April 22, 2018
The Fourth Sunday of Easter (B)

• Why did Jesus die on the cross? It was to forgive our sin.
• Why did Jesus want to die for our sins? It was because he loves us.
• Why does Jesus love us? It is because we are “his sheep.”
• Why are we “his” sheep? Because he has purchased and won us from the devil.
• But why does he want a bunch of dirty smelly sheep like us? It must be love!
• Then, what is love? It is something that binds us to another.
• What is the sign of that love? That Jesus laid down his life for his sheep, for us.
• What kind of a shepherd is Jesus? He is the Good Shepherd.
• How is he “good”? He takes good care of his sheep, of us.

Jesus said that he was the Good Shepherd because there were some bad shepherds around. They were the Jewish religious leaders. They were “bad” because they did not take care of the sheep, the people of God. In the context of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus had healed a man born blind. Then when he confessed faith in Jesus as the Christ, he was cast out of the synagogue. The Pharisees showed that they cared nothing about this precious lamb of God. Like wolves, they were scattering the flock. But the man had heard the voice of Jesus and he knew him. Jesus says that he will always protect his followers from wolves like the Pharisees and the devil

In the wider context of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is foretelling his death and resurrection. Verses 17-18, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No 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.”

My question today is “why.” Why did Jesus die and rise for us? The only reason I can see from this text is because we are his sheep. It is not because we are “good sheep,” we are sinners, and that is why he had to die for us. But why die for us sinners? Because we are his sheep. We are that precious to Jesus. He takes responsibility for us. A hired hand runs away at the sign of danger because he does not care if the sheep die. The hired hand will not suffer financial loss. He will not grieve over sheep because he does not know them, he does not know their names. It seems that a shepherd would know his sheep so well that he would give a name to each of his sheep, just like we name our pets, or just like we know the names of our children or our students in class. It is a matter of having a relationship; it is a matter of love.

Everybody loves Psalm 23. Old people love it because they see how God has been their Shepherd all their lives and will be for eternity. Young people love it because it gives hope and security for the future. Middle aged people love it because they are now passing though valleys and are hungry and thirsty for the green pastures and quiet waters, and have faith that God will lead them.

My question today remains “why.” Why does God want to be our Shepherd? We are sinners and losers and wanderers. The answer I have found in this Psalm is in verse 3, “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” The “paths of righteousness” are those correct paths that lead to salvation. As Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” While walking those paths of life, we do the right things in life. He is leading us so he is also helping us make the right choices in life.

And why? It is “for his name’s sake.” Those words are a treasure chest of meaning.

1. God’s name is God himself. And so God leads us for his own sake.

2. God’s name is his reputation. So God is honored when he leads us as our God and when we follow him in lives that praise him. And part of his reputation is being a good God. So he leads us simply because he is good. Simply because that is what a good god does.

3. God’s name is like his signature. God has made a promise to be our God. That is the story of the Bible. He led Abraham on the right path to the Promised Land. He led the People of Israel out of slavery in Egypt on the right path back to the Promised Land. He led the Jews from Exile in Babylon on the right path back to the Promised Land. Jesus said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus is always with us as we travel the paths of life. It is God’s promise. “He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised” (TEV). My free translation of the First Commandment is this. ‘I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods because you will not need them, I promise to be your Lord and God.’

4. In English we have the word “namesake.” It means someone named after someone else, like having the same name as your uncle. And perhaps that person so named has some of the characteristics of the original person. In Baptism we have been given God’s name. The name of the Holy Trinity was spoken over us and we became his children in his family. And now like a good father, God the Father will lead us in paths of righteousness for our sake, too.

Why does God the Good Shepherd lead us even though we are sinful, bad sheep? It is because of love. In the Catechism, Martin Luther put it this way in the meaning of the First Article of the Creed.

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. What does this mean? I believe that God has made me and all creatures. … He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.”

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church

Sermon Index