The Great Shepherd Gives Us Himself

Now may the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, in connection with his blood, which established the eternal testament— may he equip you with every good thing to do his will, as he works in us what is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20–21)

The writer to the Hebrews packs so much into this one sentence that comes near the end of the letter. Some of the people who received this letter may have been witnesses to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. They may have even been a part of that crowd that Jesus looked out at and had compassion on.

This sentence falls in connection with obedience to leaders, the shepherds that God has placed under himself to lead his people. It is their calling to show God’s will to his people. They follow the great Shepherd. They point to the great Shepherd. And they do it all through the grace that they too received from the great Shepherd.

God works through his shepherds, who proclaim the Word of truth. He gives us the benefits of that eternal testament that he established through Jesus. Because of Jesus, we receive God’s forgiveness in the absolution that is spoken to us. And that eternal testament makes us pleasing to God, able to do good works for his sake. May that knowledge of the truth bring you the peace that only God can give. Amen.

The song for today is “Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep” by John Rutter & The Cambridge Singers

Loving Shepherd of thy Sheep - John Rutter, The Cambridge Singers