Isaiah 40:11 Jesus shows us the lengths to which he as the Good Shepherd, or Poimen Kalos, will go in order to protect his sheep. Unlike those who merely work for pay, Jesus will never abandon his sheep. Instead, he will defend them with his own life. After his resurrection, Jesus exhorted Peter to follow his example by feeding his sheep. Leaders of the early church were referred to as "pastor," another translation of the Greek word poimen.

Praying to the Good Shepherd Judith Fain is a doctoral candidate at the University of Durham who spends several months of the year in Israel. One day, while walking on a road near Bethlehem, Judith spotted three shepherds approaching each other with their separate flocks of sheep. When the three men stopped to converse, their flocks began to intermingle. Judith couldn't imagine how the shepherds were ever going to sort out which sheep belonged to them, since by now they had melted into one large flock. Several minutes later, as the men said their goodbyes, she learned the trick. Magically, as the shepherds called out to their sheep, the one large flock sorted itself into three separate flocks, with each sheep following the voice of its shepherd.

Her experience illustrates why the land of Israel has often been called the fifth Gospel. Two thousand years after the death of Christ, it still testifies to his words and teachings. Hadn't Jesus assured those who had flocked to him, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me?" Hadn't he promised to go after the one sheep that strayed? Hadn't he identified himself as the Shepherd who would give his life so that his sheep might be safe?

One after another, the promises of our Good Shepherd are intended to communicate who we are and who he is. We are weak, vulnerable, and beloved, and he is our strong, protecting Shepherd.

Thank God for a Shepherd to lead us and help us lie down in peace, assured as we are of his ability to care for us and to guide us safely home.

Lord, you are the Good Shepherd. Thank you for watching over me by day and by night and for bringing me back when I've strayed. Please bless___________________, who seems far from you right now. May he/she hear your voice and come back to you.

Promises Associated with the Name GOOD SHEPHERD.

I will promise them peace. I will remove the wild animals from the land so that my sheep can live safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. . . They will no longer be prey to the nations, and the wild animals will no longer eat them. They will live safely, and no one will frighten them. I will give them a place that is known for its good crops. They will no longer experience hunger in the land, and they will no longer suffer the insults of other nations. Then they will know that I, Yahweh their Elohim, am with them and that they, the people of Israel, are my people, declares Adonay Yahweh. You, my sheep, are the sheep in my pasture. You are mortal, and I am your Elohim, declares Adonay Yahweh. (Ezekiel 34:25, 28-31) The lamb in the center near the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs filled with the water of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7:17)

Jesus Brings Lazarus Back to Life 11 1 Lazarus, who lived in Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived, was sick. 2 (Mary was the woman who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was the one who was sick.) 3 So the sisters sent a messenger to tell Yeshua, "Lord, your close friend is sick."

4 When Yeshua heard the message, he said, "His sickness won't result in death. Instead, this sickness will bring glory to God so that the Son of God will receive glory through it."

5 Yeshua loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. 6 Yet, when Yeshua heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days.

7 Then, after the two days, Yeshua said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea."

8 The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, not long ago the Jews wanted to stone you to death. Do you really want to go back there?"

9 Yeshua answered, "Aren't there twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day don't stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10 However, those who walk at night stumble because they have no light in themselves."

11 After Yeshua said this, he told his disciples, "Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, and I'm going to Bethany to wake him."

12 His disciples said to him, "Lord, if he's sleeping, he'll get well."

13 Yeshua meant that Lazarus was dead, but the disciples thought Yeshua meant that Lazarus was only sleeping. 14 Then Yeshua told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, 15 but I'm glad that I wasn't there so that you can grow in faith. Let's go to Lazarus."

16 Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to the rest of the disciples, "Let's go so that we, too, can die with Yeshua."

17 When Yeshua arrived, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. 18 (Bethany was near Jerusalem, not quite two miles away.) 19 Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.

20 When Martha heard that Yeshua was coming, she went to meet him. Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha told Yeshua, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask him."

23 Yeshua told Martha, "Your brother will come back to life."

24 Martha answered Yeshua, "I know that he'll come back to life on the last day, when everyone will come back to life."

25 Yeshua said to her, "I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that?"

27 Martha said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who was expected to come into the world."

28 After Martha had said this, she went back home and whispered to her sister Mary, "The teacher is here, and he is calling for you."

29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Yeshua. 30 (Yeshua had not yet come into the village but was still where Martha had met him.) 31 The Jews who were comforting Mary in the house saw her get up quickly and leave. So they followed her. They thought that she was going to the tomb to cry. 32 When Mary arrived where Yeshua was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

33 When Yeshua saw her crying, and the Jews who were crying with her, he was deeply moved and troubled.

34 So Yeshua asked, "Where did you put Lazarus?"

They answered him, "Lord, come and see."

