This strategic relationship between the pastor (shepherd) and the sheep is explicitly stated in Zechariah 13:7: “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” The Gospel writers refer to this very passage in the narrative of Christ’s betrayal and arrest on the Mount of Olives: “Then Jesus said to them: ‘You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered” ’ ” (Matt. 26:31; see also Mark 14:27). Zechariah’s prophecy thus finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ as He goes to the cross. When the Good Shepherd is “struck,” His disciples are scattered (Matt. 26:56; Mark 14:50–52).
Do you pray for your pastor? You should. Pastors are special targets for the attacks of the evil one. Long ago, the church father John Chrysostom observed, “The devil rages with greater violence against teachers, because by their destruction the flock also is scattered.” The enemies of God’s kingdom know that to bring about the downfall of a pastor, whether by violent means, temptation into moral failure, or in some other manner, is to inflict great harm on the cause of Christ.
This strategic relationship between the pastor (shepherd) and the sheep is explicitly stated in Zechariah 13:7: “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” The Gospel writers refer to this very passage in the narrative of Christ’s betrayal and arrest on the Mount of Olives: “Then Jesus said to them: ‘You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered” ’ ” (Matt. 26:31; see also Mark 14:27). Zechariah’s prophecy thus finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ as He goes to the cross. When the Good Shepherd is “struck,” His disciples are scattered (Matt. 26:56; Mark 14:50–52).
The New Testament fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7 seems perhaps so obvious that we may miss some surprising features of this messianic prophecy. We should note that both in its original Old Testament context and in its slightly paraphrased New Testament citation, God is actually the One who is “striking the shepherd.” The Lord is the one rousing a “sword” in Zechariah 13:7 and commanding it to strike His shepherd: “ ‘Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,’ declares the Lord of hosts.” In other words, while the arrest, trial, torture, and crucifixion of Jesus constituted a heinous work of evil men opposed to the kingdom of God, it was simultaneously the mysterious working of the Lord’s holy purpose and decree for the salvation of His flock. It was both the worst deed and the greatest deed that ever happened. We find this remarkable paradox throughout the Scriptures, from Joseph’s words to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 (“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive”) to Peter’s Pentecost sermon in Acts 2:23 (“This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men”). We must not excuse sinful behavior, but we can be assured that even the worst acts of men belong to the “all things” that God works together for our good (Rom. 8:28).
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