#DailyDevotion Jesus is YHWH, who seeks out the Lost Sheep
January 12th
Read Ezek 34:1–24
Ezekiel 34: (11) “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out…(13) And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country…(15) I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. (16) I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus. It is written in the gospel of John, John 10:11-15
(11) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…(13) I know my own and my own know me,..(14) I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,…(16) 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.
Jesus identifies himself as the good shepherd. When Jesus does this he also identifies himself as the one speaking to the prophet Ezekiel. Jesus is the Lord, the God of Israel.
As such Jesus is the one who seeks out his people. People will often flock to Jesus but Jesus seeks out his own, even as he chose his disciples instead of them choosing Jesus. Jesus even now, through his church, the members of his church is seeking out the lost sheep. The church and the Word of God she preaches calls out to the lost sheep of God. When those who belong to Christ hear that Word, they recognize the voice of their Shepherd, Jesus and they follow him.
Because Jesus is our shepherd this is what he has come to do for his sheep, he will “bring back the strayed, “bind up the injured,” and strengthen the weak.” Those who are fallen away from the faith he calls them back with repentance, so they may confess their sins, turn from them and believe Jesus accepts them back. Jesus binds up our wounds for many times we have been spiritually assaulted and spiritually beaten up with false doctrine yet the free gift of salvation in Christ binds up our wounds. We may at times get weak, yet it is with the promises of God in Christ Jesus we become partakers of the divine nature and become strong in him. In all these things, it is the pure word of God and the sacraments which call, seek, bind and strengthen us.
Lord Jesus Christ, continually send out your Church into the world and call men to serve under you who be your voice and your hands to your lost and wounded sheep. May we all hear your voice and be gathered together with you in your Church that we may ever dwell in green pastures by the quiet waters of your kingdom. Amen.