35 Yeshua cried. 36 The Jews said, "See how much Yeshua loved him." 37 But some of the Jews asked, "Couldn't this man who gave a blind man sight keep Lazarus from dying?"

38 Deeply moved again, Yeshua went to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone covering the entrance. 39 Yeshua said, "Take the stone away."

Martha, the dead man's sister, told Yeshua, "Lord, there must already be a stench. He's been dead for four days."

40 Yeshua said to her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believe, you would see God's glory?" 41 So the stone was moved away from the entrance of the tomb.

Yeshua looked up and said, "Father, I thank you for hearing me. 42 I've known that you always hear me. However, I've said this so that the crowd standing around me will believe that you sent me." 43 After Yeshua had said this, he shouted as loudly as he could, "Lazarus, come out!"

44 The dead man came out. Strips of cloth were wound around his feet and hands, and his face was wrapped with a handkerchief. Yeshua told them, "Free Lazarus, and let him go."

The Jewish Council Plans to Kill Jesus 45 Many Jews who had visited Mary and had seen what Yeshua had done believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Yeshua had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council. They asked, "What are we doing? This man is performing a lot of miracles. 48 If we let him continue what he's doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our nation."

49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was chief priest that year, told them, "You people don't know anything. 50 You haven't even considered this: It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed."

51 Caiaphas didn't say this on his own. As chief priest that year, he prophesied that Yeshua would die for the Jewish nation. 52 He prophesied that Yeshua wouldn't die merely for this nation, but that Yeshua would die to bring God's scattered children together and make them one.

53 From that day on, the Jewish council planned to kill Yeshua. 54 So Yeshua no longer walked openly among the Jews. Instead, he left Bethany and went to the countryside near the desert, to a city called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

55 The Jewish Passover was near. Many people came from the countryside to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. 56 As they stood in the temple courtyard, they looked for Yeshua and asked each other, "Do you think that he'll avoid coming to the festival?" 57 (The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that whoever knew where Yeshua was should tell them so that they could arrest him.) GATE.

To understand the significance of this title, it's Important to realize how gates functioned in the ancient world. One of the worst tragedies that could befall a walled city was to have its gates breached. Once that happened, the city was left defenseless against marauders. Hence, when Samson carried off the gates of Gaza after its citizens tried to kill him, he was demolishing the city's defenses (Judges 16:1-3). Sizable cities had more than one gate, and all had to be defended.

City gates also functioned as the locale for various social and administrative activities. Elders would gather at the gates, where judgment would be rendered and business would be conducted. Even prophets used the gates to announce their divine messages to the people of the city.

The Hebrew word for gates is sa'ar. In addition to referring to cities, it was also used of the temple gates. Psalm 118:19 refers to these as the "gates of righteousness," indicating that by entering the temple, the Israelites were entering into a place where they would have access to God's presence. Even heaven was pictured with gates. When Jacob dreamed of angels ascending and descending a ladder, he awoke to exclaim, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven" (Genesis 28:17 NIV).

Two primary Greek words are used for "gate" in the New Testament. Pyle can be translated "gate" or "city gate." Jesus used this word when he told his followers in Matthew 7:13 to "Enter through the narrow gate." He used it again in Matthew 16:18 when he assured Peter that the gates of hell would never overpower the church. Though many Christians have assumed this passage indicates that the church will never be overcome by evil, It has a far more positive thrust, implying that the church itself is advancing against the gates of hell, which will not hold out against it.

The second Greek word is thrya, which can be translated "door," "gate," or "entrance." This is the word Jesus used when he told his followers in John 10:9, "I am the gate. Those who enter the sheep pen through me will be saved."

Praying to Our Gate "Something there is that doesn't love a wall." If the ancient world had been exposed to the poetry of Robert Frost, they would surely have scoffed at this line, concluding that the poet could not possibly have been serious when he penned it. Of course Frost wrote the poem "Mending Wall" not in the ancient past but in modern times, when walls had long gone out of fashion as a method for defending a city.

When Jesus told his followers that he was the gate, he wasn't speaking of city walls but about an enclosure in which sheep were penned. The enclosure was far different than what we might imagine. It wasn't a white wooden fence surrounding green patches of grass on which sheep could spend their days contentedly grazing. Shepherding in Israel was a rugged profession, especially when a shepherd had to lead his sheep out onto the hillsides for pasture. Since it wasn't practical to bring the sheep home every night, he would stay outside with them. At night he would lead them into an enclosure with walls but no gate. Once all the sheep were in, the shepherd would simply lie down across the opening. He became the gate, using his body to keep the sheep from getting out or predators from getting in.

By using this imagery, Jesus is telling us that he will keep everyone who belongs to him safe, even at the cost of his life. Whatever tragedies may afflict us, Jesus will not let anything or anyone snatch us from him.

Lord, when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for even there you will be with us, your rod and your staff to comfort us. Jesus, you are heaven's Gate, the way to eternal life.

