By Robert E. Coleman
As Jesus was hanging on the cross, recall how the worldlings came by and mocked Him, saying, "He saved others, but He can't save himself" (
Matt. 27:42;
Mark 15:31; cf.
Luke 23:35). The irony is that in their derision the scoffing crowd said the truth. Of course, He could not save Himself. That was the point. He had not come into the world to save Himself; He came to save us. "He came to seek and to save what was lost" (
Luke 19:10). "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (
Matt. 20:28;
Mark 10:45).
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Just as He was sent into the world, now He sends us (
John 17:18;
20-21). "Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again" (
2 Cor. 5:14-15).
His mission in the flesh now accomplished, Jesus tells His disciples to take care of those for whom He gave His life. People are likened to sheep that are lost without a shepherd (
Matt. 9:36). Left to themselves, there is no hope of recovery. Someone with the heart of Christ must go to them, tell them the Gospel, and lead them to the fold of salvation.
Then, having come to Jesus, the sheep must be nurtured in His way; they need to be fed and clothed and protected from ravaging predators. It will require loving discipleship by committed servant. But by faithful shepherding, the sheep will grow up and someday begin to reproduce their kind.
There was a time when Peter was like a sheep, wandering aimlessly, without any direction in life. But now, through the miracle of divine grace, his nature has been so transformed that he is becoming like a shepherd.
In this ministry there is a place for us all. Our form of service will vary, depending upon gifts and callings, but God who made us what we are will use every disciple in some way, to care for His sheep. And whatever is done truly for the love of Christ, even to "one of the least" of these sheep, becomes an act of worship to the Lord (
Matt. 25:40).