through the Holy Spirit, we see Jesus for the first time as our Redeemer and Lord. We receive a repentant heart, where we recognize our sin for the vile thing that it truly is. With tears of repentance, we fall upon our knees at the foot of the cross and call upon the name of our Savior and Lord. Then miracle of miracles we are cleansed and saved, becoming members of the fold, where we will follow the Good Shepherd all the days of our lives.
It is a serious step to become a follower of The Lord Jesus Christ. It is also the most important, and the most rewarding decision of our life. This decision affects our eternal life, and is one that no one can afford, not to make. God has given you and I a great opportunity to know him as our protector and guide - our shepherd- both in this life and the life to come.