At His first visit, people experienced renewal and healing and splendor because THINGS FLOURISH WHEN THE KING IS PRESENT.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah described the Messianic reign in this way: "Then the blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear. Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy..."
Rabbinical teaching about the coming of the Messiah was based on that Isaiah 35 verse. They taught the Messiah alone could perform such miracles and that is how Israel might recognize Him. So the nation waited and watched.
*THE LEPER. Leprosy was incurable by human efforts, so when Jesus made the leper's skin pure and clean, don't you know the restored man wanted to leap like a deer? But Jesus said "Tell no one. Go to the rabbi and show yourself."
In doing so, the rabbi would set into motion the "vetting" process to verify such claims. Did the religious leaders recognize Jesus as Messiah? No, they called Him a blasphemer.
*THE DUMB DEMONIAC. The process of removing a demon involved communicating with the demon to find out its name in order to call it out. With the dumb demoniac there was no communication, therefore no possibility to exorcise. But when Jesus cast out this man's demon, do you think his mute tongue shouted for joy?
Unfortunately, the Pharisees declared Jesus did it by the power of Satan.
Then the Jewish leaders began a systematic 'take down' of the newly-sighted man as they interrogated him, accused him of lying about his blindness, and finally kicked him out of the synagogue. They declared Jesus wasn't from God.
After each of these three Messianic miracles, the Jewish leaders had tried/failed to kill Jesus. Then Jesus raised Lazarus. Could a more convincing proof of deity been offered than raising from the dead after four days? But the Pharisees were convinced that it would be better for one man to die than the whole nation, so these false shepherds redoubled their efforts to put Jesus to death.
Ezekiel 34 is a scorching chapter in which God prophecies against false shepherds. It is interesting to realize that while the Jewish officials thought they were deciding Jesus' fate, actually it was their fate being decided. They fleshed out the meaning of "false shepherds" who looked out for self rather than the sheep.
*The Good Shepherd calls to His sheep and they know His voice and follow Him to abundant life.
*The Good Shepherd is not a hireling who leaves the flock at the first danger; no one can steal the sheep from His hand.
*The Good Shepherd protects His sheep from the "wolves" of sin, death, and God's judgment.
*The Good Shepherd's sacrificial death makes one flock with one Shepherd.
*The Good Shepherd receives all the gifts that God the Father gives to Him. If you are a Christian, you are one of those gifts.
It is essential to follow the right leader in life, and only one Shepherd has proven that He is the Messiah by completing four Messianic miracles. Only one Shepherd has the power to willingly lay down His life to redeem from sin and death and judgment...and then also has the power to pick it up again. Only one Shepherd receives the gifts that God the Father has given Him since the foundation of the world.
The Good Shepherd's name is Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus, the Messiah) and we look forward to one day being in His presence where all things will flourish as He makes all things new in a place where righteousness dwells.
"These are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name." John 20:31
