How does Ezekiel 34:8 connect with Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John 10? Setting of Ezekiel 34:8 “ ‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘because My flock has become prey and My sheep have become food for all the wild beasts—since they were without a shepherd, and because My shepherds did not search for My flock, but fed themselves instead of My flock…’ ” (Ezekiel 34:8) The Charge Against False Shepherds • Israel’s leaders abandoned their calling. • Self-interest replaced sacrificial care. • Result: the flock was scattered, wounded, and devoured. God’s Promise to Shepherd His Own Flock • Ezekiel 34:11 – 16: the LORD vows, “I Myself will search for My sheep… I will rescue them… I will feed them… I will bind up the injured.” • The divine “I Myself” anticipates a future, personal intervention by God. Jesus Steps Into the Promise: John 10 • “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) • “I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” (John 10:10) • “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28) Point-by-Point Links Between Ezekiel 34:8 and John 10 • Scattered vs. Gathered – Ezekiel: sheep become prey. – John: Jesus gathers and protects; He loses none (John 10:28–29). • Neglectful hirelings vs. Self-giving Shepherd – Ezekiel: shepherds “fed themselves.” – John: hireling “abandons the sheep” (John 10:12–13); Jesus lays down His life. • Divine Shepherding – Ezekiel: God says, “I Myself.” – John: Jesus, God in the flesh (John 1:14), fulfills that vow. • Restoration and Life – Ezekiel: God promises to feed, heal, and give rest (34:13–16). – John: Jesus supplies abundant life (10:10) and eternal security (10:28). • Covenant Faithfulness – Ezekiel 34:25 speaks of a “covenant of peace.” – Jesus institutes the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20), sealing peace between God and His flock (Romans 5:1). Supporting Texts That Echo the Connection • Psalm 23—Yahweh the shepherd, fulfilled in Jesus. • Isaiah 40:11—He “carries the lambs in His bosom.” • Matthew 9:36—Jesus sees the crowds “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” • 1 Peter 2:25—“You were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” • Hebrews 13:20—Jesus called “the great Shepherd of the sheep.” Implications for Today’s Believers • Jesus alone meets God’s standard of true shepherding. • Security: no circumstance can snatch believers from His hand. • Shepherd-like ministry: pastors and leaders imitate His sacrificial model (1 Peter 5:2–4). • Comfort: wounded and scattered souls find healing and rest in the Good Shepherd’s care. |
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