When I ran into Jesus the pastor my ministry changed. In the midst of serving as a pastor, in the turmoil, in the challenges and the pleasures, I came across the truth that Jesus is the ultimate pastor. Jesus calls himself “the good shepherd” in John 10. Our word “pastor” is simply a synonym for “shepherd.” The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as “the great shepherd,” and Peter, the apostle, calls Jesus “the chief shepherd.” Good. Great. Chief. Pastor. Just as I could ask you, “Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior?”, so I could inquire, “Have you received Jesus as your pastor?” Both are legitimate questions. And, if you are a pastor, the second question is crucial. I began to study the Gospels with a new quest: How is Jesus a good pastor? Then, it dawned on me: Jesus is the most profound, radical pastor.

I mean “radical” in its primary sense of “at the root.” I don’t mean “radical” in the 1960s social chaos way, even though Jesus stirred up a lot of social chaos in his life time. Yet, at the root, in a radical way, Jesus was God’s designated shepherd for his people (see Ezekiel 34: 23).

I wrote a book titled Jesus the Pastor. In it I attempt to present Jesus as the model for pastoral ministry. This website, as well, grows out of my interest in Jesus as the senior pastor.

I hope you enjoy browsing around the site.
-john

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