The Good Shepherd

Christ Dying

March has roared onto the scene with gusty winds and severe weather across much of Texas, except where we live. Here, the rain has been all talk and no action. Still, with the threat looming and mostly damp, cooler weather, Mom and I haven’t ventured down to our creek trail.

I know what we would find: fresh green shoots peeking through Spanish moss draped over the arms of the Bald Cypress trees like the feather boas of the 1950s. Southern Dewberry, open wide, their stamens eager for pollinators. And the buds of the Painted Buckeye, blushing pink at the end of bare sticks.

Ah, spring! It’s like watching Hebrews 11:1 unfold before our eyes.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

We never see the death below ground, just the evidence of the sacrifice. I can’t imagine Easter happening at any other time of year. Can you?

I always feel a bit like a mole coming up out of the darkness, squinting against the glorious light of day. The Light is coming, Beloved. And we shall celebrate Him in a few short weeks.

But before we proclaim the victory, there has to be a battle.

That battle was the Cross.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

Psalm 22, the first of the Shepherd Trilogy of Psalms, written hundreds of years before crucifixion was invented, focuses on what Christ physically endured on the cross.

“My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me? why art thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of My roaring?” (Psa 22:1) This is the cry that echoed over a millennium. (see Mark 27:46)

The Cross is central to the Christian faith. Although we are to live in Light and Liberty, the freedom Christ secured for us by His sacrifice, we still experience pain and suffering in our lives. Reminding ourselves how Christ suffered for us can help us put our own suffering into the proper perspective.

In Psalm 22, we see Jesus forsaken (v.1); despised and ridiculed (v. 6-7); beaten and pierced (v. 14-17). In the Gospel accounts, we learn He was betrayed by a friend. (John 18:1-11; Matthew 26:48-49)

Whatever you’re facing, betrayal, physical suffering, abandonment, ridicule, loneliness, Jesus understands.

Some people look at the cross and see a vengeful God. A God who made His Son suffer unimaginably. But Jesus said, “‘Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.’” (John 10:17-18)

Jesus chose to be obedient to death on a cross. Why? Because He saw beyond the cross, to the joy set before Him (Heb 12:2). Namely, victory over death, your salvation, and mine; a way for sinful man to reconcile with Holy God.

Psalm 22 declares, “They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.” (v. 31)

He has done it - and one generation after another, for thousands of years, has declared it!

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.*

God’s love for us is measured at the Cross.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

As we approach Resurrection Sunday, I hope you’ll take time to read through and ponder the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion. These are hard passages to read. But they remind us of our loving and merciful heavenly Father, our compassionate Savior, and the renewing ministry of the Holy Spirit.

They open us up to receive healing and prepare our hearts for the message of the resurrected life.

Shalom.

Photo Credit: Photo by Nikola Tomašić on Unsplash

*Stuart Townend Copyright © 1995 Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.com)

AI Disclaimer: No part of this blog was written by bots. Every word, typo, grammatical error, and witticism is lovingly and/or accidentally crafted by my own two (very human) hands.