Part 2: Jesus, One with Father – The Good Shepherd, Jehovah Rohi
One of the descriptive ways that Jesus expressed how he and Abba Father are one is when he said “I am the good Shepherd…” (John 10:11 KJV). He was describing himself as such as a means of teaching and encouraging those who had accepted him as their “Rabbi” or Lord and Saviour at the time and of course for believers in him like you and I thereafter.
The characteristics of the Good Shepherd we read about in John 10 are not only Christ’s but God’s also as evidenced in His relationship with Israel. The principles God used in relating to Israel are prophetically the same as those He uses in relating to believers in Jesus.
As God “made His own people [Israel] go forth like sheep” (Ps.73:52 NKJV) through the wilderness, so in the person of Jesus, he leads us, His children as sheep in our life path.
” [God] guided them in the wilderness like a flock…He led them on safely, so …they did not fear…” (Ps. 73:52-53 NKJV).
Jehovah Rohi begins Psalm 23 “The LORD is my Shepherd”; It is a combination of the personal name of God, Yahweh (or Jehovah) with His descriptive name Rohi meaning “My Shepherd”. This name speaks of God caring for his people practically and providing spiritual sustenance.
You may feel like you are in the wilderness, but don’t be afraid because you are actually going through it, rather than imprisoned in one place, for the Lord did not bring you out of “Egypt” of affliction or the kingdom of darkness to leave you in the middle of no where. As God did for the Israelites, He has a perfect plan to fulfill your destiny and answer your prayers according to His will.
The Israelites, God’s “Sheep” were suffering at the hands of pharaoh while in Egypt. God heard their cry and in His appointed time He sent Moses as their deliverer out of Egypt through the wilderness to Canaan the land God gave their forefather Abraham.
Do you at times wonder where you are heading in life? These questions pop into the heads of many a believer in Christ so you are not alone. However be encouraged for you too have a destiny in Him as one identified as His child. As soon as you were saved, God by His might placed you on a journey towards “Canaan”.
In the new covenant be reminded that safety in our journey of sanctification to be more like God and the fulfillment of our destiny is assured because Jesus has already purchased our redemption on the cross of Calvary.
God called you by name out of darkness or the realm of the “thief & robber” into His kingdom through the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
“…he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” (John 10:3 KJV)
Jesus also gave his life in exchange for yours.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11 KJV).
Meditate upon the magnitude of love God has for you which compelled Him to do such a thing.
His authority is given to us to rule and reign on earth. As ones empowers against Satan and his demons, we overcome curses and afflictions.
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19 KJV)
God required His “sheep”, Israel to follow His leading by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21-22 NKJV), so too he requires you and I to follow the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Jesus said
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and I’m known of mine”. (John 10:14 KJV)
“my sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand, my Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one”(John 10:27-30 KJV)
Jesus’ sheep hear his voice and recognise that it is him speaking and as a result follow his leading.
We have available to us spiritual gifts which Paul encourages us to desire (1 Corinth.12). A key spiritual gift is the gift of discerning of spirits.
The ability to discern whose voice we are hearing, our own satan’s or God’s has become increasingly more important because of the increase in false prophets, teachers and pastors. These come in disguise as the “Good Shepherd” speaking for God in public places including churches and set up their establishments to deceive as many people as possible.
These false shepherds are as the hireling who do not care for Jesus’ sheep and expose them to danger (John 10:12-13).
My prayer is that the LORD will always empower those who are truly His to always distinguish His voice from our own and all the many voices that speak to us attempting to command or instruct us to deviate from the will of the Father.
Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12), He is also the Word of God that existed before creation and came to dwell among men (John 1:1-14)
This is why Psalm 119:105:
“Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”(KJV)
sums up who Jesus is, the means through whom we not only go to the Father (John 14:6) but also through whom we are led to where Fathet is taking us.
In the absence of Jesus physically with us, we have the Holy Spirit of truth who among other functions, guides us and testified of Jesus, reminding us of His teachings. (John 14:26/16:13)
Brethren, as you can see we have all that we need to know the way we should go so as to fulfill the destinies God has predestined for us. Let us therefore always be zealous in our walk with God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for this is the only way we will succeed in staying on the narrow way to eternal life.
“…The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”(Matthew 7:13-14 NLT)
You are blessed, determine to stay blessed.
Deborah Esther
(Click for Part 1: What’s in the name Jesus? Honouring the Messiah’s Identity & Purpose)
©Deborah E. Nyamekye 12/12/2015
(posted 12/12/2015 and 9/03/2016)
Biblical Exhortations, Devotionals & Poetry 