The names of Jesus in the Book of Revelation – Part 34

“Shepherd” cont’

Bad Shepherds Versus Good Shepherds
Bad Shepherds: Take care of themselves; worry about their own health; rule harshly and brutally; abandon and scatter the sheep
Good Shepherds: Take care of their flock; strengthen the weak and sick, search for the lost; rule lovingly and gently; gather and protect the sheep; give their best to the sheep

Micah revealed that the Messiah would shepherd God’s people justly (Mic 5:4; cf Jn 10:1-6; Heb 13:20)
“And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth.” (Micah 5:4)

“unto the ends of the earth.” Like Isaiah (see Is 9:6-7; 61:1-2), Micah did not distinguish between the first and second advents of Jesus Christ. When Christ returns to destroy all evil, Israel will live securely and Christ will reign over the world.
NT Fulfilment
Jesus the good shepherd: John Chapter 10

“Jesus the good shepherd.” The discourse about the good shepherd (vv. 1-30) displays Jesus as the true Shepherd and ruler of His people in contrast to all false shepherds. (To better understand this chapter, OT passages condemning false shepherds should be read: Is 56:9-12; Jer 23:1-4; Ezek 34; Zech 11). In vv 7-18, Jesus applies vv. 1-5 to Himself.

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (Jn 10:9)

In the sheephold, the shepherd functioned as a door, letting the sheep in and protecting them. Jesus is the door to God’s salvation for us. He offers access to safety and security. Christ is our Protector. Some people resent that Jesus is the door, the only way of access to God. But Jesus is God’s Son—why should we seek any other way or want to customise a different approach to God?

Jn 14:6 Jesus says He is the only way to God the Father. Some people may argue that this way is too narrow. In reality, it is wide enough for the whole world, if the world chooses to accept it. Instead of worrying about how limited it sounds to have only one way, we should be saying, “Thank you, God, for providing a sure way to get to You!” As the way, Jesus is our path to the Father. As the truth, He is reality of all God’s promises. As the life, He joins His divine life to ours, both now and eternally.

“I am the door” (v9). Those who enter through Jesus will be “saved,” i.e., will have abundant eternal life (v. 10); they will have all they need to be delivered from sin, guilt and condemnation. Jesus is the only door for salvation; none other exists (Acts 4:12).
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (Jn 10:10)

Satan is always on the prowl looking for whom to devour (1 Pt 5:8) through temptation.

If Satan succeeds in getting them to sin by disobeying God, he steals the “sheep” from God’s kingdom—the kingdom of Jesus. Satan physically kills believers (the “sheep”) through persecution (see Mat 10:28). If Satan succeeds in getting the fearful—cowards (Rev 21:8) to deny Christ (Mat 10:33) or be ashamed of Christ (Ma 8:38; Lk 9:26) to escape persecution, he destroys their souls because such people end up in the “lake of fire”—hell (Rev 21:8)

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