Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah . . . has conquered . . . Revelation 5:5
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . Galatians 6:14
You have been very angry with your Anointed One. Psalm 89:38
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2
Let the motto upon your whole ministry be - "Christ is All!" - Cotton Mather

Thursday, December 3, 2009

What It Cost To Be The Good Shepherd!


The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1

This amazing truth is ultimately fulfilled in the Good Shepherd - the Lord Jesus Christ. Only in Him is this supernatural satisfaction fully realized, and for this realization to happen, Jesus had to lay down His life for the sheep. The shepherd had to become the slain sheep struck down by the wrath of God:

Zechariah 13:7: "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the LORD of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered . . . ." (See also Matthew 26:31 & Mark 14:27)

John 10:11: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Hebrews 13:20-21: Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

1 Peter 2:25: For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.  

1 Peter 5:4: And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

 Jesus had to lack everything for His sheep.

Instead of the LORD being His shepherd, the LORD was His judge and cursed Him (Galatians 3:13)

Instead of lacking nothing, He lacked everything as He cried out "My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me?!" (Matthew 27:46)
 
Instead of rest in green pastures, He had no place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20) 

Instead of still waters, He was baptized with the wrath of God (Luke 12:50) 

Instead of a restored soul, His soul was poured out unto death (Isaiah 53:12) 

Instead of being led in right paths, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and offered Himself as a propitiation so that God might be proved righteous (Acts 8:32, Romans 3:25-26) 

Instead of fearing no evil in the dark death valley, He was made evil Who knew no evil and sorrowed unto death as He contemplated the darkness of death that would utterly consume Him (2 Corinthians 5:21, Mark 14:34-36) 

Instead of having God with Him as His comfort, God forsook Him, pouring out His just wrath upon Him (Matthew 27:46) 

Instead of having a rod and a staff to comfort Him, the rod of the Father was pleased to crush Him (Isaiah 53:10) 

Instead of having a table spread before Him, He hungered in the wilderness and thirsted unto death - God prepared a table for Him with His enemy who sold Him over to death for 30 pieces of silver (Luke 4:1-2, John 19:28; Matthew 27:1-5)

Instead of having His head anointed with oil, He wore a blood-soaked crown of thorns, and His head was anointed with His own precious blood (Matthew 27:29) 

Instead of having a cup that overflows, He drank the cup of the wrath of God to the dregs (Isaiah 51:17, Matthew 26:39) 

Instead of goodness and mercy pursuing Him all the days of His life, wrath and torment pursued Him unto death (Isaiah 53) 


Instead of dwelling in the house of the LORD, He was banished from the dwelling of the LORD as the unclean and cursed one (Galatians 3:13) 

Jesus had to lack everything as He Himself became the Lamb Who was slain (Revelation 5:6, 12). And He did all of this on behalf of stubborn, sinful, hell deserving sheep who rebelled against Him. This is the best news in the world! All who know this Good Shepherd by grace alone through faith alone will lack no good thing, for He will provide for them, protect them, comfort them, and satisfy them fully - He will be all and all to them now and forever and ever:

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He Who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:15-17

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Christ Jesus Is My Shepherd LORD
I Lack No Thing In Him Adored
He Grants Me Peace, My Soul’s Restored
In Righteous Paths He Leads Me Toward
Life For His Name’s Sake, Christ The LORD
And Though I Walk Through Death Abhorred
I’ll Fear No Wicked, Evil Horde
For You Are With Me, Mercy’s Poured
Like Oil On My Head Reward
I Overflow With Joys Stored
Goodness And Mercy Chase Me Toward
His House Forever Where I’ve Soared
To Heights Of Pleasures In My LORD
All Because God’s Wrath Was Poured
On Christ My Shepherd Who’s Abhorred
Hell’s Anger Pierced Him Like A Sword
He Died And Rose For His Reward
All Praise, All Nations Are Restored
Now My Shepherd’s My Reward
Who Will Forever Be Adored!

More On What It Cost Jesus


And this too: The Bible Says The Father Turned His Face Away From Jesus On The Cross

God And The Gospel

To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-ManJesus Christ, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here with a free, 3 day trial.

Resources On Psalm 23

1. Monergism Sermons On Psalm 23

2. Precept Austin On Psalm 23

3. The Sheep And The Shepherd by David Gibson

4. The Traveler And The Companion by David Gibson

5. The Guest And The Host by David Gibson

6. Comfort For All Of Life by Jonathan Gibson

7. 1517 And Chad Bird Podcast On Psalm 23

8. The LORD Of Psalm 23: Jesus Our Shepherd, Companion, And Host by David Gibson

9. A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller

10. The Pearl Of The Psalms: Spurgeon On Psalm 23The LORD Is My Shepherd, and The Good Shepherd by Charles Spurgeon

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." - John 10:11

Thank you, Jesus!

Brett Daane said...

Wow; thank you for this. Praise God! Such love is kind of scary; it is so free, yet so often I have a hard time taking it. Just believe!