Considering Jesus
Jay Horsley
Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) He is the perfect one whom God loved and sent to reveal the way of light and life to us.
- 1 Pet. 2:25 “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” (Bishop – KJV, ASV, Overseer – NKJV)
Jesus is our great bishop – guardian, overseer, watchman and supervisor. We need someone to watch out for us and watch over us. Consider the condition that people are in before they find the One who can guide them in the right way. “And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36) This is proof of the truth that Jeremiah spoke, “I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself; Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.” (Jer. 10:23)
To meet our needs Jesus shepherds and guides us for the protection of our souls. He makes sure our soul has all its needs taken care of and is not led astray by evil or error. So long as we submit to His leadership we are safe and secure.
- Isa. 4:2 “In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel.”
- Jer. 23:5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.”
- Jer. 33:15 “In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.”
- Zech. 6:12 “Then say to him, `Thus says the LORD of hosts,” Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD.
- 13 Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.'”
A “branch” literally something that comes from the same root or trunk, and in symbolic usage it means a descendant, or intimately connected follower (like the parable of the vine, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” (Jn. 15:5)) The branches can be both good or evil. The king of Babylon was a “rejected branch” NASB, NKJV or “abominable branch.” KJV, ASV (Isa. 14:19)
With Jesus we especially want to consider what kind of “branch” He is. He is “righteous,” “of David,” and “of the Lord.” Here is the very specially one that Jehovah God is going to raise up. So we see Jesus as the one who comes from David, is without sin and comes to do the Lord's will. We also note the prophecy of Zechariah that says this Branch will both build the temple and reign in it. He will be both priest and king. Surely this unique honor belongs only to Jesus.
Remember the “Branch Davidians” in Waco led by David Koresh? He claimed to be the Messiah who would build the Temple. He claimed that he would fulfill these prophecies and borrowed scriptural terms to describe himself. We know how far short of the prophecies he fell.
- Jn. 6:32-35,47-51 “Jesus therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
- 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”
- 34 They said therefore to Him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread.”
- 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
- 47-51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
- 48 I am the bread of life.
- 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
- 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
- 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Bread has been the most important food, the sustainer of physical life, for the vast majority of humanity. Jesus offers Himself as a truer, better, more filling and fulfilling bread by giving true (spiritual) life. Jesus is the way of life and the sustainer of it.
We must partake of Jesus, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me...and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS” (Matt. 11:29), then we will have assurance of life.
Let our mind dwell more on Jesus: the Guardian of our soul, the source and sustenance of our spiritual life, and the righteous branch of David sent by the Lord to us.