“He will gather the lambs with His arm” (Isaiah 40:11)

When Christ said, “I am the good shepherd … I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:14–15), He identified Himself as the expected Messiah. Numerous prophesies spoke of the God-man who would “feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom” (Isaiah 40:11).

But in order to serve as the perfect Shepherd, He had to first live a perfect life and die a perfect death as a sheep. In order to be the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), He had to first be “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). His living a perfect life on Earth as a sheep, now makes Him the perfect Advocate for His sheep in Heaven. “We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15–16).

The God-man “is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:25–26).

The God-man deals individually with every sheep. While on Earth, Christ sought out the weaker sheep, now He intercedes for them in Heaven. His loving heart still yearns for the meek and humble, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting among us.

Oh, wandering sheep, believe on Jesus Christ, who became a sheep, and now can be the Shepherd of your soul. Let “the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14).

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