The Bible describes Christ in many different ways. Dozens of times in 19 books from Genesis to Revelation God uses imagery related to sheep and shepherding to explain his relationship with his people. We have already seen Jesus as the Chief Shepherd and we will see more of these images later, but in John 10 almost the entire chapter revolves around sheep. 

In John 10 Jesus describes a sheep fold and how it is protected. Of course there is a wall or fence around most of it with only one entrance. At the entrance there is a gate or door that can be opened and closed for the sheep to go in and out. Jesus describes himself as that door or gate. There is also a gatekeeper that seems to simply be mentioned to complete the story. 

Jesus explains that the sheep and shepherd only go in and out at the door and anyone who is trying to get in some other way is a thief. Since Jesus is the door anyone who wants to be one of God’s sheep has to come in through him. In his day there were many who didn’t want to come through him and many false shepherds were trying to steal or destroy God’s sheep. 

We need to remain in the sheepfold where Jesus is our door and he can protect us from those who would do us harm. In verse 9 he says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” Salvation is only available by going through the one door, Jesus Christ. There are many who want to try to be saved in other ways, but Jesus makes it clear that salvation is exclusive to him and none others can offer it. He is not just a door, he is THE door. There is no other.

Have you come to God and been saved by going through Jesus Christ? Are you remaining in God’s fold protected by Jesus, the door?

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Quite simply Christ is God. Being divine and being deity are really just two more ways of saying that Christ is from God, like God and that he is God. 2 Peter 1:2-4 records, “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  3  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,  4  by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” Notice that in verse three his power is divine. It is a power from God, and yet it says this godly power is his. Not only is it his, but he makes it possible for us to take part in his godly or divine nature.

In Colossians 2:8-9 Paul writes, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  9  For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” Paul makes it clear that deity, God completely and fully lived in the body of Christ. This may be impossible for us to fully comprehend or explain, but the fact that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh is an essential foundation of our faith. Paul proposes that if we are not living according to the one who had deity filling his body then we are following after something that is empty, deceitful, human tradition, from this world, and something that will take us captive. 

There are many who don’t want Christ to be deity or divine. There are some who don’t even want to admit he ever lived at all, but if we want to receive the precious and great promises, escape the corruption of the world, take part in his divine nature and be filled in him (Col. 2:10) then we must hold fast to the truth of his divinity and deity.

Are you holding on to Christ as the one deity that came bodily to Earth? Don’t let go!

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There are 3 passages in the New Testament that discuss Christ as our deliverer. Let’s consider each of them.

In Romans 7:24, after describing the human inability to overcome sin on his own, Paul asks, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” The answer for all who are unable to deliver themselves is made abundantly clear throughout the New Testament: Jesus Christ. So first we see that Jesus can deliver us from our own sinfulness.

Paul addresses the issue again in Galatians 1:3-5 where he explains that the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age. Here we see that Jesus not only delivers us from our own sinfulness, but rescues or delivers us from the evil all around us in this wicked world.

In the final passage, Hebrews 2:14-15, We see humans enslaved not just by their sinfulness, but also by the fear that they will have to face physical death. Christ is shown becoming flesh and blood like us and then facing physical death so that he could destroy the devil and his power of death. In the process of that he delivers all of us from having to be afraid of death because seeing him conquer the grave gives us the confidence and courage to face our own graves knowing that he can raise us up.

How much of your life have you spent being afraid of death and even enslaved by that fear? Death is not our friend, but Christ has conquered it and we don’t have to fear this enemy any longer. Have you allowed Christ to deliver you from yourself, the evil world around you, and the fear of death? Let him be your deliverer.

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As any Bible believer who created the world and they will likely give the same simple answer: God. On several occasions the New Testament puts forward the claim that Christ is God and one of the statements made about that assertion is that he created the world. Paul explains this in Colossians 1:16, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” 

Not only are we created by him/ through him, we were also created for him. Sometimes we miss this, at least, we act like we do. Some of us act and speak as if Christ is here for us and what ever we need or think we need he will get for us like he is a genie in a lamp with unlimited wishes and we can just tell him what to do. None of us would probably openly admit to it, but our actions and words sometimes betray us.

We have to remember that the creation is to serve the creator and not the other way around. The creator can make us as he chooses to serve whatever purpose he chooses and the creation has no right to complain. Isaiah 29:16; Jeremiah 18:4-6; and Romans 9:21 all liken it to a potter with some clay making whatever he wants. The clay can’t say anything about it. 

