Our Good Shepherd Is Christ The King

OUR GOOD SHEPHERD IS CHRIST THE KING (Outline)

November 22, 2009 --

CHRIST THE KING / LAST SUN. OF END TIME --

Jeremiah 23:2-6

INTRO: There are many names, titles, and descriptions for God in the Bible. The Bible reveals that our God is triune. Triune describes three persons but only one God. The Father is associated with creation. The Holy Spirit is connected to working faith in the hearts of humanity. The Son, Jesus Christ, brings salvation to the world. Jesus has fulfilled all of the Old Testament offices connected with God’s church. Jesus was the Prophet who proclaimed God’s gospel. Jesus fulfilled the office of Priest by offering Himself once and for all as the perfect sacrifice. Jesus still rules as King on behalf of believers. In our text Jeremiah connects Christ the King with being a Shepherd. "The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown" (ZECHARIAH 9:16). The flock needs a shepherd. The crown is from a king.

OUR GOOD SHEPHERD IS CHRIST THE KING.

I. Our Good Shepherd gathers his flock.

II. Christ the King is our righteousness.

I. OUR GOOD SHEPHERD GATHERS HIS FLOCK.

A. Jeremiah was God’s prophet, called by God, chosen by God to serve God’s people with God’s word.

1. Jeremiah was a prophet for 42 years. He warned Israel (actually Judah) of God’s judgment.

2. Verse 2. Note: “God says” and “declares the Lord”. These are God’s words and warnings.

3. These verses are not Jeremiah’s ideas or dreams. False shepherds brought false messages.

4. False prophets scattered God’s flock. Wicked kings drove away the faithfulness of the nation.

B. Verse 3. The Lord himself will take charge. The Lord himself will gather people from all nations.

C. Verse 4. There would be more faithful shepherds in the future. There would be a time of peace.

1. When Jesus was born there was peace in the land because of the Romans. Israel was fruitful.

2. The early apostles feared nothing in their witnessing about Christ. They rejoiced in suffering.

3. Of course, Jeremiah also points to the distant future of heaven itself. All will be gathered in.

D. To be associated with sheep is not very complimentary. Sheep are considered among the dumbest of farm animals. Sheep will follow whoever or whatever is in front of them. Sheep will wander off and not find their way back. No wonder Jesus talked about searching for the one sheep lost out of 100. The one who wandered off needed to be found and brought back into the fold. Like sheep we wander off. We follow our own ideas and plans rather than God’s. Our sinful nature listens to the advice and wisdom of this world rather than God’s. At times Satan deceives us. "My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them" (EZEKIEL 34:6). Too often we wander off following all the wrong things in all the wrong places.

E. Like wandering sheep we would be lost forever if left on our own. Thankfully believers are blessed to be called sheep. Yes, thankful to be called a dumb, wayward, wandering animal. Yes, we are blessed because the Lord God Almighty is our Good Shepherd. Listen to Isaiah’s beautiful description of this Good Shepherd. "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young" (ISAIAH 40:11). You have all seen that picture of Jesus holding the little lamb close to his heart. This IS OUR Good Shepherd who gathers us from our wandering ways. This is our Good Shepherd who holds us close to his heart. Later Isaiah wrote that all of us like wandering sheep have gone astray. But the Lord has laid on Christ all of our iniquities, sins.

F. Our Good Shepherd blesses us here on earth by holding us close to his heart. Our Good Shepherd is concerned about us always all of the time. Our Good Shepherd is really the best Shepherd because only Christ alone is able and freely does provide for us forever. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand" (JOHN 10:27,28). Held close to our Savior’s heart we are eternally protected.

OUR GOOD SHEPHERD IS CHRIST THE KING.

Our Good Shepherd gathers his flock.

II. CHRIST THE KING IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

A. Judah was really in a helpless situation. Israel, the northern kingdom, was already gone for a century.