Today’s reading: Lev 23:1–25:55, John 10:1–21, Song 8:6–9
Today’s theme: Jesus, Lamb and Shepherd
Today we read about Jesus as our Passover Lamb and then we go on to read about Him as the Good Shepherd, who effectually calls and cares for His own elect sheep, saving us from the thief and giving us eternal security though the laying down of His own life for us.
Leviticus 23:1–25:55
Jesus, the Passover Lamb
In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover. Leviticus 23:5 (ESV)
Jesus was the fulfilment of the Passover, being the true Passover Lamb.
Atoned by the work of Jesus
And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. Leviticus 23:28 (ESV)
We are atoned for, not by any work we can do, but by what Jesus did on the cross on the ultimate day of atonement.
The seriousness of sin
And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. Leviticus 24:15–16 (ESV)
The consequences of sin are very real and God is a righteous judge, which is why we are called to walk in holiness. We so desperately need God’s mercy, grace and Holy Spirit.
God’s plan for business
You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 25:17 (ESV)
We should be honest in business.
God’s own land
“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me. Leviticus 25:23 (ESV)
The land of Israel belongs to God in a special way.
Jesus, incarnate to redeem us
or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself. Leviticus 25:49 (ESV)
Jesus became a man (the incarnation of God the Son) in order to redeem us, by becoming our relative in the family of humanity.
John 10:1–21
God’s effectual call
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3 (ESV)
God knows who His sheep are and He has called each of us personally, through the Gospel. God’s call is not a gentle whisper or general in anyway, it is firm, strong, powerful, personal and irresistible, or to summarise it; His call is effectual in making His chosen sheep alive and leading them forward.
The thief
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 (ESV)
Jesus mentions the thieves as those who came before Him (verse 8), these are likely false Messiahs and we still see them today, in false religions and in humanist politicians who are in a sense, false Messiahs.
They are all representatives of the true thief, satan. Jesus is the only one who truly cares for the sheep and seeks their greatest joy. We should trust Him as our good shepherd, believing that He has the best for us.
The Good Shepherd
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14–15 (ESV)
Jesus intimately knows who His sheep are, they are His elect and He demonstrates His love for them by laying down His life for them. This is a two way relationship, we know Him intimately because He loves us and chose us.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
Additional resources
The Gospel Coalition on John 10