Easter
When King David wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” he was talking about the many ways that a shepherd helps his sheep. We can picture the young shepherd David as he lead a flock to water and green pastures, even as he carried a young lamb in his arms.
God prophesied that He would send the people Israel such a shepherd: “I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd” (Ezek. 34:23). Jesus is that servant and shepherd who guides and feeds His sheep. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
As our risen Lord, Jesus ever lives to guide us as a shepherd. He sent us the Holy Spirit to reveal His Word to us and through His Gospel the Spirit gave us faith in Jesus. The faith we received, by which we are saved, is “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Peter, then by the twelve” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).
Jesus leads us through the “valley of the shadow of death” with His Word and Sacraments. They assure us of Christ’s victory over death, God’s forgiveness of sin, and eternal life for all who believe in Jesus as their Savior from sin and death.
We need to listen to the voice of our Shepherd so that we do not travel on the wide road of sin and unbelief that leads to destruction. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life” (John 10:27-28). Jesus will never mislead us with false promises. He will help us in every trouble and bring us to His eternal home. May we follow Him all our days.