Sunday, March 8, 2009

Shepherd

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. (John 10:11-12)

The Bible often uses shepherd examples. They remain good ones. The good shepherd tends to his flock, keeping them from harm, leading them to food and water, providing rest in green pastures. David knew that. Christ carries it out.

There are those who would – and have – scattered the flock. Paul ran into some of them, and spoke to them:

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? (Acts 13:10)

And yet, our Shepherd is also the Lamb:

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

Which goes back to Abraham and Isaac:

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)

What a tremendous prophecy!! Recognized centuries later:

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2)

Do you think I’ve pulled unrelated verses? Made them connect in a way unintended? Then accept the challenge to find out for yourself. How do they connect? Why do they connect or not connect? Why is the lamb used so often in the Bible? Where is the example used, and do they fit together?

In the KJV, the word lamb is used in 99 verses. The first use is in Genesis 22:7 where Isaac first asks about a lamb for the sacrifice. The last in Revelations:

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22:3)

Matthew 18:11- 14. Luke 15:4-7. Ninety-nine. Then He came looking for me.

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