So, if we were created for him, what does he want us to do? He is God, so he doesn’t need us. He is not served with human hands as though he needs something, Acts 17:25. Humans make things for all kinds of purposes, but ultimately everything we make is so that we can enjoy it. Christ made us to bring him joy and glory and if we want to please him we must do whatever he commands us. If we will do what he commands we can become more than just a creation we can become a friend. 

Let’s serve our creator with our whole heart. He deserves all the praise, obedience, and honor we can give and so much more.

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Christ is referred to in Luke 1:78 and 2 Peter 1:19 by two related terms that both indicate the light he brought into the world. These 2 concepts are translated several different ways in different English versions, probably because the phrases are not being used literally and figurative speech is difficult to translate.

The KJV and ASV are similar. Luke 1:78, “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,” the ESV says, “because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high”. The Greek word that is translated as dayspring and sunrise is used 9 other times in the New Testament and literally translated ‘east’, but east obviously wouldn’t fit in this verse. The idea of a new day dawning is probably what is aimed for. Jesus is the source of a new day, a new light shining in a world full of darkness.

The King James in 2 Peter 1:19 says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” Others translate ‘day star’ as ‘morning star’. This is the only place this Greek word appears and it is different from the word for the Sun. In this case again the idea of a new day and enlightenment is presented. Peter specifically tells us the day star is going to rise not in the sky, but in our hearts. We can have the light of Christ, the understanding of the prophecies about him enlighten us so that we recognize him for who he is, the true light of the world.

Have you allowed the Day Star to bring light to the darkness of your world? Is he shining in your heart? Satan wants to darken our understanding, but Christ strives to illuminate our hearts and minds. Don’t let Satan win.

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We use the word ‘counselor’ to either mean a legal advisor like a lawyer or one who gives other advice about how to live life. We have marriage counselors, financial counselors or advisors, school counselors and some go to psychiatrists or psychologists who are also counselors. We may have a friend who is a counselor and listens to our troubles and then gives us advice. As helpful as any of these may be they cannot compare with Jesus.

In Isaiah 9:6 a prophecy about Christ is given that supplies several descriptions of the Messiah. Depending on the translation’s punctuation there are 4 or 5. It is said he will be Wonderful/Marvelous Counselor. Some break this into two and some combine it to make 1. Regardless he is a marvelous, wonderful counselor because he doesn’t just advise and counsel us on money or education. He is not even limited to helping repair marriages or overcome life problems. He is the greatest counselor of all because he counsels us spiritually on how to receive and maintain spiritual life and continue that life for ever. Now what other counselor could compare with that?

Psalm 33:11 says “The counsel of the LORD stands forever,...” Psalms 16, 32, 73, 106, and 119 all speak of God and his word counseling us. In Acts 20:27 Paul says that he acting on God’s behalf shared with those from Ephesus the whole counsel of God. These are general and no specific counsel is mentioned, but in the letter to Laodicea in Revelation 3 Jesus gives some very specific counsel. To a church that thought it was rich and prospering and had everything it needed he revealed her true spiritual condition. The church was wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. One of the most important roles of a counselor is to help us see the truth about ourselves and then to help us find the way to improve. Jesus further counseled them to get spiritual gold and clothes and eye salve from him to fix their spiritual condition. 

What advice do you and I need from our wonderful counselor? Will we listen to what he tells us and make the changes necessary to improve our spiritual condition? Peter was correct when he said to Jesus, “To whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.” Let’s go to Jesus for counsel instead of listening to the worldly advice that comes from Satan.

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The Bible describes the church as a building made up not of bricks and stone, but of living Christians. Ephesians 2:20 explains that the foundation for this temple being built for the glory of God is the teaching and examples of the apostles and prophets and that Jesus is the Cornerstone. That makes him the most important of course.

We don’t use Cornerstones in many of our buildings today. Everything is wood frames or steel beams and we don’t really build the way they did. The cornerstone is the most important, usually largest and always the first stone laid and with good reason. That large stone will affect everything that comes after it. The orientation of the corner stone will affect which direction the building is facing. If it is not level you could easily wind up with the leaning tower of Piza when you are finished.

Jesus is our cornerstone so that as we are built around and on top of him we will face the right direction as well as being stable and upright. The image of Christ the cornerstone was prophesied all the way back in Psalm 118. In verse 22 of that Psalm he is pictured as a stone that the builders rejected, but that became the cornerstone. This verse is quoted 5 times in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, and 1 Peter. The builders are the religious leaders of Jesus’ day and they rejected him. They wanted to build according to their own plan and not God’s.

