The Good Shepherd
John 10:14, 22-30
Psalm 23
Rev. Stephen H. Wilkins
Georgetown Presbyterian Church
April 29, 2007
The pastor of a wealthy congregation was giving the children’s sermon, and he told them that the word "Pastor" means "Shepherd". And so he explained to the children that the pastor is supposed to be like a shepherd for the people, who are the sheep for whom he is supposed to care. He then put this question to them: "What does the shepherd do for the sheep?" One of the little girls raised his hands and answered, "He fleeces them."
Sometimes children demonstrate a wisdom that is well beyond their years! Fortunately, the Bible presents us with a different image of the shepherd. And it really is fortunate that the image is different, because the image of the shepherd is the metaphor that the Bible uses to describe who God is.
Today’s texts from the lectionary certainly lift up the metaphor of the Lord as our Shepherd. I know for many of you it is impossible to hear the words of the 23rd Psalm in any language other than the King James English: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters, he restoreth my soul… And in the 10th chapter of the gospel according to John, Jesus gives us one of his famous "I am" statements that help us understand who he is: I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. And if we take the metaphor to its logical conclusion, then we don’t stop at describing the Lord as our Shepherd, for a shepherd cannot be a shepherd without sheep. So if we are to embrace the biblical image that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, then we must also embrace the notion that we are sheep.
Most people in the 21st century don’t think of sheep in the most flattering terms. I would guess that most people think of sheep as untidy, smelly creatures, not the brightest four-legged creature around. Even the bleating noise they make—baa-aa-aa, baa-aa-aa—is a sound that comes across as frightened and unsettled. Now, who among you today would like to be described in that way?
Now, I suspect that some of the bad reputation of sheep has been spread by cattle ranchers. But certainly there is something to the notion that the image of a sheep is, by and large, not a positive image to apply to us. Nevertheless, that is the image that the Bible uses for us in relation to God.
This morning I want to examine the relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep, drawing mostly from the two texts before us. And in doing so I want to focus on three verbs that appear in John’s text.
The first verb is "to know". Jesus said, "I am the good Shepherd; I know my sheep, and my sheep know me." Later on, Jesus says the same thing: "I know my sheep…" It is a knowing that runs both ways: the Shepherd knows his sheep, and the sheep also know the Shepherd.
The Lord, who is our Shepherd, knows us. I find that both discomforting and comforting at the same time. On the one hand, it is discomforting, because his knowledge of us is complete, including even those things that nobody else knows about us. Those dark secrets that we try to hide from everybody else, we cannot hide from God. Our Shepherd knows us, and that can be disconcerting at times.
But that we are known by our Shepherd is also a source of great comfort, for it means that he knows our needs, our pains, our hurts, our sorrows. If you will look around this sanctuary on any given Sunday, most of us would never think that there was anything wrong, because most of us are very adept at keeping those things covered up. But Jesus knows, and he understands. He knows, not as one who simply keeps a registry of information up in his head; rather, he knows, because he cares, and what is going on in your life and my life matters to him.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus is "one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are…" When we hear that, our focus is usually on the temptations that Jesus faced. But what we often gloss over are the four words that follow: just as we are. And that describes how Jesus knows us, as well. You see, because Jesus took on human flesh and dwelt among us, living as one of us, then it means that we are known not from afar, but intimately, for he has walked in our steps! That’s how our Shepherd knows us—he has been one of the sheep, so he knows what we’re going through. He knows what’s going on in our hearts, because he has lived with a human heart himself.
The Shepherd knows his sheep, and his sheep know him. The passage in John’s gospel takes place in mixed company. Jesus is with his disciples, and Jesus is also with his enemies. His enemies don’t understand what Jesus is saying. And Jesus says that’s to be expected, for they are not his sheep.
Sheep know their shepherd. They are only comfortable in the presence of their shepherd. All other voices will scare the sheep, and they will scatter. But the voice of their own shepherd is one that draws them together. It is the only voice they will heed.
An American tourist was traveling in the Middle East. He came upon several shepherds whose flocks had all gathered together around a large watering hole. After an exchange of greetings, one of the shepherds turned toward the sheep and called out, "Manah. Manah. Manah." (Manah means, "follow me" in Arabic.) Immediately his sheep separated themselves from the rest and followed him.
Then one of the two remaining shepherds called out, "Manah, Manah," and his sheep left the common flock to follow him. The traveler then said to the third shepherd, "I would like to try that. Let me put on your cloak and turban and see if I can get the rest of the sheep to follow me."
The shepherd smiled knowingly as the traveler wrapped himself in the cloak, put the turban on his head and called out, "Manah, Manah." The sheep did not respond to the stranger’s voice. Not one of them moved toward him.
You see, the sheep know their shepherd. The voice of the shepherd is the only voice they will heed.
My friends in Christ, we are here today as sheep. That’s not really a point that we can debate. But what is significant is, Who is your shepherd? In a world that clamors for our attention and our loyalty, whose voice do you heed?
The second verb that describes the relationship between the Shepherd and his sheep is "to give." Jesus says, "I give [my sheep] eternal life." The twenty-third psalm says much the same thing in the opening verse: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. To the 21st century reader, the King James English obscures the true sense of the phrase. The more contemporary translation will say something to the effect of, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall lack no good thing." In other words, our Shepherd provides for us, our Shepherd gives us what we need. That is the nature of the Shepherd, to provide for his flock.
The Shepherd is one who gives. He gives us what we need for life. He gives us what we need for eternal life. Earlier Jesus says that the Good Shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. His first audience may have thought that he was speaking in hyperbole, as in, "A shepherd will go to great lengths to ensure the welfare of his sheep." But on this side of the cross, you know and I know that Jesus was not speaking in hyperbole, but literally. He gave his life so that we might have life, and have it abundantly.
Our Shepherd has laid down his life for his sheep.
Which brings us to the third verb that describes the relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep: to follow. "They follow me" says Jesus of his sheep.
You see, the relationship between sheep and shepherd is not complete until the sheep follow the shepherd. The shepherd knows the sheep, and the sheep know the shepherd. The shepherd has shown himself to be the one who will provide and care and guide—he is the one who will see to it that the sheep will live.
So what do the sheep do when they hear the voice of their Shepherd who knows them, who has given his life for them?
They follow.
Following is our response to the voice of the Shepherd. Following is our response to the gift of eternal life. Following is the response that makes the words of the psalm your own words: The Lord is my Shepherd…
You see, here is where the metaphor begins to fall apart: In the animal kingdom, sheep don’t really have the freedom to choose their shepherd.
But you do. You have the freedom to choose which voice you will heed. You have the freedom to choose your shepherd.
Choose the Good Shepherd.