12.18.24 ~ Understanding the Role of the Shepherd

Good morning!

What comes to your mind when you think of Hanukkah? Judaism? Fiddler on the roof? A middle eastern tradition to replace Christmas? A 9 branched menorah that stays lit for 8 days? The zealous Maccabean revolt? The Lord as your Shepherd? Desecration of the Temple? Anti-Christ? Another tradition of men? A godly nation that assimilated into pagan culture? Confusion? Nothing?


What if there are hints to this holiday throughout the Old Testament (aka TaNaKh) long before the Maccabean revolt of zealotry began? Could there be a prophetic significance to the date associated with this year's December 25? What if Hanukkah isn't only a Jewish celebration, but one that is connected prophetically with all the nations on the earth? Ah, so many questions and so many answers :-)!


If we examine the ministry of our coming Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus, very few individuals would doubt that He has the role of a shepherd in 3 different phases (Good, Great and Chief Shepherd). His final role as the Chief Shepherd will be to gather the flock that was with Him, and the flock that is still being formed, until they all become one/echad (Isa. 40:11; Eze. 34:13-23; 37:22-24;Mic. 5:4; etc.,). Hence, Yeshua's three statements to Peter after His resurrection: 'Do you love me? If you do, then pasture and shepherd the lambs & sheep' (John 21:14-17).


Prior to this conversation we see Yeshua addressing the issue of shepherding in John 10:1-30. The context of His teaching is at the time of the 'feast of dedication/Hanukkah' (John 10:22) saturated with His focus on His ministry towards the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel (Jer. 50:6; Matt. 10:6; 15:24)".


The Jews of Yeshua's day were very aware of the prophecy concerning one shepherd and one flock (Eze. 36:33-38), but they weren't too keen on including the sheep that were exiled into the nations, namely the 'lost sheep of the house of Israel' and those who would identify with Messiah from the pagan nations. Why not? Historically, if we take into consideration the lost sheep's dispersion, the bloody conquest by idolatrous Assyria, Babylon, Greece and Rome...that didn't leave much time to consider people outside themselves...honestly, I don't blame them. This is, in part, one of the reasons why Yeshua never associated with the Roman government (John 18:35-37); He had bigger fish to fry and a bigger plan to implement (Acts 1:6-8).


The commission of Peter and the other disciples, including you and me, followers of Yeshua, is to shepherd both lambs and sheep by leading and feeding flocks of men to a Covenant relationship with the Most High God, the Stone of Israel (Gen. 49:24). This is to be done in such a way that all the sheep, young and old, can rest in one fold. The young lambs are attached to mama to receive essential nourishment in order to ultimately become independent from mama, eat for themselves and reproduce (1 Jn. 2:12-14). Both will always need a shepherd, as the TaNaKh and Apostolic writings, aka New Testament, clearly reveal!


It is this identity of the Shepherd that links the work of Messiah and the festival of Hanukkah, which in tradition carries the expectation of Micah's prophesied seven shepherds (Mic. 5:5), who defeat the enemies of Israel. Zechariah adds that the plan isn't just about gathering men into one flock, but it's also about kicking "hiney" on the enemy. He also helps us understand why Hanukkah is vital to the goal of gathering sheep who know the Good and Great Shepherd's voice (Jn. 10:11,14; Heb. 13:20). Add in prophetic utterances from Haggai and we begin to see that 'prophetically', Hanukkah/dedication is equally important to the Jew as the non-Jew.


When Yeshua was challenged to reveal His identity at the Feast of Dedication, His answer could not have addressed the question more poignantly for that audience; regarding the 7th Shepherd who would defeat the Evil One (Mic. 5:5-8). Both question and answer are directly embedded into Hanukkah.


This isn't just a topic for the believing or unbelieving of Yeshua's time, but anyone who claims to hear His voice and follow Him (Jn.10:28). To understand Hanukkah is to understand the role of the Shepherd (Good (Jn. 10:10), Great (Heb. 13:20) and Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4). The winter time is a very significant time in hearing the voice of the Shepherd. Those who hear His voice will follow and those, as in Yeshua's day, who claimed to be of His flock, but weren't, will not...pray that your flight won't be on the Sabbath or in winter (Matt. 24:20).


I'm two weeks away from my trip to Ft. Walton, Florida. Prayer appreciated!


Shalom!


Commercial: All in one spot...the last couple months of studies, blog, audio studies and videos

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