What about you and me? Will we be like them and reject Jesus? Or will we accept him as the cornerstone God made him and allow God to build us on Christ as he sees fit? Peter says this cornerstone is chosen and precious and if we will believe in him we will not be put to shame. Let’s trust the master builder and build our lives and be built in his church the way he wants us to be.

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In Luke 2 Jesus is taken to the temple and we see the first person who recognizes him for who he truly is. In verses 25-26 we read, “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.” 

After seeing Jesus he praised God for being allowed to see God’s salvation. He also points to the fact that Jesus will be a light to reveal God to the Gentiles and be a cause for many in Israel to rise or fall. Certainly, the decision to believe in Christ or reject him made a huge impact on Israel. 

Simeon is ready to die now that he has experienced seeing the Christ, but what was so special about it? For centuries the Jews had been looking for the Christ and probably millions had died disappointed that the Christ didn’t come in their lifetime. This man was not only part of a special generation, but he recognized how special it was to be there to see Christ.

Christ is a word that literally translated would mean anointed. Jesus was the special fulfilment of what the Lord had prophesied that there would be one who would be his anointed or chosen one. He was chosen or anointed to be prophet, priest, and king. We may not have been there to see God’s chosen one in person, but we can see him through the scriptures.

There is one more thing Christ has been chosen or anointed to do, judge the world. If we won’t see Christ through the Bible now and anoint him king of our lives, he will come as a judge with a sentence of condemnation and it will be too late. We need to be like Simeon and see Christ before we die, and help others meet him, too.

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In 1 Peter 5:4, as Peter addresses the shepherds of the church refers to Jesus as the Chief Shepherd. He gives the elders teachings on how to lead the church and promises that they will be rewarded if they do so faithfully. Christ will give a crown to those who, “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;  not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” 

Christ left a perfect example and expects the shepherds of the local congregation to follow his example and be examples to the flock. The other members of the church should follow their example as they are following Christ’s. We often fail in this. We see the godly way that faithful leaders live and we admit that they are good godly leaders to be admired, but we don’t take the next step and follow them in the speech and behavior that we find honorable. 

Christ as the Chief Shepherd doesn’t force the shepherds and he doesn’t force us. The shepherds also are told not to be domineering over the flock. How can they get us to follow without being domineering? Only by showing the example, encouraging us to follow them, and warning us of the dangers that we face if we don’t. We must willingly follow. We can’t say that we love Christ and are followers of him and fail to follow those who are tasked with overseeing us. 

How can we claim Christ as Chief Shepherd while disregarding the shepherds that he is the chief over? We can’t, at least not with any level of believability. Are you following those shepherding your soul so that they can give answer on the day of judgment with joy and not with sorrow. Are there areas of your life that you have refused to turn over to the Chief Shepherd? Are we waiting for someone to tell us what to do or are we following the examples of those who are following Christ or following Christ ourselves?

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In Revelation 19:11-16 there is a vision of Christ riding out on a white horse to make war and conquer Satan’s forces. Of course, it is all just a formality, really, since Jesus defeated Satan through his death and resurrection. It seems odd to think of someone winning by dying, but that was the way God had it planned.

In conquering Satan, Christ saved us from the fear of death and from enslavement to sin. As we remember our country’s military sacrifice on Memorial Day, it seems appropriate to think about how they made it possible for us to live in safety without fear of death or capture at the hands of a human enemy. Of course Christ’s conquering goes far beyond human war and human enemies, to our greatest foe, Satan and his desire to have us spend eternity in Hell with him.

In addition to conquering Jesus does something no human military can do for others. He makes us conquerors as well. Romans 8:37 says that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Jesus also makes a promise for us if we conquer as he has. In Revelation 3:21 he will allow those who conquer to sit with him on his throne, just like he conquered and sat on the throne of his Father.

Many throughout history have died so that others might live, but only Jesus died so that we can live forever. The battle is not over for us, even though Jesus has already conquered, we are still at war. Revelation 17 paints an image of a battle that had not taken place in John’s day, but is now in the past. The same kind of battle is fought again and again by Satan’s forces against the Lamb of God and his people. Revelation 17:14 says, “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Those on the Lord’s side will conquer with him. Whose side are you fighting on? Have you allowed Jesus to conquer your will? Are you conquering Satan with Jesus’ help?

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