Are You Willing?
Oh boy!
In my quest to understand the Old Testament (OT), I am finding that so many things in the New Testament (NT) are just re-teachings of original OT teachings. This good shepherd statement is a prime example, and it explains why the Judean leaders wanted to stone Yeshua for blasphemy! (John 10:33) Without the context of the OT, one could not possibly understand the complete gravity of what Yeshua was claiming when referring to Himself as the Good Shepherd.
So, let's take a look...
- Ezekiel 34 (whole chapter)
- Jeremiah 23:1-4
- John 10 (whole chapter)
There is quite a bit of scripture reading today, but if you've been able to take the time to read the above passages, it has probably "clicked" with you as to why the Judeans were divided (John 10:19) and why the Judean leaders were ready to stone Yeshua (John 10:33).
We see in Ezekiel 34 that the shepherds (leaders) of Israel only took care of themselves (v2), and that the sheep (people) had been scattered over the face of the earth (v6). Yehovah declares that, "I Myself will search for My sheep seek them out....I will rescue them out of all the places where they have been scattered" (v11&12).
Jeremiah confirms the declaration of Yehovah in chapter 23...."Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" (v1)
Are you seeing the picture here? Throughout the OT, Yehovah refers to Himself as The Shepherd and Israel as His flock.
In John 10, when Yeshua says, "I am the Good Shepherd," the people, having studied the OT scriptures all their lives, understood.
Yeshua was not just claiming to be a caring leader...
He was claiming to be Yehovah!
So...the Judean people were divided, (v19) and the Judean leaders picked up stones to stone Him (v31).
Why is that?
Because they were faced with The Truth, and it was decision time. Some chose to drop everything they had formerly known and follow Yeshua...Yehovah in flesh. Some saw The Truth and decided that embracing it was not worth the cost, as the cost was great. These leaders who cried "blasphemy" (v33) would lose all their earthly position and power if they were to acknowledge Yeshua as the Living God.
Are we any different?
Are we willing to embrace Yeshua by giving up every ounce of our own earthly power? Are we willing to swim opposite of our culture to acknowledge Him? Are we willing to become as bond servants to His will in our lives? Are we willing to take up our cross and follow Him...possibly alone? Are we willing to die to this life in order to gain His?
Are we willing?
I have heard many believers speak harshly about the Judean leaders who were not willing to accept that Yeshua was indeed Yehovah in flesh.
But I say to them, you without sin, cast the first stone.
Are you willing?
WOW,
ReplyDeleteIf this doesn't make us sit up and take a very long and hard look at ourselves, well it would be time to think really hard about doing just that. Thanks Debbie
I was catching the shepherd talk in Ezekial and considering Psalm 23. "He maketh me to lie down" You have taken it a step further here, and I thank you for this. Very enlightening. No matter where we are scattered to, he gathers us...and gives us true rest.
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