4 Easter SHEPHERD

Since the 14th Century two words have been used in the church to describe the priest responsible for a parish priest. Rector, from a root meaning "move in a straight line," referred to a "ruler," the one who directs people in a straight line is the ruler. The word "pastor" literally meant a shepherd but was applied to the work of a spiritual leader.

In Acts 4, we see the ongoing tragedy of the failures of the "rulers, elders and scribes" in Jerusalem, and the misrule of the high priestly family. Jesus Himself had confronted these men with their blindness and obtuseness. Now, after a very public healing miracle, Peter proclaims the resurrection of Jesus and the remarkable message, there is no other source of salvation than Jesus Christ. The shepherds failed to heed the prophetic call and in 70AD the temple and city were wiped off the map, for a second time. 

The human criteria of success, wealth  and power, are secondary for assessing Israel's rulers. Fidelity to the covenant with YHWH was central, and very  few kings were judged to  have done well in God's eyes.  

Ezekiel 34 contains the most intense judgements.  "You  feed yourselves and not the sheep." The Lord God declares, "I will seek out my sheep."  "I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness." Jesus says, "I lay down my life for the sheep." Psalm 23 is a bridge, illustrating that in Jesus God enters the thick darkness of the shadow of death to save His sheep.

"The false shepherds flee the wolves," warns Jesus. These words stir up a sad memory from a decade ago, when a young man died from a drug over dose. At his funeral I said that many who claimed to be his friends were in fact wolves, and afterward another young man told me that I was right. I say to you, what I declared to them: Jesus, the real shepherd, is seeking and will find His lost sheep. This is good news for the sheep, but bad news for the wolves.

These are treacherous days. There is much new teaching. Are the rulers of church and state filled with the Holy Spirit and leading us in the ways of the Good Shepherd?  Or are they seeking power and control for themselves? Is God being glorified,  or is He being used? Are they feeding the flock of God or themselves? And what of us, you and I? Are we true shepherds serving the King, or hired hands who run when the going gets tough? 

The days are dark, but we fear no evil. For He is with us, and we constantly repent to make sure that we are with Him. It is the way of sheep. It is the way of shepherds. It is the way to God in Christ.

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