RULING JUSTLY OR TAKING ADVANTAGE

●    civic officials criticized for taking liberties with resources
●    Saskatoon council risks maintaining right of citizenry to see “Merry Christmas” on busses

MAJESTIC RULER, HUMBLE ORIGINS

●    shepherd in strength, with majesty and greatness
●    origins from of old - ancient times - days of eternity
●    yet humble origins: Bethlehem “small” by comparison
●    God’s habit of using write-offs magnifies His glory (Gideon, Moses, Rahab)
●    hope for those not much by human standards

AUTHORITY HARNESSED TO SUBMIT AND SANCTIFY

●    Christ’s shepherding style like that of submissive slave
●    accepted the role predicted in the scroll: need a perfect sacrifice
●    Jesus’ priority doing God’s will not one’s personal will
●    Jesus’ sacrifice got the job done in contrast to OT sacrifices
●    His sacrifice makes us holy: positional / progressive sanctification
●    Luther’s dream of blackboard covered with list of his sins

BANQUET FOR THE BELEAGUERED

●    prompts us to steward God’s grace by serving others
●    college student chefs’ full dinner for homeless a picture of grace