The Figure of God’s people as sheep is rooted in the Old Testament. The Israelites were referred to as sheep, even as lost sheep: “My people have been lost sheep, their shepherds have led them astray” (Jer. 50:6). Because of the greediness of the priests of Israel, God was angry with these shepherds and took His people out of their care.
The figure continues in Ezekiel where God says: “I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out…and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered…And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land…” (Ezk. 34:11-13 and note vv. 1-10; all references should be read to get the full scripture teaching we are considering). Today we see Israel returned to their land in partial fulfillment of this chapter, but we have not reached the time when “I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David” (the “beloved,” that is, Jesus).
Jesus as the shepherd
During his ministry, the Lord “was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24). In fact, he commanded his 12 apostles: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:5-6). We know, of course, the house of Israel rejected him and he, through the apostles, turned to the Gentiles. This was the significance of his words: “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock [Jews and Gentiles] and one shepherd” (John 10:16).
In contrast to the greedy shepherds of Jeremiah’s time, Jesus would say of himself, “I am the good shepherd…and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15). Instead of taking from his sheep, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (v. 28). We know that through his perfect obedience, even unto his death through crucifixion, Jesus won the victory over sin and death and has made it possible for us who believe to have remission of our sins and hope of life eternal.
A shepherd with great power
The Lord as shepherd is not only to protect his sheep, he also has power of life and death with them. “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will…For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man” (John 5:21,26,27).
Along with Israel, we also are referred to as lost sheep, wandering about in the darkness of sin and the world. But Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep…If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:7,9 NKJV). When we come into the saving name of Jesus through belief and baptism, we are then his flock.
Making a slight change in the figure, Peter instructed those who had witnessed the suffering of Christ to shepherd the flock of God, not being lords over them, but being examples to the flock. This is good advice to all in Christ as we all must set examples to the babes in the word so that, “When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (I Peter 5:1-4 NKJV).
About sheep who wander
If we wander out of the care of the Great Shepherd, we can become lost again. By God’s grace and our humble repentance, however, we can be brought back into the fold. If we acknowledge our sins and also acknowledge Christ’s power and authority, Christ will acknowledge us. We must not deny him or he will deny us (Matt. 10:32-33).
We must look to Christ as our caring shepherd. As one of Adam’s race, we can identify with him. If we are truly his sheep, we, too, will have a like care for our brothers and sisters: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:1,2).
We are given to Christ
God has given to Jesus those who are His servants (John 17:6-17). We are sanctified by God’s truth, His word. God enlightens us to His word and it guides and shapes us into a pleasing child of God. Jesus wants us to be properly shaped because he wants those whom God has given him to be with him to behold his glory (John 17:24).
The sheep share the problems and principles of the shepherd. If Christ suffered persecution, his sheep will too, for they are not of the world (John 15:19-21). The sufferings are initiated by those who know not God. As John says in another place: “The world does not know us because it did not know him” (I John 3:1). In this case, “know” does not mean “have acquaintance with,” it means to “follow the commands of” (I John 2:3-4). Similarly, we are told if we love our brethren, we love God and know God (I John 4:6-8).
Words and miracles brought responsibility
Jesus told those hearers who rejected him that if he had not spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but upon hearing him, they had no more excuse for their sins. Further, if he had not done the works which no one else had done, they would have had no sin. But having heard the words and seen the works, they had seen and hated both Jesus and his Father (John 15:22,24). In stating the added responsibility of these people, Jesus must refer to their responsibility to judgment. Everyone is under the sentence of death because we are descendants of Adam, but Jesus says these people had additional responsibility for rejecting both him and his Father.
Judgment to come
If we willfully refuse to obey God, we will suffer with the world who “know not” God (in the sense of refusing to follow His commands.) God is righteous and He will repay those who have persecuted His people. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire (God’s purging power) taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his (Christ’s) power when he comes to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who have believed (II Thess. 1:7-10).
We can see how important it is to remain in the safety of the sheepfold so that we do not fall into this divine judgment. We must abide in Christ, for this way we are also in the Father: “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father” (I John 2:24,25 NKJV). “Having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him;” and again we are urged, “to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (Rom. 5:9; I Thess 1:10 NKJV).
Some might claim that the unworthy who left the sheepfold and never returned will not be raised to judgment when Christ comes. They would apply the words “know not God” only to the wicked in the world at large (II Thess. 1:8). But we earlier demonstrated that if we do not obey Christ’s commandments, or if we do not love the brethren (which is a commandment of Christ), we do not “know” God.
Jesus as the judge
Jesus has been granted all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). Further, as noted before, the Father has committed all judgment to His Son, thus if we do not honor the Son, we do not honor the Father (John 5:22-24). Thankfully, if we are faithful to Christ’s word, we will not come into judgment (the wrath of God).
The fact Jesus is the judge is stated very clearly in the New Testament. “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead at his appearance and his kingdom” (II Tim. 4:1). Later in this same chapter, Paul says: “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but to all who have loved his appearing” (NKJV).
Christ’s authority was displayed even on the cross when he passed judgment on the one thief, declaring the man would surely enter the kingdom (Lk. 23:42,43).
In Matthew 25 in a sequence of three parables, the Master is the one who executes punishment on the wicked. The bridegroom tells the foolish who were too slack concerning the oil for their lamps, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you” (Mt. 25:11,12 NKJV). To the servant who had gained nothing with his talent, the Master commands, “Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness [with the wicked of the world)” (Matt 25:30).
Jesus is the judge who decides whether a person is blessed or punished: “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22). Thus in the matter of future judgment, God works through His Son. (Of course, just as when God works through His angels, some scriptures will say “God does it” while others will say “the angel” did it. So some passages will speak of God’s judgment, while others make clear He carries out His judgment through Christ. God is the ultimate judge, but He delegates this function to Jesus Christ.)
If we can see the necessity of our Lord’s life and death by crucifixion to open the way to eternal life, we ought also to see his granted power and authority to finish the job. “For it was fitting for him…in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” The same Savior also says, “Here am I and the children whom God has given me” (Heb. 2:10,13). He keeps his children (his sheep), nurturing and saving them from the wrath to come if we follow his commands and remain faithful.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One