WHAT A GOOD SHEPHERD

Over the course of history, many people have sacrificed their lives for others because of their deep care, dare I say love, for others. Whether the sacrifice manifested in the form of patriotism (saving someone in war), humanitarianism (saving someone out of common, negative experiences), or heroism (saving someone in the heat of an emergency) – the life of the sacrificed did not return.

Believers in Christ Jesus have a unique hero. Jesus Christ died for our fatal flaw and three days later arose from death and the grave with the keys to Hades promising a return to rule and reign this earth. Jesus’ superhero name in this instance is The Good Shepherd.

 “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. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:14-18)

Jesus knew the situation. Sin and its nature had infected humanity and creation. The unstoppable, freight train of God’s Wrath was sent to judge everything infected. But Father God sent us a hero, a Savior, in the form of The Good Shepherd. He would step in front of this “freight train of God’s Wrath”, not just for His chosen people, the Jews (“the sheep”), but for everyone else who would believe in His sacrifice and resurrection (“other sheep that are not of this sheep pen”).

The unique thing about this hero is that He had the power and authority (right) to take back His life, live again or be resurrected. No other self-proclaimed savior or prophet has done that. Of all the faiths in the world, this one, belief in Christ, is a belief of God reaching down in love to humanity. All other faiths require a reaching up to God through works/deeds. Where all other faiths pass or fail you with your performance to their deity, Christ took care of what alienates all between God and humanity. He then invites us to simply accept or believe in His sacrifice and victorious resurrection then live a Christ-like life. What a Savior! What a Hero! What a Good Shepherd!