Good Shepherd
Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3
There are many reasons we are compared to sheep, and many of them are not good. Sheep are often considered dumb, with no sense of proper guidance. They are considered helpless. They get stuck easily. They settle for what’s bad for them instead of enduring for good water and pasture. They can’t heal themselves when hurt. Yet, sheep, if properly cared for, travel in flocks guided by a shepherd. If this is done properly, the sheep will have proper guidance, someone to defend them, someone to turn them over when they are stuck on their backs, someone to guide them to better water and better pasture, and someone to take care of them when they are hurt.
When we are mired in sin and mistakes, we can’t turn ourselves over. To think so would be foolishness. All we can do is shout, “I’m sorry!” And does Jesus leave you with an empty, “get yourself up!” No. Does He leave you with a “only if you believe in me hard enough will I get you up!” No, He gets you up immediately. He forgives you and puts you right back on your feet. And can such a fact be true? Is our tremendous guilt really that simple to overcome? Only in Jesus Christ is it this way.
Jesus took upon His body on the tree of the cross all our sin. Jesus, in your place, let Himself, the Lamb of God, be cast down so that He could endure all the punishment your sins deserved. Jesus truly did forgive you, and for your comfort He reassures you by saying, “peace be with you.” Remember that from the upper room? Remember that that was spoken by the Risen Lord Jesus. Your Shepherd died and rose again all so that when He lifts you up, He really does raise you up in forgiveness.
Not we, but the Lord is our Maker, our God; Glory be to God!
His people we are, and the sheep led by His rod;
Sing praise unto God out of Zion!
The Lutheran Hymnal 44: 2