Every year, the Jews celebrated Passover, which commemorated when God, Israel’s Shepherd, led them out of slavery in Egypt and into a new land. The Jewish priests sacrificed lambs in the temple to atone for the sins of the people. Because Jesus was sacrificed as a lamb without blemish, we no longer need to sacrifice lambs to atone for our sins. Our Shepherd cares so deeply for us, he would consider himself a lamb to be offered as an atonement for the sins of the sheep. No one sacrificed their life for the sheep. No shepherd would do that. But a Good Shepherd would. Our Good Shepherd protects what is important to him, and he will defend his sheep at the expense of his own life.
I AM the Good Shepherd
March 5, 2023 • Andrew Cullen • John 10:11
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I AM
I AM Risen
April 9, 2023 • Andrew Cullen • John 20:29
This I AM statement is not one Jesus communicates with his words, but one that he communicates with his presence. Thomas was having a difficult time believing that Jesus is alive. Thomas was grieved that Jesus had died. He was angry Jesus had been unjustly crucified. He was in denial that someone so good would be so horribly treated. He was asking, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” In the end, Thomas believes. But I think he believes something about himself as much as he believes something about Jesus. He was no longer the odd one out. Jesus appeared to him, and only him. This was the real Jesus Thomas knew. The Jesus Thomas was willing to, and ultimately did, die for. The Jesus Thomas wanted to be with wherever he went. The Jesus who changed Thomas’s perception of himself. There is something very personal about this encounter. And I think that’s the point. The real Jesus is as personal as he is powerful.