 Real Life in Messiah: I AM the Good Shepherd
Messiah came to bear revelation of God’s covenant and truth—His Word and Spirit. He came fulfilling all Shavuot represents.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning… 14 The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh’khinah (glory), the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth… 32 Then Yochanan (John) gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and remaining on him. 33 I myself did not know who he was, but the one who sent me to immerse in water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is the one who immerses in the Ruach HaKodesh.’ (Holy Spirit) 34 And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:1-34 JNT)
The prophet, Ezekiel, expressed God’s displeasure with the leaders who were self-indulgent, neglecting God’s people.
The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost…So they were scattered because there was no shepherd… (Ezekiel 34:4-6 NKJV)
God, therefore, proclaimed that a day was coming when He would Himself search for His sheep.
For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered…I will feed them in good pasture…I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick… (Ezekiel 34:11-16 NKJV)
Messiah is not only the way to heaven; He is the Good Shepherd of God’s flock. He came fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep….14 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 on behalf of the sheep. 16 Also I have other sheep which are not from this pen; I need to bring them, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:11-18 JNT)
Messiah truly manifested El Rachum—The God of Compassion (Deuteronomy 4:31), in the fullness of measure.
He came with a heart to seek and save the lost. He healed all types of sicknesses and diseases, bound the broken-hearted, opened the eyes of those of faith, and freed people captive to all sorts of bondages. He truly manifested Adonai Rohi—The LORD Our Shepherd, who leads us to His peaceful places, and fills us with the substance of His life!
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