It is estimated that there are roughly 30,000 evangelical protestant churches in the United States without pastors. This number of churches likely represents approximately 2,000,000 people who are without a pastor. The church that I pastored for 15 years in Illinois went almost 3 years before finding a new pastor. The church I attended in North Carolina went around a year and a half without a pastor. The church I currently pastor went a very short time – about 6 months – before I came (it hardly counts since I had such a personal connection to the church – my dad started this church). Pastor-less churches are a major problem in the United States.
It was a problem in at least one of the N.T. epistles as well. The structure of 1st Corinthians indicates that the church in Corinth sent a list of questions to the Apostle Paul with the last one being a request that he might send Apollos back to them – which request Apollos declined (1st Corinthians 16:12). Paul therefore encouraged the church, that in the absence of Apollos, they should submit themselves to the leadership of the family of Stephanus, who were likely the deacons in the church (1st Corinthians 16:15-16).
The Lord intends for churches to have pastors. They are gifts given to the church as stated in Ephesians 4:8-11. Timothy and Titus were both instructed in the selection and perpetuity of men working in that ministry. However, as Corinth demonstrated, there are times that a New Testament church is without the God-ordained shepherd.
The foundation for the title of pastor is shepherd. The designation is given generically to the New Testament church only a few times, but those are significant. I’ve already mentioned Ephesians 4:11 (this is a noun). The other two places are in Acts 20:28 (verb), Paul encouraged the Ephesian elders to “feed the church of God” and in 1st Peter 5:2 (verb), Peter encouraged the elders in the various churches to “feed the flock of God.” Both of those phrases come from a verbal idea meaning “to pastor or shepherd.” One other reference of note is in John 21:16, after His resurrection and during that searching conversation by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus had previously told Peter to “feed My sheep.” Again, this is the same word “to pastor.” I suspect that Peter had the words of Jesus in mind when he repeated them to the other elders in 1st Peter 5:2.
The imagery of shepherding people preceded the New Testament church; it also supersedes human pastors. Jesus has habitually referenced Himself as the Shepherd of His flock. In Matthew 9:36 and Mark 6:34 (two different contexts), Jesus was moved with compassion because the people were “as sheep having no shepherd.” In Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27, Jesus quoted Zechariah 13:7 and predicted “smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered” to tell the disciples what would happen at His crucifixion. Luke 12:32 and Matthew 25:32, both prophecies of the Second Coming of Jesus, use shepherding imagery when Jesus says “fear not little flock” and also that a shepherd divides the goats from the sheep. Finally, a fascinating description is given in Revelation 2:27, 12:5, and 19:15 of Jesus ruling with a rod of iron. The word “rule” is the same word for “shepherding.”
The point is this: Jesus shepherds His people. So, while a New Testament church may be with out a human shepherd, it is never without The Divine Shepherd. There are 4 very comforting passages of Scripture in the New Testament which describe the kind of Shepherd that Jesus is for His people. Each of them also present a different nuance as to His watchcare over His people.
John 10:11 – The Good Shepherd
I have preached weeks of messages from John chapter 10. I’m not going to write a commentary on the passage here, but point out that in verse 11, Jesus the Shepherd is emphasized with the adjective “good.” “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” Obviously, this word has a very broad meaning; several lexicons have synonyms such as beautiful, whole, morally good, praiseworthy, healthy, etc. However, the context (10:1-18) sheds much light on what Jesus meant when he referred to himself as the Good Shepherd. First, Jesus contrasted Himself with thieves, robbers, strangers, and hirelings. Jesus is none of those things. Secondly, Jesus described Himself as the One who gives His life for the sheep; He protects His sheep and will not flee when the wolf comes, He knows His sheep and is known by them, His sheep hear His voice – meaning He communicates with Him, and He is increasing His flock!
The contrast in context is what reveals Jesus as “the Good Shepherd.” Though there are many good under-shepherds, there are none the compare to Jesus. Find comfort in knowing that even though you may be without an earthly shepherd at the moment, the Good Shepherd is free from the defects of humanity and will never fail you. Further more, He has already given His life for you, He knows you, He communicates with you through His Word and by His Spirit – so hear His voice!
Hebrews 13:20 – The Great Shepherd
The context of the book of Hebrews has always fascinated me. These Jewish Christians were anticipating persecution at the hands of the Romans. At this brief juncture in history, though Judaism had an on and off relationship with the permissiveness of the Romans, Judaism was a safer religion than Christianity. (If this interests you, Josephus records the permissions granted to Jews and Tertullian refers to the religio licita [legal religion] and to the religio illicita [illigal religion], this second designation the Christians eventually possessed.) The Christian Jews anticipating persecution considered the possibility that reintegrating into Judaism would spare them persecution and then after the persecution had passed they could reclaim Christ. The author of Hebrews made it very clear that was not a valid option. His point was to demonstrate the superiority of Christ’s person and work and therefore the Christian walk of faith – to all things Jewish and Old Testament. The epistle, of course, ends with practical exhortations. In 13:7 and 17, the author of Hebrews refers to those who are ruling (human pastors), but then in verses 20-21, He issues a salutary desire and prayer, “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 for ever and ever. Amen.” The prayer is that God, with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, would continue His work of sanctification in them.
