"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
Hebrews 13:20-21
Part 2
Yesterday: Do You Know the God of Peace?
“Now the God of peace.”
It is God and only God who can provide peace for the soul. He gives the believer peace!
Today: God Raised Jesus, Our Shepherd, from the Dead
“Now the God of peace,”
“That brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.”
Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross was offered to God the Father to satisfy His Divine justice for our sin. The Father “brought up again” His Son from the dead, showing that Jesus’ atonement did, in fact, appease His holy wrath. Now, there is the possibility for a human to have peace with God!
“It is only by the fact of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus that we have peace, for it is only by him that we have the prospect of an admission into heaven”[1] (Barnes).
He is the One who raised Jesus. His Resurrection:
“[Jesus] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:24).
“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses (Acts 2:32).
“And killed [Jesus] the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses” (Acts 3:15).
Jesus died for our sin only once, never to die again! Any sect, religion, or teaching that leaves Jesus on the cross, or puts Him to death again, or even kills Him day after day cannot be from God!
Our risen Lord is,
“That great shepherd of the sheep.”
Jesus is the good Shepherd. He is different from all other “shepherds” that came before Him or since, in that He is the “good One.”
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).
“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
He also said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14).
Jesus knows personally, intimately each one of His sheep. He knows us all by name (John 10:3). He is trusted and is known by His sheep (John 10:4). He has died for us, for the “Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). It was the God of peace that raised Him again.
Indeed, He is good, and He is my Shepherd!
Quote: “We have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because the Lord is my shepherd”[2] (Charles Spurgeon).
[1] Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword. Hebrews 13:20.
[2] Spurgeon’s quote Downloaded: Saturday, April 17, 2021. From: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/the-lord-is-my-shepherd.