The Everyday Gospel Christmas DevotionalSample

It is a good thing that our lives are controlled not by failed human shepherds, but by the good shepherd, who will never fail.

After prophesying against the wicked leaders of Israel, Ezekiel brings God’s children promises of a faithful good shepherd:

"Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken." (Ezek. 34:20–24)

So often in the middle of Israel’s despair, when their trouble has been troubled further by wicked and selfish leaders, God makes promises that, no matter how they are received at the moment by his children, find their full fulfillment only in Jesus. Think of how the Gospel of Matthew begins: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1). Jesus is in the royal line of David. All of the promises God made about David’s unending kingdom are fulfilled in Jesus. John declares, through the words of Jesus, that Jesus is the promised good shepherd:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (John 10:11–17)

Jesus is the full expression of the promise of the good shepherd from David’s royal line. Ultimately, what the people of old needed, and what we need as well, was a better human shepherd. Jesus, the God-man, is that better shepherd. Yes, the human shepherds of Israel were derelict in their duties. They loved themselves more than they loved God and his people. Yes, it would have greatly benefited the people of God if they had been led by godly leaders. But, because of the presence and power of sin, what humanity needs is a shepherd who would lay down his life for the redemption of his sheep. Be glad today that Jesus is that shepherd. He laid down his life so that you might have life. You are his sheep and the object of his shepherding care forever.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I rest secure in your promise of a good shepherd. I delight to know that you have promised one who will tend to his people with attentive care and love. Even more so, you have provided that shepherd in the person of Jesus, the heir of David and King of the world! Thank you for providing one who would lay down his life for his sheep, so that I may be reconciled to you. I pray in his name, amen.