The Wednesday Word

The New Covenant Shepherd

by D.G. Miles McKee

“I AM the good shepherd.” -John 10:10 [KJV]

Anyone who has read the Bible will agree that the New Covenant is better than the Old. If we are to take the writer of Hebrews seriously, we must come to this conclusion. He makes this point when he says categorically that Christ Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises (see Hebrews 8:6). The New Covenant not only has better promises but it also has a,

Better Hope (Hebrews 7:19)
Better Sacrifices (Hebrews 9:23)
Better Testament (Hebrews 7:22)
Better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6)
Better Substance (Hebrews 10:34)
Better Resurrection (Hebrews 11:35)
 
The New Covenant is better. After all, which one of us wants to go back to animal sacrifices as a scheme of justification?
 
In the light of this, it’s hard to believe that we have some people today who insist that Jesus is a mere creation of God. He, they say, is only ‘the Son of God’ and not ‘God of very God.’ How interesting! They will, however, agree that Jesus is the Shepherd. And why wouldn’t they? Jesus claims this title for Himself (John 10:10).
 
And, as if they needed further proof, Hebrews 13:20 designates Him as “that great shepherd of the sheep’ while Peter calls Him the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4).
 
But according to “Jehovah Witnesses” and others, although they hold Jesus to be the Shepherd of the flock, they say He is not God. How curious! This then must mean that the people in the Old Covenant were better off than believers in the New. Why so? Because according to David in Psalms 23, Yahweh (The LORD) was his shepherd. Knowing it was Yahweh who was his shepherd he could boldly say, “I shall not want.” In the very valley of death, he informs us he would fear no evil. And indeed, why would he fear since Yahweh was taking care of him?
 
The truth is, unless Jesus is Yahweh we who now live in New Testament times are at a considerable disadvantage. There’s no ‘better’ in the New Covenant for us. After all, we have entrusted the keeping of our souls to one who, according to the JW’s, is at best a mere creation.
 
We are in deep trouble! 
 
Why?
 
It´s like this, as sheep, we need a shepherd who has the power to keep us safe from the wolves of life. We need a shepherd who has power and wisdom to guide, to lead and to feed us. If Christ is not Yahweh, how can we have any assurance He is up to the task of bringing us safely to eternal life?
 
And never mind eternal life, there are many times in this life when we need our souls restored. I want Yahweh to restore my soul, not someone who’s almost Yahweh or remarkably close to Him. And no, it’s not asking too much for that to be the case since that was the case for David and the Old Covenant believers.
 
So, if Jesus is not Yahweh, then this is, in fact, not a better covenant. It is not a better hope. We’ve been cheated and short sold if Jesus isn’t Jehovah. Since David’s shepherd was Jehovah that should inform any right-thinking person that Jesus and Yahweh are one and the same unless, that is, the believer’s advantages are greatly diminished under the New Covenant.
 
How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful unchangeable friend;
His love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end.
‘Tis Jesus the First and the last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We’ll praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that’s to come.
 
And that’s the Gospel Truth!


http://milesmckee.com/

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