Spiritual Laser Surgery: Fixing Our Focus on Jesus, Part 2
In Part 1 yesterday, I developed the idea that the Bible teaches one primary reason why our spiritual eyesight gets out of focus—blurred vision about who Christ truly is. In Part 1, we explored our blurred vision about Christ as our Sovereign. Today we explore our blurred vision about Christ as our Shepherd.
Correcting Our Blurred Vision of Our Shepherd: Christ Cares!
Recall Satan’s lie. He says, “Since life is bad, God must either not be in control or not care.” We’ve just see portraits of Christ’s total control over everything in the universe and everything in our lives. So, Satan, never one to give up, might now say, “Fine, he’s powerful, but he’s not loving.”
Sometimes that temptation is harder to fight if we’ve known authority figures who are like that—parents, bosses, teachers who are powerful but uncaring—who are dictatorial.
Satan wants us to see God like that, but in Hebrews 2, the author shows us a video of a very different, of an eternally different, Jesus. He shows us a Jesus who is both Sovereign and Shepherd, both in control and caring, both praying for us and listening to our prayers to Him.
Jesus could have been a King who stayed aloof and aloft—on His throne, looking down on us with piercing eyes of judgment and condemnation. That’s not my Jesus. That’s not your Jesus. That’s not the Jesus of Hebrews 2:17-18.
“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
That’s not the Jesus of Hebrews 4:15-16.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Clinging to Christ Who Is Able to Sympathize with Us
When Satan tempts us to give into sin, we have in Jesus a high priest who is able to sympathize with us. He enters into the experience of our misery; He feels the heartache of our temptation; He has a compassionate heart of fellow feelings with us.
Our good Shepherd feels the misery of our trials and temptations. He’s not an angry King with a scowl on His face looking down on you with condemnation. He’s a loving shepherd putting His arm around you, delighting in you, and loving you with compassion and sympathy.
When we’re tempted, we need keep our eyes focused on Jesus in the wilderness tempted by Satan. After fasting 40 days, the evil one tempts Jesus with his best shot—body blow after body blow. Jesus knows what it is to be tempted.
When we’re tempted, we need to keep our mind focused on Jesus in the Garden. Jesus is sorrowful and troubled, His soul is overwhelmed to the point of death. He cries out to His heavenly Father. Jesus understands our temptation.
Have you been tempted? Jesus knows temptation! Have you been betrayed? Jesus knows betrayal Have you been abused? Jesus knows abuse! Have you been scorned, rejected, and shamed! Jesus knows it all.
Clinging to Christ Who Able to Help Us
In Hebrews 2:18, we’re told that our sympathetic High Priest is able to help those who are tempted. The Greek word for help pictures being eager to run to the cry of those in danger and to bring them aid. Did you hear that? When you cry; Jesus hears. When you call out; Jesus runs.
When Hagar was in the dessert alone, abandoned, and mistreated, she cried out and God came. She rejoiced that she had seen the God who sees her. Christ your Shepherd…sees…you. He knows and feels and responds to your misery. He is your Shepherd who collects your tears in His bottle. He is able to bring you comfort in your trials and temptations and strength to endure your trials and temptations.
When David, a man after God’s own heart, sinned mightily against God—as an adulterer, a murderer, an abuser, a liar, a hypocrite—he cried out to God in repentance in Psalm 51 and God his Savior/Shepherd saw, heard, and forgave.
Clinging to Our Sovereign Shepherd
In our suffering and our sin, in our trials and our temptations, we turn to Christ our Sovereign Shepherd. Isaiah 40:10-11 paints a beautiful picture of our Sovereign Shepherd.
“See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
What word did the verse start with? See—picture, focus, get your spiritual eyesight corrected.
What do we see? We see our Sovereign King. He comes with power to rescue, to rule, to reward, and to recompense—to deal with those who caused your suffering.
What do we see? We see our Good Shepherd. He gathers you in His arms and He carries you close to His heart. He gently leads you by the still waters and through the valley of the shadow of death.
This picture comes after 39 chapters of suffering and sin, trials and temptations. Israel had been tried and found guilty before God. They have suffered horrifically as a result. But sin never has the last word. Grace always has the final say. God comforts His people. Jesus your Sovereign Shepherd comforts you.
Join the Conversation
In your suffering and sin, what difference will it make to cling to Christ your Sovereign Shepherd?
How will the biblical image of Isaiah 40:10-1 of Christ as in control and caring impact you as you face suffering and fight sin?
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