The Son, the Good Shepherd

“Then he delivered Him up to them that He might be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him away.” (John 19:16)

The he the Scripture is speaking about is Pontius Pilate. Pilate gave in to the request of the religious leader, released Barabas, a criminal and delivered Jesus to the soldiers to be flogged and crucified. (Matthew 27:26-31; Mark 15:15-20; Luke 23:24)

We know the religious leaders were motivated by envy, that Jesus had a great following, that His teachings revealed their wickedness, and that Jesus had supernatural power that everyone knew came from God. (John 6:2; Mark 12:38-40; Lk 20:45-47) Nicodemus a Pharisee even told Jesus as much. “And there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which you do unless God is with him.” (John 3:1-2)

They feared that their privileged way of life would come to an end if the people recognized Jesus as the Messiah. They all thought the Messiah would overthrow the Roman rule, even His disciples. When He was crucified, His disciples were in disbelief. They were thinking in earthly terms when Jesus spoke of His kingdom. The religious leaders saw their authority threatened, also thinking Jesus was talking of overtaking the Romans. After Jesus resurrected Lazarus, they plotted to kill Him. “Then many of the Jews who came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and Pharisees gathered a Sanhedrin, and said, What can we do? For this man does many miracles. If we let Him alone this way, all will believe on him. And the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, Caiaphas, being the high priest of that year, said to them, You do not know anything at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation perish. And he did not speak this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation; and not for that nation only, but also that He should gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then from that day they took counsel together that they might kill Him.” (John 11:45-53) Without knowing it the high priest Caiaphas prophesied about Jesus.

Jesus tells the Parable of the Tenants. The housemaster planted a vineyard and rented it to vinedressers. The housemaster sends his servants to collect the fruit but the renters beat one, killed another and stoned another. The housemaster sends more servants, and the renters do the same to them. Lastly, he sent his son who the renters kill for his inheritance. (Matthew 21:33-46) Jesus told this parable about the Pharisees and Sadducees. They had been given the people of Israel to nurture in the spiritual things, but they selfishly took advantage of the people for their own personal gain, killed the prophets and killed the Son.

Jesus spoke of the power of the Holy Spirit to witness just before His ascension to heaven. “But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Peter spoke in Solomon’s portico after a lame man was healed. We see how the Holy Spirit changed Peter from a lying coward to a powerful witness of the truth. “And as the lame one who was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And seeing this, Peter answered the people, Men, Israelites, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though we had made this man to walk by our own power or holiness? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His son Jesus, whom you delivered up, denying Him in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to let Him go. But you denied the Holy and Just One and desired a murderer to be given to you. And you killed the Prince of Life, whom God has raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, this one whom you see and know, His name made firm. And the faith which came through Him has given him this perfect soundness before you. And now, brothers, I know that you did it through ignorance, as also your rulers did. But those things which God before had shown by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He fulfilled in this manner.” (Acts 3:11-18) Without fear, Peter declares that they crucified the Holy One from God Who did miracles and is continuing to do miracles.

In a nutshell, the Pharisees and Sadducees did kill Jesus, but in reality, it was our sin that led Jesus to the cross. He is the good Shepherd, Who laid His life down for His sheep, those who believed and who would believe on Him. “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know those that are Mine, and I am known by those who are Mine. Even as the Father knows Me, I also know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep who are not of this fold. I must also lead those, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one Shepherd. Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I might take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down from Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. I have received this commandment from My Father.” (John 10:14-18)