Shepherd and King

"For out of you (Bethlehem) shall come forth a leader, who shall feed my people Israel" (Matthew 2:6).

In this prophecy referring to the Lord Jesus, the word "shepherd" also means "rule". So the Christ of God would develop the two functions that derive from the same word: shepherd and rule. They correspond to the work of the shepherd and the king, respectively.

Indeed, when the Lord Jesus came almost two thousand years ago, he said: "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep". His ministry was full of compassion, for he saw men desolate and sad as sheep without a shepherd. So he healed the wounds of his people, healed the sick and spoke sweet words to the weary. He left the ninety-nine sheep in the fold and went after the strayed one through the mountains and ravines. His ministry of love He concluded on the cross of Calvary, where He died for all His sheep.

Two thousand years have passed. The same Christ, who yesterday walked as a Shepherd in Galilee, is about to return. But now He will not come as Shepherd, but as King. His royal dignity had already been announced by the angel Gabriel: "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33). In Revelation his introduction as king is thus proclaimed: "The kingdoms of this world have become our Lord's and his Christ's, and he shall reign forever and ever" (Rev. 11:15).

Then, in that day, the cities and roads that saw him pass by, weary and suffering, will recognize him, but now he will be in his high seat of glory. Men who despised and rejected Him will see the glorious King reign with a rod of righteousness and a scepter of equity from Jerusalem, the very city that rejected Him! Honor and glory to the coming King!

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