The Church's Shepherd

We continue in the sure knowledge that Jesus is the Head of the Church, the Body of Believers, whom He has been given to shepherd. Every soul who is a sheep of the Good Shepherd, has been given to Him by His Father. We know and believe this by faith.

Regardless of how others may differ and preach and teach elsewise and despite what many of us think and tell ourselves according to our works, no one is a sheep of Christ’s flock, a member of Christ’s Church, who has not been given to Him by God. In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, in this personal and most intimate and sacred time with His Father, Jesus speaks these inextinguishable words of obedience and triumph. Quoted for you are just three verses from Jesus’ prayer as found in John seventeen. Here are verses six, nine and ten.

I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.  All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. All glory has come to me through them.

When I hear these words and how our Shepherd speaks in this way, many facts are brought before me, truths of which I have not been acutely conscious and aware. What is the Spirit doing with you now? Where is He taking you? I bring to you this illuminated verse. Jesus tells His Heavenly Father that All glory has come to me through them. You will agree with me that the pronoun, them, refers to the given flock of God, to His Son Jesus, our Good Shepherd. ‘Them’, speaks specifically of the Church of Jesus, of whom He is the Head. Can’t you just hear Jesus saying, All glory has come to me through the Church?

The Church is Jesus’ pride and joy, for she is His beloved bride. His love for her is not just special, it is singularly special. He is not just faithful and loyal to her, but He is unwaveringly devoted to her, come what may. His marriage contract or covenant with her is unbreakable, a Living, Spiritual, vow before God which nothing in heaven, or earth, or under the earth, can put asunder. You see, Jesus made the first steps of love, the first wooings, the first promises to His beloved bride.

Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He took on this human Body, called the Church. He knows that the Church, people like you and me, are totally human and therefore we are prone to fickleness and unfaithfulness. But Jesus knew and still knows how to deal with such human wretchedness. Didn’t He die for us all, while we were in our most wretched states? Jesus knows how to handle the weakness of His Church.

Our minds run on Peter, the disciple, the sheep to whom Jesus spoke these words. Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee also, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16: 17b - 19 KJV

Note, with the uttermost of care, this promise, this most onerous and totally trusted work, is spoken to Peter, a mere man, a human being, a mortal, frail, weak human being, prone to wander and stray. Jesus is the One Wise; He is Omniscient.  But look! Jesus is speaking to a disciple, a learner who is following His lead, one who has just responded to the Spirit’s revelation. Peter speaks revelation and Jesus immediately knows that it is the Holy Spirit and not any kind of human profession. Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Indeed, when Jesus rests this responsibility, on Peter, He has not rested it in on an ordinary human being, but on an ordinary human being who has given his life to an extraordinary human being – Jesus Christ – who is totally human and totally Divine.

Ponder in your heart all that you have been told. Ponder and Practise.