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I AM
THE GOOD
SHEPHERD
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Living Life in its Fullness by Relating with the Lord who is the Good Shepherd
The LORD came to fulfill prophecy and bear revelation of God’s covenant truths. He came fulfilling all the biblical feast of Shavuot represents.
While the disciples were celebrating this very feast, 50 days after His resurrection on the day of the feast of First-fruits, the Holy Spirit was poured out amongst them. It became known as Pentecost. Whereas this feast had been celebrated by remembering the giving of the Law to Moses, now it would truly represent the fullness of God’s covenant—His Word and Spirit.
In was on this day that Peter stood up remembering the prophecy of Joel, “I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…” (Joel 2:28)
It was also about 550-600 years after the prophet, Ezekiel, spoke of the condition of His people and of His future solution…
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)
He continued…
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)
In the midst of escalating political tension and corruption that was spurring an impending revolution against dominant Roman powers, the LORD arrived on the scene to make a difference. The religious leaders expected a political type to take his place as the Messiah-King. The LORD did take His place as 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)
The LORD came full of compassion. He came “moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
Truly, He 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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