Christmas Thoughts: The Shepherd Ruler

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While searching for pictures to illustrate From Adam to Us, I have looked at thousands of photographs. One sweet discovery has been photos of stamps from around the world which illustrate historic events and famous people. One delightful stamp series I saw were Madonna and Child Christmas stamps from the 1970s. They were from a country that I doubt would publish Christmas stamps today. I was struck by how our world has changed since I graduated from high school. Still, I am grateful that in many places in the world, more people than usual are thinking about Jesus Christ at this time of year.

One Biblical event celebrated soon is the coming of the magi.

I was humbled and grateful when our former next door neighbor brought this set her daughter made to "the museum."
I was humbled and grateful when our former next door neighbor brought this set her daughter made to “the museum.”

When the magi asked King Herod about the new King, and then King Herod asked the Jewish chief priests and scribes where the Messiah was to be born, they quoted this to Herod:

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.
Matthew 2:6

A ruler who will shepherd God’s people.

I remember a seminar Ray and I went to once where we learned about the importance of balance in parenting. There are parents who are rulers: “Do what I say because I said to do it.” On the other hand, there are parents who lean more toward the loving side of the spectrum.

Children need both. They need authority and they need love. Without authority, they are insecure. Without love, they are angry — and insecure.

As always, Jesus is our perfect example. He is a ruler who shepherds. Imagine a world in which its rulers (and Presidents and Prime Ministers and Senators and Congressmen and Members of Parliament, etc.) shepherd the people under their care. Imagine families all around the world in which parents lovingly shepherd their children.

Now the God of peace,
who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep
through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
equip you in every good thing to do His will,
working in us that which is pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21

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