Good Shepherd
"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. John 10:17
Jesus is a very good shepherd indeed. He keeps us safe from evil ways and gives us many blessings. He protects us from every evil, He knows each of us personally, and He has gathered us into His flock, His Church, with His voice. Yet, these aren’t even the greatest works of His craft. The greatest work of His craft is the center point of all these blessings. It’s what keeps us safe from spiritual dangers. It’s the center of our individual spiritual needs. It is the message that has gathered us into the flock. It’s why God the Father loves Him and is pleased with Him as shepherd. And this is it: because He laid down His life that He may take it up again. No one takes it from Him, but He lays it down of His own accord. He has authority to lay it down, and He has authority to take it up again. This charge He has received from His Father.
Jesus laid down His life. He is the Good Shepherd. The eternal Son of God. No one could force His death. No wolf could overcome Him if they tried. No Roman legion, nor Jewish mob could do this…unless He let them. He had to let them. He had to die. How else could the sheep be safe, cared for, and gathered?
The sheep were helpless. They couldn’t do anything. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, everyone, to His own way, but the Lord laid on Him, Jesus, the iniquity of us all. Jesus offered up His perfect life in our place. He kept every will and command of our Lord on our behalf and He suffered and died. He laid down His life for us so that we would have all these blessings. He gave up His sinless life to give heaven to us forgiven sheep.
Now may He who from the dead Bro’t the Shepherd of the sheep,
Jesus Christ, our King and Head, all our souls in safety keep!
The Lutheran Hymnal 51:1