Who are the “Good Sheep”?

The Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2015



GOSPEL LESSON: John 10:11–18
11[Jesus said:] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

There are many pictures in the Bible to show us what God is like and to show us what our relationship with God is like. Creator and creature. Husband and wife, in the Old Testament. Bridegroom and bride, in the New Testament. Captain and soldiers. Gardener and olive trees. Vine and branches. Temple building and bricks. And others.

In today’s Gospel reading, our relationship with God is like a Shepherd and sheep. Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd.”

What makes him a “good” shepherd? Jesus explains that this way: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Also: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” We also have the image of the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.” Ultimately, what makes Jesus the “good” shepherd is that he is good to us. On the cross he laid down his life for us. In his death he fought the wolf of the devil and death which would snatch and scatter us. And then he has gathered us and made us one. He knows us. He has brought us into his flock, his fold, through the Sacrament of Baptism and reminds us of his promise in the Sacrament of the Altar where we confess that he is our Lord and Shepherd who laid down his life for us.

It is obvious that he is the “good” Shepherd. But, I wonder, are we “good” sheep?

What would make us “good” sheep? As sheep, do we follow Jesus as our Shepherd? Should we? And why should we?

At the beginning of our worship service, we confess our sins. We acknowledge before God that we have not always followed Jesus. We have listened to other voices that want to lead us. We have sinned. We have not done good. We have been devoured and scattered by the cares of this world. The desires and lusts and cravings and temptations of this world, the worries and pain and sufferings of this world constantly assault us. They are more powerful than we are. That is why we poor sheep need an Almighty Shepherd God like Jesus. But there are many things in this world that tell us that they are a better shepherd than Jesus is. They promise greener pastures, better waters, and safer trips through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. But the rods and staffs of those other want-to-be leaders give no comfort or relief, but just beat us into submission or beat us to death. They put burdens of obligation and sin and guilt upon us. They lead us away from Jesus. They lead us away from true salvation. None of those false religions or philosophies or self-help ideas or drugs etc. is like Jesus. None of them has ever showed love like Jesus. None of them has ever laid down their life for anyone!

The good sheep are those sheep for whom Jesus has laid down his life to save. They are those who are known by Jesus and who know Jesus. We are good because Jesus has made us good. That is the Gospel. We are not good because we follow Jesus. We are good because Jesus leads us. That may look the same: the marching formation may look the same. We cannot take pride in that we have chosen to follow Jesus. Rather, we take pride in that Jesus has chosen to lead us. It is humility. The method of some churches is to tell people to make a decision for Christ, decide to follow Jesus. It might be a good technique sometimes at an evangelism rally. But you seldom hear that sort of language in the Lutheran church. We would rather tell people to realize that Christ has decided to lead them. Christ has called us in the Gospel, we hear his voice, and so it is natural to follow him to the still waters of Baptism.

We know the love of Jesus. He led the way when he carried the cross. He led the way when he died and rose on the third day. He will return again to lead us to eternal life. He is the Good Shepherd, and he is the Lamb of God. Because Jesus is the Lamb of God, we have become the lambs of God. We look to Jesus so that we know how to be God’s lambs. We look to Jesus so that we know how to live our lives. It is fully relying on God. It is living in hope and security, no matter what. It is a life of love, no matter what. It is to follow the lead of Jesus, no matter what. We listen to the voice of Jesus which we hear in the Bible, worship, prayers, songs, and fellowship.

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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