OUR GOOD SHEPHERD
Second Sunday after EASTER
26 April, AD 2009
TEXT: St. John 10:11-16
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
[Jesus said] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (St. John 10:14-16).
The oldest and most common representation of Our Lord in Christian art is that of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. We have an example of a Good Shepherd rendered in stained glass here at St. George’s. We see at once in that window that there is a connection, a sort of relationship between the shepherd and His sheep. Not only is the Good Shepherd a powerful visual symbol of relationship, we hear of this special relationship time and time again in Holy Scripture, where a little over one hundred times sheep and their shepherds are mentioned. Likewise, on a daily basis in Morning and Evening Prayer we hear how we have strayed like lost sheep in the General Confession at both services and even though this be the case, we are comforted through the words of the Jubilate Deo that we still sheep of God’s pasture.
Now I’m sure you’ve heard sermons which focused upon the sheep; how they are sort of dumb and stubborn and tend to get themselves into trouble – a lot. And then there have been sermons about shepherds who have had to stay with their sheep in inclement weather, through the darkness of night, and protect the flock from wolves and the like. But this morning, we want to focus upon a particular Shepherd; Jesus as the Good Shepherd and listen to what His words have to say to us, specifically in this time and in this place.
From the outset of Our Lord’s opening words, He makes an important point. He says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” Now the word that He used there for good is not the one you might think. Jesus is not calling Himself morally good, although, of course, He is. He uses an entirely different word which has come down to us in Greek, the word “kalos” which means someone who is attractive, appealing, or charismatic; someone who draws us, naturally, toward Him. Jesus isn’t just a good, moral man, but someone who moves us towards Him, ultimately. From the outset, Jesus’ voice tends to make us stop what we are doing in our life and listen; entering, as sheep do with their shepherd, into a union of attachment, tenderness, and trust. At any point on the mountain-side, the sheep could be swept away by a flash flood, or they could be stolen by robbers, or attacked by ravenous wolves. It was and is the good shepherd who watches out for all of that; who protects them and risks his life, if necessary, for the sheeps’ well-being. All of this produces a relationship between the sheep and their shepherd and vice-versa. You come to love those for whom you risk your life, your soul; and they love or should love you back. It becomes not a case of the flock being driven by the shepherd, but by the shepherd stepping out in front, going before the sheep and they follow, even when they do not know where they are going; even, as it were, in perfect trust.
Jesus then talks a little about hirelings. They are what their name implies, yet, nevertheless, they are shepherds, too, but not good shepherds. You see, the hireling does his duty for pay. While everything is fine and dandy he is at his post, doing his job; even in the cold, even in the dark. But when the lion, wolf, or bear comes to ravage the sheep which are in his care or charge, he takes off! He isn’t paid to risk his life for those sheep! The test has come for him when he has to choose between his own interests and those of the flock. If he then follows his own interests and doesn’t stay to serve the flock’s best interest, this shows that he is there for what he can get and not for the service he can give the sheep. In other words, the cause of the sheep is not his cause!
But with a good shepherd, things are different. The cause of the sheep IS his cause. He knows his sheep; from their individual bleatings, their markings, all the way to their specific temperaments and behaviours. He knows each of their needs and what’s more, they all know his voice! The good shepherd is there because of the love that he has for his sheep – not for what he can get, but for what he can give – protection, encouragement, nourishment, guidance. And that’s just in an earthly sense. When we see Jesus as the Good Shepherd, all of those attributes of which we have just spoken are present, and then magnified to the point of our salvation. Jesus has drawn us to Himself by His voice, but also by His Death and Resurrection, our souls are protected, nourished, guided, and empowered. This is seen in the ultimate act of sacrifice by Jesus – when He laid down His life for the sheep – you and me. The universality of Jesus’ death was to do away with or eradicate the sins of the whole world. This is what He means when He speaks of other sheep not being in the same fold – that He must bring them along also, so that in the end there will be one flock and one shepherd.
So once again, we have an eternal reality working itself out in our human condition. We learn that a hired hand only tends the sheep for money and then runs away when there is difficulty; while a true shepherd tends the flock out of love in all circumstances, no matter the personal cost. It’s just a job to the hireling. It’s a commitment and way of life for a true shepherd just as it was and continues to be for Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We can almost hear Jesus say to us in this lesson – “HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR!”
And now, unto God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost be ascribed all might, majesty, power, and dominion as is most justly due this day both now and forever; world without end. Amen.
SOLI DEO GLORIA – JEU+