#DailyDevotion Jesus Is The Shepherd Of Israel, The Seed Of David
Mark 6:34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”
So it is difficult to read this text without thinking about Ezekiel. There the Lord said: Eze 34:5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered;…11-15 “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. (12) As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. (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. (14) I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. (15) I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD… 23-24 ESV 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. (24) And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken.
So Jesus looks over this vast crowd and remembers his promise he made to Ezekiel and the people of Judah and Israel. The people were without proper shepherds. They did not teach the people as the Lord wanted them taught. So the people flocked to Jesus, the Lord. Here we see Jesus, who is the Lord who spoke to Ezekiel, take up his role as Shepherd to his people.
We should note, Jesus feeds them first with the Word and then he takes care of their physical needs. Jesus had done the same with the paralytic lowered through the roof. First he forgave him of his sins, then he healed his body. We might take note in the Lord’s Prayer we ask the Father to take care of our spiritual needs first and then we go on to our worldly needs. Jesus is the Lord who has come to shepherd his people.
Jesus also is the Lord’s servant David. Of the seed of David, the Lord of Israel joins himself and makes himself both Lord and God of Israel. Jesus, ascended to the right hand of God in the flesh, the one who is both man and God, is made prince among them.
While Jesus does feed us with his word, his body and his blood in the world, there is yet another feeding coming. As easily as he multiplied the bread and fish, our Lord Jesus Christ is returning one day to celebrate his marriage feast with the Church. He is restoring all things in the New Heavens and New Earth where we all will have our land, country and be fed on the good pastures and mountains and he will give us rest. Come Lord Jesus.
Heavenly Father, you sent your only begotten Son, the Lord of Israel, to take on human flesh, the seed of David, to fulfill your promises spoken to the prophet Ezekiel. Ever keep us in the faith and shepherd us so we may rejoice in his pastures as his return. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.