Jesus, the Shepherd

Last month I introduced the thought that we can get to know Jesus as God through an understanding of the meaning behind His many Names. A name, when used in the Bible, NX STY RJWJQ^ F IJXNLSFYNTS .Y NX F IJܪSNYNTS The names of Jesus reveal characteristics FGTZY -NR \MNHM \MJS \J WJܫJHY TS YMJR should have a bearing on our own lives - in building relationship with Him and each other.

Last month we thought about the name, Ѧ.RRFSZJQѧ \MNHM RJFSX Ѧ,TI \NYM ZXѧ TW Ѧ,TI NX \NYM ZX ѧ

This month, let’s focus on the Hebrew name Ѧ/JMT[FM 7FFMѧ Ѧ9MJ 1TWI TZW 8MJUMJWIѧ

In the Bible book of Matthew, chapter 18: 12-15, Jesus explains to us what this name means: “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety- nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? &SI NK MJ XMTZQI ܪSI NY FXXZWJIQ^ . XF^ YT ^TZ he rejoices more over that sheep than over the SNSJY^ SNSJ \MT INI STY LT FXYWF^ *[JS XT NY is not the will of your Father who is in heaven YMFY TSJ TK YMJXJ QNYYQJ TSJX XMTZQI UJWNXM ѧ

The analogy is this: as the Shepherd, Jesus will see to the

XFKJY^ FSI \JQKFWJ TK -NX ѦܫTHPѧ

(all those who have asked forgiveness for their sins and have asked Jesus to be their Saviour and Lord). He tends to YMJ ܫTHP FSI FY YMJ XFRJ YNRJ cares for the individual.

5XFQR WJRNSIX ZX YMFY /JXZX TZW Shepherd watches over, feeds, guards and UWTYJHYX -NX ѦXMJJUѧ “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters; He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.

*[JS YMTZLM . \FQP YMWTZLM YMJ [FQQJ^ TK YMJ shadow of death I will fear no evil- Your rod and staff they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my MJFI \NYM TNQ R^ HZU T[JWܫT\X

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life -

And I will dwell in the House of the 1TWI KTWJ[JW ѧ

When we believe this Truth from Jesus, faith rises over fear and we can breathe deeply, knowing that He is indeed “the Way, YMJ 9WZYM FSI YMJ 1NKJѧ KTW TZW IFNQ^ QN[JX

God bless you. Pr. Alex and Dee Valich

Glenorie Community Church. www.glenoriecommunitychurch.org.au