There is such depth in this week\u2019s Advent theme \u2013 Shepherd, Sheep, the Lamb of God \u2013 it\u2019s hard to know where to begin. My mind flows with thoughts and images \u2013 there is so much in the Bible about Shepherds and sheep and it is all so exciting and overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imagine, God, the Creator of All we know, telling us that He will come down and walk among us as a shepherd walks among His sheep, that He will lead us and guide us\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Christmas we celebrate Jesus\u2019 birth, but why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t celebrate because a baby was born in a manger \u2013 We celebrate because God chose to become man and walk among us \u2013 Immanuel \u2013 God with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep,<\/strong> and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.”<\/em> Ezek 34:11-12<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t celebrate because a great prophet and teacher was born – We celebrate because the Messiah, the Savior has come, fulfilling prophecy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:2-3 ESV<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t celebrate because a man decided to die on a cross \u2013 We celebrate because the Sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ was slain for our sins paying the penalty that we owed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned\u2014every one\u2014to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6 ESV<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am the good shepherd;<\/em><\/strong> and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.<\/strong> John 10:11<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t celebrate a man buried in a grave \u2013 We celebrate the fact that the grave could not hold Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. Acts 2:24<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t celebrate an empty hope, built on false premises \u2013 We celebrate the Resurrected Savior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ESV<\/em><\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n\n They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes.\u201d<\/strong> Rev. 7:16-17<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n