In these verses, the author of the book of Hebrews refers to Jesus as the “Great Shepherd.” Like the word “good” from John chapter 10, the word “great” in Hebrews chapter 13 has various meanings as an adjective. Lexicons will record synonyms like large, abundant, and important. Still, it must be recognized in context. Jesus is also the great High Priest (4:14, 10:21). The entire book emphasizes the superiority of Christ to everything and everyone. This description is likely a kind comparison to the earthly leaders in 13:7 and 17, but even more, it is ending the book with the awesome description of Jesus as the superior Shepherd to all shepherds – even those who “watch for your souls” with a pure and sincere heart. Whether you have an earthly shepherd or not, you can never be separated from the Greatest Shepherd! Even if you have had a wonderfully spiritual and appreciated pastor, he will never compare to Jesus.
In a book that describes Jesus as superior to the prophets, the angels, Moses and the old covenant, the Levitical priesthood and system, the old sanctuary – the last way He is described is the “Great Shepherd.” This chapter also says in verse 8 that He “is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” The same Great Shepherd that kept His flock through Nero’s persecutions is the same Great Shepherd who will keep you through this time without an earthly pastor.
1st Peter 2:25 – The Gracious Shepherd
The context of 1st Peter is not much different than that of Hebrews, specifically Jewish Christians living in anticipation of external persecution. Peter wrote to these believers to help prepare them to have submissive hearts – as Jesus did in His sufferings. The section began in 2:13; these believers were instructed to submit to the king, to governors and to their masters (13-18). Then they were told to make sure that if they suffer, it was on account of Christ and not because their faults (19-20). Peter described the sufferings of Jesus and reminded them that He was their example for suffering (21-24); these verses concluded with imagery from Isaiah 53 and the same begins verse 25, “ye were as sheep going astray.” Peter took that quote from Isaiah 53 and transitioned it into application for the Christians to whom He was writing.
These people had been wondering sheep, but now had been turned back to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. In the grammatical structure, the Shepherd and Bishop are the same entity. The word “bishop” quite literally means “overseer.” In contrast to the king – like Nero, or the governor – like Pilate, or the slave owner – who persecuted or controlled their life, this Shepherd/Overseer had turned their souls toward Himself. To bring about the turning of their souls, He never sinned, He had committed Himself to God in suffering, and most graciously had born their sins in His body on the tree and had taken stripes for their healing. He made possible the change in their lives.
No earthly leader ever could show the grace that was demonstrated by the overseer of our souls. Though Christian leaders are supposed to be ministers of grace, we are only the channels of the grace of God to others. The Shepherd which we possess is the Overseer of our souls who has ministered on our behalf to turn our hearts to Himself.
As the Overseer of our souls, He is also a Guiding Shepherd.
1st Peter 5:4 – The Governing Shepherd
The 4th and final description of the Shepherd is also found in 1st Peter. Peter here speaks to the elders of these scattered believers and churches in 5:1-4. He began by exhorting them to “feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.” Verse 4 concluded the instruction with a promise of the reward that would be given to these kinds of faithful under-shepherds – an unfading crown of glory. The reward would be given by the Chief Shepherd – and here we have the last description of Christ as Shepherd.
Literally, this is the Arch Shepherd. He is in charge of all others. He is the One who gifted and enabled all others. He is the One Who – as the previous verses demonstrate – created the job responsibility for all others. He is the One to whom all others are accountable. He is observing the way that under-shepherds are taking care of His flock.
Matthew chapter 16 informs us that Jesus will build His church; Ephesians 4 teaches that Jesus supplies His church with pastors that He gifted for their work. 1st Peter 5 teaches us that the Chief Shepherd will return and the under-shepherds will be accountable to Him. The work of pastoring is so important to the Chief Shepherd that He is keeping track of how under-shepherds do and that He will reward them (or withhold reward) for the way that they labored on His behalf. In other words, for the believer, know that Jesus is watching how you are being shepherded. When you get a new earthly shepherd, Jesus is watching. It is His church and He cares who is doing that work and how they are doing.
Conclusion:
Jesus is the good Shepherd Who, unlike an hireling, gave His life for you. He loves you, He knows you, He communes with you.
Jesus is the great Shepherd Who is superior to all others. Not only is He superior to prophets, to angels, to Moses, He is also superior to all other shepherds.
Jesus is the gracious Shepherd Who, as the Bishop of your soul, turned you from a wondering sheep to Himself.
Jesus is the governing Shepherd Who is observing all the shepherding that is taking place by His under-shepherds; He cares how you are being shepherded and will reward those who do it in a manner that is pleasing to Him.
You may be without a human shepherd for a period of time, but you are never without the good and great Shepherd.
I think of the words of David in Psalm 23, the LORD is my Shepherd…
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: bible, christianity, faith, god, jesus | Leave a comment »
Levi Deatrick 
You must be logged in to post a comment.