Wednesday: The Good Shepherd
For centuries both Jewish and Christian readers of the Bible have found in Zechariah’s book numerous references to the Messiah and messianic times.
Image © Rolf Jansson from GoodSalt.com
Christians, of course, have understood that these passages apply to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ: the triumphant yet peaceful King (Zech. 9:9), the One who was pierced (Zech. 12:10), the Shepherd who was struck down (Zech. 13:7).
In Zechariah 13:7-9 the prophet is shown a scene in which the sword of the Lord’s judgment goes out against the Good Shepherd. On a previous occasion the prophet saw the sword being raised against a “worthless shepherd” (Zech. 11:17, NIV). But here in this passage the Good Shepherd is struck, and the flock becomes scattered. His death results in a great trial and testing of God’s people, during which some perish; yet, all of the faithful are refined.
Read Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27. How did Jesus apply this prophecy to that which was going to happen that night? More important, what should that whole incident, that of the disciples fleeing in the face of adversity (see Matt. 26:56 and Mark 14:50), teach us about the faithfulness of God in contrast to human unfaithfulness?
The image of God as a shepherd is found in many places in the Bible. It begins with the book of Genesis (Gen. 48:15, NIV) and ends with Revelation (Rev. 7:17). Through Ezekiel, God rebuked the irresponsible shepherds of His people and promised to search for the lost sheep and take care of them. Applying these words to Himself, Jesus declared that He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).
Think of times in which you have been unfaithful to the Lord. Despite that, how does He continue to show you mercy and grace? What must be your response be to that mercy and grace?
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He gives me unmerited love even when I was unfaithful. Only I couldnt see that until I came back to faith. He is faithful. What about that word that we will be judges accordingly what we have done in the body?
In the light of Wednesday's lesson: May the gentle Shepherd lead us and help us find our way in a beautiful new day given to us. Christ was struck down for our sins in which He had no share so that we might become partakers of His righteousness in which we had no share. The innocent for the guilty by His stripes we are healed. I wonder if we are truly experiencing that healing on a daily basis as it indeed is our greatest need. May we all experience His salvation anew each day. For they shall call Him Jesus for He shall save His people from their sin - Matt 1v23.
Wow. What can I say? But "thank You" in ways that can only begin to express the appreciation for such undeserved mercy!
Nathan
Fulfilled in Jesus
Could someone explain what ( fulfilling in Jesus means) when it come to a prophecy that we do not understand ?. like those in the lessons of this week.
Isa_55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
1Co 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Seventh day Adventist use to be a people of prophecy . We understand the prophecy of Daniel 9 seventy weeks , 7 weeks = 49 years , 62 weeks = 434 years, 1 week = 7 years and christ dying in the midst of the week.
We know that Christ arosed from the dead on the very day that the wave sheaf was offered.
The 2300 days prophecy of Daniel 8;13-14 that brought us to 1844, and the abominatiation that make desolate came in the church in the year 538 and ended in 1798 making a total of 1260 years , which is the same as the 42 months and Rev_11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Rev_13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. and Rev_12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
From the prophecy in 1798 th2 pope was taken prisoner Rev_13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 461 years later there is a blessing to the church Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Dan 12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. 508 +1290 = 1798 and 508 + 1335= 1843
Graves are opened, and "many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth. . . awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. "They also which pierced Him" (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient. {GC 637.1}
How is it that we dont know that these prophecies of Zechariah will be fulfilled during the loud cry of the third angel message and Rev 18 say's the earth will be lighten with the glory of God . the prophecies of Zech 8 ,the whole chapter , Children playing in the streets?, Isa 2;1-3 , Mich 4;1-2; Zech 12; 13 and 14, all these thing I can see happen only while probation is still open, How is it posible to have little children in the streets after going to heaven for a thousand years , and eating from the tree of life and sill come back to earth as a child.
Some body please explain how all these prophecies fulfilled in Jesus. and if it is pass what are we serving God for if all we have is to live and died and waite for all our blessings in the new earth. are we saying that God could not backup his promises that he made to all our father's so he abandon it and start over in the new earth?
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth,
I love each, but especially today's lesson, for it clearly helped me to see how we as fallen sheep are to be thankful and mindful of what Christ has done for us. "For even in our fallen nature" we deserved to die, but our Savior accepted us as we are and paid the price for us. We should be thankful and grateful in every aspect of our lives while living towards the promise of His soon return. He is willing and able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness in our acceptance and acknowledgement of Him, coupled with the constant study along with applications to His words by faith that will keep us to be strong in this world for the end times and to reassure us a place in the heavenly kingdom!
I grew up on a farm, and we had a flock of a couple of hundred sheep. One thing that I learned early in life was that sheep were pretty stupid. Give the choice of going through a gate into a paddock of their favourite grass or jumping into an ice cold river and drowning, many sheep would choose the later. I know because I had to jump in after them boots and all to drag them out. Many sheep should have thanked me for their longevity!
I often think of that when I read the story of the Children of Israel, reaching the promised land. They chose to ignore the invitation of the shepherd and enter the promised land. And Moses had trained for 40 odd years with sheep before he led the Children of Israel too. He was willing to loose eternal life so that his sheep would go to the promised land. Christ likewise was willing to die eternally so that we, his sheep could live. Do we love others that much?