Promises Associated with the Name GATE.

Open the gates of righteousness for me. I will go through them and give thanks to Yah. This is the gate of Yahweh through which righteous people will enter. I give thanks to you, because you have answered me. You are my savior. (Psalm 118:19-21) Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate. But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Mary Prepares Jesus' Body for the Tomb-Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9 12 1 Six days before Passover, Yeshua arrived in Bethany. Lazarus, whom Yeshua had brought back to life, lived there. 2 Dinner was prepared for Yeshua in Bethany. Martha served the dinner, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Yeshua.

3 Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Yeshua's feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.

4 One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray him, asked, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold for a high price and the money given to the poor?" 6 (Judas didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and carried the contributions.) 7 Yeshua said to Judas, "Leave her alone! She has done this to prepare me for the day I will be placed in a tomb. 8 You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you."

9 A large crowd of Jews found out that Yeshua was in Bethany. So they went there not only to see Yeshua but also to see Lazarus, whom Yeshua had brought back to life. 10 The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too. 11 Lazarus was the reason why many people were leaving the Jews and believing in Yeshua.

The King Comes to Jerusalem-Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44 12 On the next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover festival heard that Yeshua was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took palm branches and went to meet him. They were shouting, "Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!"

14 Yeshua obtained a donkey and sat on it, as Scripture says: 15 "Don't be afraid, people of Zion!

Your king is coming.

He is riding on a donkey's colt."

16 At first Yeshua's disciples didn't know what these prophecies meant. However, when Yeshua was glorified, the disciples remembered that these prophecies had been written about him. The disciples remembered that they had taken part in fulfilling the prophecies.

17 The people who had been with Yeshua when he called Lazarus from the tomb and brought him back to life reported what they had seen. 18 Because the crowd heard that Yeshua had performed this miracle, they came to meet him.

19 The Pharisees said to each other, "This is getting us nowhere. Look! The whole world is following him!"

Some Greeks Ask to See Jesus 20 Some Greeks were among those who came to worship during the Passover festival. 21 They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like to meet Yeshua." 22 Philip told Andrew, and they told Yeshua.

23 Yeshua replied to them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I can guarantee this truth: A single grain of wheat doesn't produce anything unless it is planted in the ground and dies. If it dies, it will produce a lot of grain. 25 Those who love their lives will destroy them, and those who hate their lives in this world will guard them for everlasting life. 26 Those who serve me must follow me. My servants will be with me wherever I will be. If people serve me, the Father will honor them.

27 "I am too deeply troubled now to know how to express my feelings. Should I say, 'Father, save me from this time of suffering'? No! I came for this time of suffering. 28 Father, give glory to your name."

A voice from heaven said, "I have given it glory, and I will give it glory again."

29 The crowd standing there heard the voice and said that it had thundered. Others in the crowd said that an angel had talked to him. 30 Yeshua replied, "That voice wasn't for my benefit but for yours.

31 "This world is being judged now. The ruler of this world will be thrown out now. 32 When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me." 33 By saying this, he indicated how he was going to die.

34 The crowd responded to him, "We have heard from the Scriptures that the Messiah will remain here forever. So how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up from the earth'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"

35 Yeshua answered the crowd, "The light will still be with you for a little while. Walk while you have light so that darkness won't defeat you. Those who walk in the dark don't know where they're going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you will become people whose lives show the light."

After Yeshua had said this, he was concealed as he left. 37 Although they had seen Yeshua perform so many miracles, they wouldn't believe in him. 38 In this way the words of the prophet Isaiah came true: "Lord, who has believed our message?

To whom has the Lord's power been revealed?"

39 So the people couldn't believe because, as Isaiah also said, 40 "God blinded them and made them close-minded so that their eyes don't see and their minds don't understand.

And they never turn to me for healing!"

41 Isaiah said this because he had seen Yeshua's glory and had spoken about him.

42 Many rulers believed in Yeshua. However, they wouldn't admit it publicly because the Pharisees would have thrown them out of the synagogue. 43 They were more concerned about what people thought of them than about what God thought of them.

44 Then Yeshua said loudly, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me. 45 Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in the dark. 47 If anyone hears my words and doesn't follow them, I don't condemn them. I didn't come to condemn the world but to save the world. 48 Those who reject me by not accepting what I say have a judge appointed for them. The words that I have spoken will judge them on the last day. 49 I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me told me what I should say and how I should say it. 50 I know that what he commands is eternal life. Whatever I say is what the Father told me to say."

RABBI, RABBOUNI.

In ancient Israel all education was religious education, and Scripture was the sole textbook. Understanding it was vital, because long life, success, and happiness flowed from living in accordance with the laws of God. But the Jews did not believe that ordinary people were equipped to understand and apply Scripture without the guidance of a teacher. Gradually, certain men distinguished themselves for their eagerness to study and teach the Scriptures. These men came to be known as "rabbis."