The Shepherd

by T.W. Fullerton, Melbourne | Category: The Lord Jesus Christ: His Person And Work: | Aug 1953

One of the precious figures used to illustrate the relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and those whom on earth He calls His own is that of the Shepherd and His sheep.

The same figure is used frequently throughout the Old Testament concerning Jehovah and His people, Israel.

"He shall feed His flock like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs in His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that give suck " (Isaiah 40.11).

It is also written,

"Give ear, 0 Shepherd of Israel,

Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock" (Psalm 80.1).

Who amongst God's children has not read or memorized and ofttimes found comfort from the record of the experience of the sweet psalmist of Israel in Psalm 23.? David could look back over a life of both sweet and bitter experiences; with its contrast of "green pastures and still waters" and "the valley of the shadow of death," and with the confidence born of personal experience could say, "Jehovah is my Shepherd."

If Israel as His flock, and individuals as His sheep, could know the shepherd-care of Jehovah-Rohi, whom we judge to be also the Good, Great and Chief Shepherd of the New Testament, how much more should we, who "were going astray like sheep " (1 Peter 2.25), know and experience the shepherd-care of our Lord Jesus Christ, who once as the Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep, and now in resurrection life lives as the Great Shepherd to feed, guide, comfort and protect His own and as the Chief Shepherd is coming again!

THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

In John 10. the Lord Jesus speaks of this relationship which He bears to His sheep. He who had been a Shepherd to Israel, that flock which He had once led by the hand of Moses and Aaron (Psalm 77.20) and later, by the skilful hands of David (Psalm 78.72), now looked out with saddened heart upon that flock scattered far and wide. Wayward sheep indeed they had been which had strayed from the green pastures into which He had led them, and from under His protecting rod.

The foolish under-shepherds of a later day had led them astray and neglected their charge, until they had become meat for all the beasts of the field (Ezekiel 34.1-10). Now, in His gracious dealings with the children of men He longs to experience again that relationship towards whom He desires to call His own. But to establish this relationship certain steps must be taken. He must win the heart and confidence of those whom He would thus lead. They must get to know Him and to realize that He cares for them, and that His thoughts towards them are only good.

So, to gain their confidence, the initial steps are taken; downward from the throne of heaven (from which He had been the Shepherd of Israel) He came to dwell among men as a Sharer of blood and flesh. But the sheep He had now come to gather, were lost, whether of Israel or the Gentiles, and so He must first seek and save that which was lost. They were

"Out on the mountains, wild and bare,

Away from the tender Shepherd's care."

In the parable of Luke 15. 3-7 the shepherd is seen going after that which was lost "until he find it" ; a seeking that involved discomfort, hardship and risk, but when we turn to the reality in John 10. we see the life of the Good Shepherd "laid down" for the sheep ; nothing less could avail to rescue the lost ones.

Surely when we ponder over this and realize what He has done our heart and confidence have been gained! Are we prepared to say

Where He leads me I will follow,

I'll go with Him all the way"?

True are the lines,

Our Lord His glory laid aside,

That He had known with God.

Then came to earth as Man and died

To cleanse us by His blood.

Good Shepherd He stray sheep He sought,

Stooped low and suffered loss;

He bore the hiding of God's face,

A curse upon the cross."

John the baptist, as a true under-shepherd, had succeeded by his message in gathering some of the lost and perplexed ones of Israel's scattered flock, but in the purpose of God this gathering was with a view to incorporation in that which was an objective in the death of Christ-" One flock; one Shepherd." The baptist's ministry was exclusively to Israel, but the Lord Jesus had others in view, as He said,-" Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock, one Shepherd" (John 10.16).

THE GREAT SHEPHERD.

The life He laid down was confirmation of the fact that He would withhold nothing in order that the purpose of God might be accomplished, "that He might... gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad" (John 11.52).

From the human standpoint it would have appeared at His death that such a purpose had been defeated, for the Shepherd had been smitten and the sheep of the flock bad been scattered abroad (Matthew 26.31). Where now was the possibility of there being "one flock, one Shepherd"? But questions, concerning which men or angels knew nothing as yet, were judicially settled at Calvary.

