December 13, 2015 Temple Baptist Church, Jamestown, ND
TITLE: THE SHEPHERD, Micah 5:4-5a; etc. (Advent Roles #3)
Our children and grandchildren were all home the week of Thanksgiving. We so enjoy our time
with them. Although each is unique, it is interesting to see various family tendencies and
characteristics in them. Like father, like son (or daughter like mother or grandchild like
grandparent).
As we look at those who are part of announcing Jesus’ birth, one group important to that story . .
. and every reenactment is the shepherds. How many of you wore a bathrobe and had a
dishtowel wrapped around your head? (Audience)
We know that the angel’s announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds speaks to Jesus’
humble beginnings. Shepherds were not considered ceremonially clean. They did an important
task, but not one many would ever seek at Job Service. It was long, hard work in all kinds of
weather conditions.
Yet the Bible includes many of the fathers of our faith who were shepherds. Abel was a
shepherd. God’s mission through a unique people begins with the shepherds Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob. Moses spent considerable time as a shepherd. David, Jesse’s eighth and youngest
son, was largely ignored by his older brothers, but would become the much-beloved king of a
united Israel.
Today we will look at Jesus’ connection to the role of Shepherd in God’s mission.

Like Shepherd. Like Sheep.
When David became Israel’s king, the term shepherd was used as a descriptive term of how he
was to lead them. The people of Israel recognize this in uniting with Judah and Benjamin under
David. The LORD said, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’” 2
Samuel 5:2
We read in Psalm 78 of God, He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;
from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his
inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.
Psalm 78:70-72
Shepherd becomes synonymous with leader. But not all the kings of Israel and Judah rule as
David. Several of the prophets speak against these shepherds, these leaders more concerned
with their own comforts than with their sheep, the people. The sheep behave like the shepherds
to the point that Isaiah writes: all we, like sheep, have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). Like shepherd,
like sheep.
The people follow the leaders, who follow the people, in their unfaithfulness. Jeremiah
harangues against Judah’s shepherds as senseless because they do not inquire of the LORD
(Jeremiah 10:21). “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray. . .
Whoever found them devoured them; their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they sinned
against the LORD their true pasture, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’” Jeremiah 50:6-7
Mixing metaphors the LORD says that the shepherds are ruining His vineyard (Jeremiah 12:10).
Ezekiel writes: The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the
shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to
the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of
the flock?” Ezekiel 34:1-2
Isaiah begins his work before the northern kingdom is overrun by Assyria. Jeremiah writes a
century later as Judah disintegrates around him. Ezekiel writes from exile in Babylon a couple
decades later. And Zechariah several decades after Ezekiel with the LORD’s words: “My anger
burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders.” Zechariah 10:3
We can blame the shepherd. We can blame the sheep. Nothing changes until we realize our
need.

Look for Shepherd. Look for Sheep.
Let’s listen to Jeremiah and Ezekiel a little more. Read Jeremiah 23:1-4. Ezekiel writes, “O
shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the
shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the
flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their
mouths, and it will no longer be food for them . . . I myself will search for my sheep and look
after them . . . I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down . . . I will judge between one
sheep and another, between rams and goats . . . I will place over them one shepherd, my
servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.” Ezekiel 34:9-10,
11, 15, 17, 23
God pronounces judgment upon the shepherds, the leaders, but what does He also promise?
(Audience) I will rescue. I will search. I will judge between them. I will place one shepherd
over them.
Let’s return to Jeremiah 23. Immediately following the verses we read earlier is this note. “The
days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King
who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our
Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:5-6 (cf. 3:15; 31:10)
Jeremiah and Ezekiel both say that the one to come will be “David” or like David, as a shepherd.
Jeremiah even says that this shepherd will descend from David and be called by the name of
Yahweh, our righteousness.
Zechariah’s words echo that Messianic hope, mixed with strange images, broken covenants,
judgment and death (cf. Zechariah 9-13).
When the shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks nearly 2,000 years ago, they were
doing their jobs faithfully. But all the Jewish people knew of Jeremiah’s and Ezekiel’s promise.
When the Magi come from the East seeking the one born “King of the Jews,” the chief priests
and scribes utter Micah’s prophecy of Bethlehem . . . and the One Who would be ruler,
shepherding God’s people Israel. Then One comes Who begins to say some very curious
things.

