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Jesus Christ identifies Himself as the "Good Shepherd" for
several reasons. In the Old Testament, the
nation of Israel was often described as the vine
or vineyard of God. Israel, as the vine of God,
stood as a golden symbol on the temple gate of
Herod, and in the words of the Prophet Isaiah,
“For the vineyard of Jehovah of Hosts is the
house of Israel, and the men of Judah his
pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but
behold oppression; for righteousness, but
behold, a cry” (Isa. 5:7).
A very similar situation existed at the time of Jesus and is
reflected in His claims " I am the true vine," “
I am the door,” and “I am the good shepherd”
(Joh. 10:1-17).
Most bible commentaries agree that the picture of
Christ, as the Good Shepherd, is in fact
intended as a contrast to the Jewish religious
leaders overseeing the people of God in Israel.
The Lord is the Good Shepherd, Who lays down his
life for the sheep; whereas, the Pharisees stole
their leadership role of God’s people, and the
priests who were appointed by God, as the
overseers of Israel, shrugged their
responsibility of caring for God's people, and
as a result they reaped the fruit of corruption.
They rejected the true vine and the Good
Shepherd of God; however, Jesus’ identity as the
Good Shepherd is in contrast to the false by His
willingness to lay down His life for the sheep
(Joh. 10:11).
The verses depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd
are found in the gospel of John, chapter 10.
Joh 10:1 Verily [truly], verily [truly], I
say unto you, He that entereth not by the door
into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other
way, the same is a thief and a robber.
The gatekeeper or porter to the sheepfold would
only open the door to the true shepherd of the
sheep. The shepherd is both known by the porter
and by the sheep, in which the sheep will only
respond to the voice of their shepherd and will
not be led by a stranger. The children of God
who have made Jesus their Shepherd know by the
presence of the Spirit of Truth (HS) living
within them the leading of God in their lives
and are able to discern truth from error. This
is a reality in which God says in His Word,
1Co 2:14 Now the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know
them, because they are spiritually judged.
The natural man is a person who has not yet
received God's truth or Holy Spirit and
therefore considers the wisdom of God or the
things of the Spirit as more or less a waste of
time.
Christ's parable of the
good shepherd also depicts the intimacy of His
relationship with the sheep, or God's children;
He calls them by name. In a perfect analogy, the
shepherds' rounded up the sheep for their
journey by calling each one out by name, the
sheep would only respond to the familiar voice
of their shepherd (Manners and Customs of the
Bible, Freeman).
10:2-5 But he that entereth
in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To
him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his
voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and
leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his
own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep
follow him: for they know his voice. And a
stranger will they not follow, but will flee
from him: for they know not the voice of
strangers.
Joh 10: 7 - 13 Then said
Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that
ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but
the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by
me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and
shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief
cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy: I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly. I
am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth
his life for the sheep. But he that is an
hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the
sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and
leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf
catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The
hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and
careth not for the sheep.
The mark of a good
shepherd was his willingness to die in order to
protect the sheep. At night, the shepherd slept
in the doorway of the sheepfold to protect the
sheep from thieves and other wild animals, and
thereby put his own life in jeopardy. Likewise,
Jesus laid down His life as the true shepherd of
the world.
In the prophetic book of Ezekiel we learn the
identifying marks of the good and the false
shepherds of Israel.
The false shepherds took care of their own
bellies versus the people, and only with an
ulterior motive did they appear to care for some
of their needs. They had no regard for the sick,
the broken, the lost, and ruled with oppression
and cruelty. The flock became scattered and fell
prey to the strong, and because there was no
shepherd, no one sought to deliver them from
their troubles (Ezek. 34:1-8). This analogy can
also be applied to the gospel of John, when the
Pharisees viciously sought to have Jesus killed
for healing the sick on the Sabbath day.
In contrast, the good shepherd goes after the
sheep until he finds them; he delivers them from
their enemies, binds up the broken, heals the
sick, provides a habitation of peace and rest,
and does so abundantly.
