By: Dustin M. Walters
Introduction
All too often we rely on our own understanding. There are many challenges we face, even as believers. Some of those challenges result simply from doing life in this post-Edenic world and other challenges are a direct consequence of attitudes and actions we are personally responsible for. We need Jesus, our gentle and lowly shepherd, more than we realize. That truth kept permeating that thought when my pastor recently preached on Luke 10:25-37. [1]
1. We are separated from God.
This first consideration is foundational for our understanding of the biblical worldview and our place in the world. Luke reminds us of our separation from God when he mentions the question of the skeptic in 10:25.
25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
The skeptic is described as an expert in the law. We need to think here not of a television injury lawyer, but more like a seminary professor. His question contains at least three presuppositions. The first presupposition is that this individual recognized the teaching authority of Jesus. The word choice there is διδάσκαλος (didaskalos) instead of ῥαββί (rabbi) and it appears that Luke chose the less personal of the terms intentionally. A second presupposition emphasizes the possibility of eternal life. One wonders if the individual who questioned Jesus was thinking about the debate over resurrection between the Pharisees and Sadducees, but the text does not answer that question for us directly. The third presupposition assumes a connection between one’s deeds and eternal life.
Aspects of each presupposition invite careful consideration and further study but I will reserve that for another time. The skeptic recognized that there is a separation between God and humanity because of sin.
That truth is further supported in other passages in the Bible including Isaiah 59 and Romans 3:23. We are separated from God on account of our relation to Adam and our sin nature. We need Jesus, the gentle and lowly Savior, to show us our state and bring us back to the Father. There is a second consideration that points to our need for Jesus.
2. We are self-deceived.
The religious teacher wanted to know what he could do to inherit eternal life. He also presumed that his knowledge of the law would earn him favor in the divine court of justice. The fact that this teacher recited the Shema from Deuteronomy 6 is commendable. Jesus responds here by compelling the lawyer to consider the difference between following the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. His self-deception and even his pride is evident throughout his entire conversation with Jesus.
Just like the expert in the law, we are deceived into thinking that we are better than we are. We need to reflect again on the way in which human sin separates us from God. We are deceived because of sin in the world, because Satan has blinded us, and we deceive ourselves. We need Jesus the gentle and lowly shepherd. His guiding light permeates our self-deception and His Spirit guides us in all truth. That leads us to reflect on the last consideration from Luke 10.
3. We are special to the Savior.
Jesus the gentle and lowly Shepherd reveals how special we are to him, even though we are self-deceived sinners.By using a parable to answer the question, “And who is my neighbor , Jesus listed four characters including the battered and abused man, the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan. The failure of the priest and the Levite to humble themselves to consider the plight of the needy person is convicting. Without going into all the details, the plot twist in the parable centers on the Samaritan man. Jews of the day hated the Samaritans and they viewed them as illegitimate children of Abraham. In the story, it is the Samaritan who takes notice of the needy person and not only notices his plight but also does something about it. Look at verses 34-35.
[Luk 10:34-35 CSB] 34 "He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 "The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him. When I come back I'll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.'
Just like the Samaritan noticed the plight of the wounded person and got involved in his situation, Jesus notices us and gets involved in our messy and broken lives. We are special to the Savior! Nothing makes that clearer than his active and passive obedience to the Father when he took our sins on himself so that we might be reconciled to God. Jesus alone is the Good Shepherd.
That truth is also evident in Ezekiel 34 in the Old Testament. God condemned the failure of the spiritual leaders of his people. The religious leaders in Ezekiel 34 were more concerned for themselves than the well being and flourishing of God’s people. Read these verses from Ezekiel 34 and consider the love and value Jesus places on us.
[Eze 34:11-17 CSB] 11 " 'For this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. 12 "As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and total darkness. 13 "I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own soil. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 "I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel's lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 "I will tend my flock and let them lie down. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. 16 "I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice. 17 " 'As for you, my flock, the Lord GOD says this: Look, I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and goats.
We matter to Jesus and we are special to him.
Conclusion
We need Jesus, our gentle and lowly shepherd more than we realize. These three considerations challenge us and motivate us to run to Jesus our Good Shepherd. No matter what situation you find yourself in today, remember that Jesus notices you and actively invites you into a deeper relationship with him. Never forget that it is by His wounds that we are healed!
[1] Watch the full sermon on YouTube. https://youtu.be/NLtyEoMKgMw?si=2m21SGhJDKNH7Btd.
everydaytheologyco.com 