Isaiah 53:6-7 “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.”

Sheep were an important part of the life and economy of Israel in Jesus’ day. Besides providing meat, milk, and wool for clothing, blankets and trade, they were also an essential part of the religious traditions. They were the key element in many of the sacrifices offered to God. The Passover lamb, which saved the life of God’s people the night the angel of death passed through Egypt, had to be without spot or blemish. Jesus called himself “the good shepherd” and said he would lay down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). In relation to him, we are the sheep and he is the one we are to follow. But as one of us, he came to be a sheep (or more precisely, a lamb) to be sacrificed on our behalf. He laid down his shepherds crook and became a sheep because only his sacrifice would be sufficient to pay the price for our sin-debt to the great shepherd, God. The shepherd became a sheep and while we were still lost he paid the price for us. As sheep we no longer have to fear being sacrificed - we simply need to follow he who is once again our shepherd.

Pray: “Jesus, you gave up so much to come down here and be a part of your Heavenly Father’s flock. You had to be a sheep in order to be sacrificed on our behalf. And yet while here, you shepherded us, feeding us your words and caring for all around you. And when the time came, you went without a sound to the butchers of Rome. Thank you for coming down and becoming part of our flock that we might someday once again be counted among your flock. We love you, Lord, and praise the Father through you today - Amen.”