The climax to these days of bewilderment and doubt was reached when "the God of peace," who had found perfect and complete satisfaction in Christ's atoning death, "brought again from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep in the blood of the eternal covenant" (Hebrews 13.20). The greatness of the good Shepherd was now being displayed. The most terrible of all the foes of the little flock had been met and defeated, and Satan, death, the grave and Sheol had now lost their power and terrors. No longer could the fear of death and that which lay beyond it keep those who were Christ's in bondage (Hebrews 2.14, 15). They would be free to "serve Him without fear" (Luke 1.74).

And now, their hands having handled Him, their eyes having beheld Him, first in life before the cross, then in resurrection, all doubts have been dispelled as to His goodness and greatness. He is raised to the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, and as the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd He shepherds His heavenly people in a world wherein they are" strangers and pilgrims" (1 Peter 2.11). Such are spoken of as having been like sheep going astray, "but are now returned unto the Shepherd" of their souls (verse 25). He who had stood between them and the foe and is now on the throne, having had all authority given unto Him, as the Great Shepherd still cares for, protects and delivers His sheep.

"He'srisen now, and lives on high,

Again He's glorified,

And ever liveth there to save

His sheep for whom He died.

As Shepherd Great, with crook in hand,

He tends them all with care,

E'en through death's shadow, and midst foes,

He's present with them there."

Well may we sing,

"Jesus is our Shepherd, guarded by His arm,

Though the wolves may ravin, none can do us harm:

Should we tread death's valley, dark with fearful gloom

We will fear no evil, victors o'er the tomb."

THE CHIEF SHEPHERD.

The result of the Lord's resurrection and the joy and confidence thus begotten was to bring together again the "little flock," now prepared to follow where and as the Shepherd might lead. During the forty days following His resurrection He truly led His own, making them to lie down in green pastures and leading them beside the still waters. But He cannot remain with them, and those whom He had chosen must go forth to seek the lost, wooing them with the divine

message of love and mercy and grace. In those forty days words of the All-wise One were "given from one Shepherd" (Ecclesiastes 12.11), unfolding the Old Testament Scriptures which spake of Him, whereby the hearts of His disciples were caused to burn within them, as in Luke 24.32.

But there was now a New Covenant of grace and things pertaining thereto which they must know in order that the under-shepherds might be fitted to gather and feed the Flock of God (1 Peter 5.2; Acts 20.28). Following upon His ascension and glorification and the descent of the Holy Spirit preachers go forth, equipped with the divine message and the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who hear and believe the message are taught how the Great Shepherd would lead them according to the Scriptures, and with hearts bowed in simple and humble dependence upon Him they follow Him. Thus we read,-" They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers " (Acts 2. 41, 42).

They did not become many flocks, but one flock Only under one Shepherd. In the many churches of God the under-shepherds are all responsible to the Chief Shepherd to tend and feed the Flock, each one in his allotted portion.

The New Testament Scriptures speak very preciously of the Lord Jesus in His threefold character as Shepherd. How much do we each know of Him thus? All who know Him as their Saviour have experienced something of His care as the Good Shepherd and the Great Shepherd. As the Chief Shepherd He still calls on those who hear and know His voice to follow whither He doth lead. How and where doth He lead? This much we now say, He leads by His Spirit through the Scriptures and He guides into the" One Flock "expressed by the churches of God. As in the early days of this dispensation so to-day those who desire to follow the Chief Shepherd can be cared for and tended by Him, the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls and also by the under-shepherds of the Flock. When the Chief Shepherd appears then those who have faithfully tended the Flock shall rejoice and lay down their burdens of responsibility whilst those who have been in subjection to Him and to them shall rejoice together. Then "the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall be their Shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of water of life: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7.17).

"Soon, as Chief Shepherd,

He will come His loved ones home to take,

When those who've served shall have reward,

Who wrought for His name's sake.

Crowned King of Glory then He'll be,

And Lord of Hosts beside,

For Him the heads of lasting doors

And gates will open wide.

The Shepherd thus, Good, Great and Chief,

By cross, and crook, and crown,

Salvation threefold will have wrought

For those He calls His own.