Steven A. Bush - June 11, 2017
God the Son is Our Good Shepherd
In John 10:11,14 & 15, Jesus makes another one of His many God-claims before a highly skeptical and short-fused band of Pharisees: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep... I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." (ESV) Of course Jesus doesn't say, 'I am a good shepherd,' He says, "I am THE Good Shepherd." Just like He never said, 'I am a way, a bit of truth, and a nice chunk of life,' He said, "I am THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me." Perhaps the exclusivity of Jesus' claims make you uncomfortable. Maybe His words contradict your interfaith sensitivities. But if you are riled, keep in mind your beef is with Jesus. How could He have the audacity to say such things? The only way this stable-born Galilean carpenter could make such bald-faced assertions, without being dishonest or grossly deceived, is this: He was Who He claimed to be! Perhaps it's time to stop rejecting Jesus for His exclusive claims to Deity. Perhaps the time has come to embrace them with all of your heart!