Читать книгу A Guide to Fervent Prayer - A.W. Pink - Страница 21

From what has been set forth above, we may the better perceive why it was that the Apostle Paul designated Him "that great shepherd": the One not only foreshadowed by Abel, by the patriarchal shepherds; typified by David, but also portrayed as the Shepherd of Jehovah in the Messianic predictions. We should note that both of His natures were contemplated under this appellation: "my Shepherd,. . . the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD" (Zech. 13:7). As the profound Goodwin pointed out centuries ago, this title also implies all of Christ’s offices: His prophetic office—"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd" (Isa. 40:11; cf. Ps. 23:1,2); His priestly office—"the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11); His royal office—for the same passage that announced that He should be Shepherd over God’s people also denominated Him a "prince" (Ezek. 34:23, 24). Christ Himself points out the connection between His kingly office and His being described as a Shepherd: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:31,32). He is indeed that "great Shepherd," all-sufficient for His flock.