The Apostle John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write an account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. It is written, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
We are studying the Gospel of John, because we want to know Jesus. We want the full view of Jesus, because in knowing Jesus we know the Lord God. For Jesus is the representative of God; “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus so exactly and so precisely displays the glory of God, that to see Jesus is to see God. To come under the shepherding of Jesus is to come under the shepherding of God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
This is how Jesus’ style of shepherding is described in God’s word. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:1,4) This familiar verse indicates that we are comforted by two tools, a rod and a staff. A shepherd’s staff was useful for walking support and for snagging a trapped animal with the crook or redirecting misbehaving sheep. A shepherd’s rod was a crude weapon that was used to defend the sheep from attacks, to beat off or even kill predators. Together the rod and staff symbolize the protective presence of the Lord over all members of his household.
What might it look like when Jesus, the Good Shepherd, uses the rod in defense of the sheep? We find the answer to our question in John 2:13-16. “The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.’”
Jesus, being the unique Son of God, had a special interest in the Father’s house. What he found going on had nothing to do with worshipping or honoring God. Rather, he witnessed a money-gouging, circus type of atmosphere, with animals flapping and snorting everywhere. And greedy men were filling their pockets at the expense of the poor, who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship God. So Jesus single-handedly cleared the temple! He did not need any help from his disciples, as there are certain things that only God can and will do.
Behold! Behold the Good Shepherd. Behold, with gratitude and joy. His rod and staff comfort me.
