The Lamb of God is My Shepard.

In the story of Exodus, the Mosaic covenant prefaces with a story of the blood of lambs on the doorway of all of God's chosen people (the Israelites). These were a people, who at this time, were still enslaved by Egypt's mean and nasty Pharoah. This lamb's blood would serve as a sign to the spirit that came through on this first ever Passover, not to slay the first born male of this particular household. Any home not covered under the blood of the lamb would lose their first born son. The outcrying in Egypt had to be great that night because of so many people's loss of their first born son. This was failure on the part of Pharoah's hardened heart.

Let's fast forward, shall we? Jesus walks the earth now, and John the Baptist has been preparing the way for this, "one", that would come save the people of God from another tyrannical nation, Rome. As Jesus approaches John, he calls out and says, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the World! This is he of who I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me." (John 1:29-30)

And Jesus would die on the cross for our sins. His blood would be shed, to spare mine (and yours).

But that's not where God started depositing little lambs throughout redemptive history.

In Leviticus we learn that God uses the sacrifice of the Lamb to atone for sin of his people. God's people started sacrificing just to sacrifice and knew they would go sin again. The mishandling of this atonement sacrifice led God to providing the only lamb that He would accept as a sacrifice any longer.

Before the establishment of the law, even, we can see when the father of the nation, Abraham, was tested by God on his faithfulness. He was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac in the land of Moriah. Abraham with a grieved heart set up the altar to sacrifice Isaac, and just in time, the Angel of the Lord stopped him and provided an animal sacrifice in Isaac's place (Genesis 22). This very story is prophetic in ways that Abraham could have never known. God would send his only son to die as the sacrificial lamb to atone for the sin of the world. Just as Abraham had complete faith in what was required of him by God, we must have complete faith and obedience to what is required of us by God. When we accept that Christ died for our sin, we recognize that Jesus is the only atonement that we could ever have because the sacrificial system of the Mosaic covenant had lost it's meaning due to the Nation of Israel's constant idolatry and persistent sinning. All of the meaning behind God's sacrificial system has then been placed in the one who was without sin, but became sin, for us, Jesus.

How then could Jesus also be the Shepard of the flock of sheep and lamb?

Upon Jesus' death as he met every requirement prophesied in the old testament, (ie the pierced side, the crown of thorns, the scarlet robe, the casting of lots for his garments) he became King of the people of God. Suddenly all of his teachings became clear, that His lordship was always there. Jesus shepherded his disciples, apostles, and followers as he walked the earth. He led them among calmed seas, that he himself commanded to be still and quiet before their very eyes. He healed them from various ailments and physical disabilities. Jesus created a way in the valley of life for those who would otherwise have sat quietly and died. Jesus protected those who followed him with his life.

In biblical days we know that sheep and lambs had to be protected overnight from prey animals like wolves. Because of their vulnerability shepherds would quite literally have to sleep with them out in the stables and pastures in order to protect them. The presence of these shepherds was enough to calm the sheep in the time of trouble, and his leadership meant their safety, so following him was the best option.

I consider myself lucky to say that Jesus is my shepherd. It may make those of us who call ourselves sheep seem like we're crazy and/or entranced. But that's the point. To be shepherded by God is no easy thing. It means putting your trust in something higher than you. Something that requires your full attention and devotion in order to keep you safe. When the shepherd says stop, you stop, No matter how badly you want to keep going. When the shepherd says go, you go. No matter how badly you want to rest. When the waters are not calm and I feel as though I want to take off running, I trust that the shepherd will lead me to a place of serenity and calm. I know the best thing to do is keep my eyes on the Shepherd so that I can find my peace wherever He decides to lead me.

God is both the lamb and shepherd all at the same time. I mean all at once he is both, because his character is never shifting or changing. He is everything, He will ever be, all right now! My disillusionment to my understanding of God has actually been such a blessing. Who can really

know an all knowing God, who is both the leader and the follower at the same time? He's both the powerful king and the humble servant.

I thank God that He is both the lamb and the shepherd. I thank Him that all over creation's story He has deposited ways to recover from sin by way of atonement and then through forgiveness of our sin. Bless the Lamb of God and Bless the Shepherd that Leads me by the still waters.