I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 WEB

These words of Christ directly refer to prophetic words from Isaiah and Ezekiel. By calling himself the good shepherd, Jesus reveals his fulfillment of prophecy and makes claim to his divinity as the Messiah and Savior. Indicating his willingness to lay down his life for his sheep, Christ prophesied his own death on the cross as atonement for human sin. 

Isaiah 40:11 reads in part, “He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. WEB” Not only does Jesus call himself the good shepherd, but notice the words “I am.” This is how God describes himself to Moses. Combined with the metaphor of the good shepherd, Jesus asserts his divine relationship to God revealing his purpose for our salvation. 

His Flock

A similar prophecy involving the often used metaphor as Shepherd for God and servant of God is found in Ezekiel 34:11-12. These verses read, “For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. KJV”

Christ came to fulfill the law of God. He came to fulfill the prophets and the psalms that describe the coming Savior. The Lord came to reconcile sinners to a holy God that loves them. Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s plan for salvation from sin. He sends his Holy Spirit to those who accept him as Lord and Savior. The Good Shepherd gave his life for his sheep, but on the third day, he arose from the dead. Our Lord lives and because he lives we will live eternally in the kingdom of heaven.

Yesterday’s Devotional: The Love of Money