Again in Psalm 23, we see David's revelation of
God's abundant goodness in caring for His own,
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me
to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me
beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy
staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life: and I will dwell in the
house of the LORD for ever.
The good shepherd loves the sheep and provides for their salvation.
Joh 10:14-15 I am
the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am
known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so
know I the Father: and I lay down my life for
the sheep.
Some might say, there were many men
and women who died for their beliefs and
sacrificed their lives to help others. So how
can we know for sure that Jesus is the true
messiah promised by God and the only good
shepherd sent to save the world and bring
humanity back into the fold of God?
The Messianic prophecies set forth
in the Old Testament clearly describe Jesus
Christ as the Messiah, but the most profound of
all these prophecies is David's prophecy of the
heart and mind of Jesus during His crucifixion
on the cross. This prophecy was foretold by
David long before the birth and crucifixion of
Jesus. In Psalm 22: 6-8 There were those who
mocked Him in His suffering on the cross. We
read,
Old Testament
Prophecy
Psa 22:6 - 8 But I am a worm, and no man; a
reproach of men, and despised of the people. All
they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot
out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He
trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him:
let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
New Testament Fulfillment
Mat 27:39-43 And they that passed by reviled
him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that
destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three
days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God,
come down from the cross. Likewise also the
chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and
elders said, He saved others; himself he cannot
save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now
come down from the cross, and we will believe
him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now,
if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son
of God.
Old Testament Prophecy
Psa 22:9-16 But thou art he that took me out of
the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was
upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon
thee from the womb: thou art my God from my
mother's belly. Be not far from me; for trouble
is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls
have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have
beset me round. They gaped upon me with their
mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am
poured out like water, and all my bones are out
of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in
the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up
like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my
jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of
death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly
of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my
hands and my feet.
New Testament Fulfillment
Mar 15:20 And when they had
mocked him, they took off the purple from him,
and put his own clothes on him, and led him out
to crucify him.
Mar 15:27-28 And with him
they crucify two thieves; the one on his right
hand, and the other on his left. And the
scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was
numbered with the transgressors.
Old Testament Prophecy
Psa 22:17-18 I may tell all my bones: they look
and stare upon me. They part my garments among
them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
New Testament Fulfillment
Mat 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his
garments, casting lots: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They
parted my garments among them, and upon my
vesture did they cast lots.
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do. And they parted
his raiment, and cast lots.
Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves,
Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose
it shall be: that the scripture might be
fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment
among them, and for my vesture they did cast
lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
Old Testament Prophecy
Also in Psalm 34:20 it says "He keepeth all his
bones: not one of them is broken"
New Testament Fulfillment
Joh 19:32-33 Then came the soldiers, and brake
the legs of the first, and of the other which
was crucified with him. But when they came to
Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they
brake not his legs:
Joh 19:36 For these things were done, that the
scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him
shall not be broken.
Old Testament Prophecy
Psalm 69:21 "They gave me also gall for my meat;
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
New Testament Fulfillment
Mat 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled
with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he
would not drink.
NOTE: These are just a small sample for
identifying Jesus Christ as the Messiah promised
in the Old Testament.
Remember: The truth of God's Word is a powerful
tool in winning others to Christ and Christ's
fulfillment of prophecy is one way we can
present the truth to others, having our feet
shod with the gospel of peace as part of our
armor in spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul was
able to convince others that Jesus Christ was
the true Messiah by this very means.
If you would like to know more, just click on the link
below for a further look into the most
convincing and significant OT prophecies that
point to:
Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah
(and keep a copy for yourself.)
Click on the link below if you would like to know how to
receive God's Holy Spirit or if you question
your salvation and need reassurance.
What is Salvation and How Do We Know if We Are
Saved?
Why did Jesus say, I Am the True Vine?
Orig. post 8/11/05.- Updated
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