“I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.” Ezekiel 34:22-23
The leaders of Israel had led their people astray, caring for themselves and their ego, instead of their people. They turned from humility to pride and served only themselves. Yet God, in His Sovereignty and Love promised to send a Shepherd leader that would look to the needs of His sheep and “feed them”.
This type of leadership was so important to God that Jesus brings it up again when He comes to Peter after the resurrection. 3 times Peter denies Jesus, and 3 times Jesus calls Peter back to be the leader he was created to be….a shepherd, a Servant Leader that feeds His Sheep!
“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17
In Ezekiel 34, God reprimands the leaders of Israel, calling them shepherds that only feed themselves. He said they were selfish leaders, looking out for their own needs, and not those of the “sheep” – the people they were called to lead. God promises to send the sheep a true Shepherd that will feed them, that will lead them, that will care for their needs and restore them to Himself. This shepherd was and is Jesus.
When Jesus came to this earth, he references this leadership again as he is restoring Peter back to himself. He calls Peter to be a servant leader, a shepherd like him. Early on, Jesus told Peter he was to be the rock that the church was founded on, but Peter went astray. Here, Jesus is telling Peter that the calling on his life is still there – lead the people well, serve them, feed them: the truth of the gospel, so they may know and love Jesus.
This leadership – servant leadership – shepherding, is the same leadership Jesus calls all of us who lead to. This type of leadership is what will heal the world, bless this land, provide for all God’s children. Jesus fed us and feeds us. He is an eternal example of a humble, servant leader – He is the Good Shepherd. And we are to follow his lead and feed His Sheep, not ourselves.
Running 2 Fly 