Listen for Shepherd. Listen for Sheep.
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good
news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he
had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd. Matthew 9:34-36 Mark records similar words just before Jesus teaches the people
and then feeds over 5,000 of them (cf. Mark 6; Isaiah 40:9-11; 61:1-3, 6) These words echo
both Isaiah 61 and 40.
On another occasion He says to His followers, His disciples, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for
your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 Jesus speaks of His
mission as going to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24). He tells the story of the shepherd
leaving the 99 to search for the lost sheep (Luke 15).
But John records something which both shakes and thrills the people, leaving no doubt
Who this teacher thinks He is. Jesus has just healed the man born blind. Read John 9 about
the controversy it causes. In his debate with the Pharisees, the most devout of the Jewish
people who both know what we call the OT and seek to live by it as well as many rules
connected to it, Jesus says that one of the reasons He came into the world is for judgment. He
implies that they are blind, which leads to their taking offense.
Then Jesus says this: “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the
gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate
is the shepherd of the sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his
voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his
own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But
they will never follow a stranger . . . because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice . . . I am
the gate for the sheep . . . whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out
and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may
have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:1-10
Does any of this sound familiar? (Audience) To leave no doubt Jesus continues with these
words. “I am the good shepherd.” At this point you could hear a pin drop. “The good shepherd
lays down his life for the sheep. . . I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep
know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the
sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will
listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:11, 14-16
Why does a dog love to stick its head out of a pickup or car window? (Audience) It is not just to
have the breeze blow through its fur, or to cool off, or to see, or to bark at other dogs. A dog
has a keen sense of smell. When a dog sticks its head out the window it is like sensory
overload. Wow! I smell this and this and . . . oh, there’s this and . . .
When Jesus says these words the people’s minds automatically go back to the words of Ezekiel
34 where God promises that He will shepherd His sheep, that He will send David. Jesus is
making very specific claims. That would lead them to Jeremiah’s words in chapter 23 about
David, the Branch, the King. There is the warning of judgment on the unfaithful
shepherds, the leaders. When Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd,” (I, I am) He says it in a
way that reminds us of God’s personal name Yahweh. He speaks of God as the Father Who
knows Him and He the Father. He pulls in the promised blessing of the nations when He
speaks of other sheep that will be brought so there can be one flock and one shepherd.
Jesus lays out the complete mission of God in a few short words and by those words
links all the OT promises, hopes and expectations that the people have. Well, not exactly.
He also talks about the shepherd laying down His life for the sheep.
If you think these words are no big deal, John records that Jesus continues this conversation
later in Jerusalem about His sheep listening to His voice and some of the people pick up stones
to kill Him.
Jesus would say later that when the Son of Man comes He will separate the sheep from the
goats (Matthew 25), i. e. pronounce judgment. During their celebration of Passover Jesus tells
the Twelve that they all will desert Him. “This very night you will all fall away on account of me,
for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I
have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Matthew 26:31-32 Peter responds in protest, but
the words Jesus quotes are from that bizarre OT book of Zechariah, which I mentioned earlier.
Take a look a special look at chapters 9-13.

Love Shepherd. Love Sheep.
Does anyone remember what Jesus says to Peter after His resurrection? Peter sees the empty
tomb, as well as seeing and hearing Jesus personally in the upper room. But there was this
whole denying-Him-three-times thing. Peter goes fishing. Thomas, Nathanael, James and
John join him. I’m not sure if Peter is really interested in fishing or if he just needs to get away,
but they catch nothing. John 21 records that Jesus calls from the shore (although they don’t
know that it is He) to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. They do and have so many
fish, they have to leave the fish in the net as they make for shore. Peter jumps out of the boat
and goes to see Jesus, who has a fire going and then cooks some of the fish for their breakfast.
But there is still this, this past denial.
What does Jesus tell Peter to do? ”Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep.”
In other words, Peter, you are to take care of those I love. But what is it Jesus asks Peter, Do
you love me? Three times. Peter, I am not asking you about what you did (or didn’t do). Do
you love Me?
Luke records what all think will be a farewell gathering of the elders from Ephesus with Paul,
who is on his way to Jerusalem. They meet at place called Miletus. One of the things Paul
says to them: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” Acts
20:28
Thirty years after Jesus asked Peter if he loved him and told him to care for his sheep, Peter
reminds refugee Christians in Asia: To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no
deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when
he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He
himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for
righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but
now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25
As he moves toward the conclusion of his letter, Peter gives specific instruction to the leaders.
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one
who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your
care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants
you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you,
but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the
crown of glory that will not fade away. 1 Peter 5:1-4
The words of Paul and Peter, even Jesus, although addressed to leaders, have a broader
application to all of us. Love the Shepherd. Love the sheep.
Conclusion. How are we like our Shepherd? How are we loving the Shepherd? Peter would
come to understand that God’s mission includes bringing sheep to His pen that we might
not care to have included. That is Who God is. Do we love the Shepherd? Who are those
around us who need to hear and experience the care of the Shepherd? How do we care
for each other who already are His sheep? Do we intentionally make space to share life
together? How? When? Where? The Shepherd calls us to be on mission with Him, and
it begins in, among and with His sheep. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Pray.
Benediction from Hebrews 13:20-21)
NEXT STEPS: Review the outline and the texts. Spend time in Jeremiah 23:1-8 and Ezekiel 34.
Bonus: Read Zechariah 9-13 for the references to Jesus. What does it mean to be a shepherd?
Can we love Jesus without caring for His sheep? What needs to change in your life so that you
can start living like the Shepherd? Share with another how you are being challenged. Where is
God calling you to care in your community? Pray for each other.