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Christ Our Shepherd ÒHe shall
feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and
carry them in
his bosom, and shall
gently lead those that are with young.Ó (Isaiah
40:11) The
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Shepherd of his sheep. In the Old
Testament Scriptures it was prophesied that Messiah, the Christ, the Son of
God, our Redeemer would come into the world as a Man and that one chief
characteristic of his work of redemption and grace would be that of a shepherd
buying, seeking and gathering his sheep (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Ezekiel
34:11-23; 37:24). When David meditated upon these
things, his heart bubbled over with joy, confidence, faith and hope. He sang,
— ÒThe LORD is my shepherd; I shall not wantÓ (Psalms 23:1). In the New
Testament three distinct adjectives are used to set forth the characteristics
of Christ as our Shepherd. In his great work of redemption our Savior is
called ÒThe Good ShepherdÓ (John
10:11). In his resurrection glory he is called ÒThe Great ShepherdÓ (Hebrews 13:20). And, in reference to his
glorious return, Peter declares him to be ÒThe Chief ShepherdÓ (1 Peter 5:4). Our
Lord Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd with reference to his work of
redemption, the great Shepherd with reference to his resurrection and the
chief Shepherd with reference to his glorious return. These three adjectives
are always distinct. They are never mingled together or interchanged. Each is
used in its proper place and setting with reference to the Son of God and the
accomplishments of his mediatorial work by which he gathers his lambs and
saves his sheep. Don Fortner Listen to sermons
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