Sermon -- 4th Sunday of Easter (April 21, 2024)

JOHN 10:11-18

LISTEN TO YOUR GOOD SHEPHERD AND FOLLOW HIM CLOSELY.

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:        He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

     Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd.  The word “good,” employed here by Jesus, refers to something that is beautiful or useful.  It is the same word that Peter used at Jesus’ transfiguration when he said, “Lord, it is good that we are here” (Matthew 17:4).  Then he suggested that they build three shelters.  So, it was good in the sense that it was useful that they were there.  This particular Greek word for “good” refers to the essence of its object, in other words, what makes it useful.  For example, you could use many items for a hammer—the heel of your shoe, a brick, or the end of a wrench.  While those could serve as a hammer, best would be a claw hammer of forged steel.  That is a good hammer because it was designed to be a hammer.

     Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He is the essence of a shepherd.  He is uniquely qualified to serve as the shepherd of his flock, the Church.  The Church has other shepherds.  We call them pastors because the Latin word for shepherd is “pastor.”  But no matter how good you might think a pastor is, he is not the Good Shepherd.  Pastors have weaknesses.  They may sin against you because of negligence.  They may use harsh, judgmental, or ignorant words.  They may even deceive you by twisting God’s word.  A pastor may fail you.  On the other hand, Jesus does not fail you, and he will not mislead you.  Listen to your Good Shepherd and follow him closely.

     Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:14-15).  Jesus knows the Father because he is the Son.  God the Father and God the Son are one.  They are in perfect harmony in thoughts and actions; for the Father and the Son are one God.  Jesus establishes this same kind of harmony and unity with his Church.  He does this by making himself known to us.  And this he does the way a shepherd leads his flock: He speaks to us.  Listen to the Good Shepherd and follow him closely.

     Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  His invitation to disciples is, “Follow me.”  Jesus not only brings us into the safety of his care, but he also leads us throughout our lives.  This is why we listen to him.  We need to listen so that we follow Jesus closely.  We don’t know where life will take us.  We anticipate blessings, and we have hopes and plans for our future.  Young people hope to graduate and find employment.  They have plans to get married and have children.  Parents also hope to see their children enjoy these blessings.  Then they hope to see grandchildren.  We make plans, and we pray that God will bless them.  But God may have other plans.

     St. James warns us not to be so sure of our plans that we would be crushed if they do not come to fruition.  James wrote, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  …Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that’” (James 4:13,15).  In other words, you don’t know where the Lord will lead your life.  But what you do know is that you have a Good Shepherd.  He knows you because he has redeemed you and made you his.  You know him because he has made himself known to you as your loving and faithful Savior.  He calls you to follow him for your good.  Listen to your Good Shepherd and follow him closely.

     As a Good Shepherd, Jesus continually speaks to you in his word.  He has to because there are many other voices which are calling for your attention.  The devil seduces you with lies that sound very attractive.  The world peppers you with slogans and soundbites which sound very reasonable.  These voices can be very persuasive.  They certainly are persistent.  And to be fair, there is often just enough truth in these voices that you can believe that they are in line with God’s word. 

     Consider the phrase, “Don’t get mad, get even.”  This appeals to our sense of justice.  If someone has wronged you, you are right to call it what it is.  That man sinned against you.  What he did was wicked.  If it was wrong, there should be a penalty for it.  Justice demands it.  Since it is unlikely that anyone else will step in to administer such justice, it is up to you to take care of matters.  That seems to make sense.  And it would feel so good to make someone suffer who brought suffering on you or your family.  Entire movie plots are based on that. 

     But this is what the Lord says: “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:17-19).  These are hard words for us to follow.  Our sinful nature craves revenge.  We want to take it upon ourselves to execute justice which is reserved for God.  The devil and the world may even taunt you: “What kind of God do you have who tells you to put up with people who sin against you?  ‘Turn the other cheek’?!  Ha!  Revenge is sweet!  The way of the Lord is bitter.  Maybe it is time to find a new way.”

     The devil, the world, and your own sinful nature call you to follow them on a path which promises satisfaction, but it leads to unending violence, strife, pain, and death.  The fact is: The devil does not care about you.  He wants you damned.  The world does not care about you.  When you die, the world moves on and makes more empty promises to the next generation.  But Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He not only cares about you; he has invested himself completely to secure your temporal and eternal good.  Listen to your Good Shepherd and follow him closely.

     Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14).  What you know best about your Good Shepherd is this: “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).  For all the pleasures promised by the world, the world will not do you any favors.  For as much as the devil promises you, he will give up nothing for you.  Jesus, however, lays down his life for you.  He owed you nothing, but he gave up everything to save you. 

     Jesus left the glories of heaven to live in a world that has been corrupted by sin.  Jesus emptied himself of his divine majesty to take into himself the guilt of mankind.  Jesus exchanged the innocence of a holy life for the sins of the world.  He was marked for death—dying for people who loved the devil’s lies and were seduced by worldly schemes.  No one else would do this for you.  Even if they tried, they could not take away your sins or win your place in heaven.  Jesus did both.  He has paid for your sins with his holy, precious blood, and he has satisfied God’s judgment with his innocent sufferings and death.  “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).  What do the sheep get out of it?  Peace, comfort, blessing, hope, and life everlasting.  What does the Good Shepherd get out of it?  You.

     The Good Shepherd, however, does not remain a dead shepherd.  The sheep would remain helpless without a Good Shepherd to protect them, to guide them, and to speak to them.  Listen to your Good Shepherd and follow him closely.  For this is what he says: “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” (John 10:17-18). 

     Sometimes it looks like your life is out of control, and you might question where Jesus is leading you.  You might even wonder if Jesus has lost control because difficulties and disasters are piling up.  Fear not.  Jesus has never lost control, and he never will.  Even when Jesus was going to be crucified, he did not lose control.  St. John wrote about Jesus’ arrest.   “Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’  They answered him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’  Jesus said to them, ‘I am he.’  …When Jesus^] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:4-6).  Then he patiently waited for them to collect themselves and arrest him.  Jesus was in control.  He was not seeking to escape arrest or death.  He went to the cross on purpose.  The purpose was to claim you.

     The way the Gospel writers describe Jesus’ death is striking, too.  For us, death is something that happens to us.  We fight to live and strain for breath until death finally takes us.  We fight, but death overcomes us.  Not so with Jesus.  St. John records Jesus’ death this way: “He bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).  Death did not take Jesus; Jesus willingly went into death.  He was active in dying.  As Jesus said, “No one takes (my life) 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” (John 10:18). 

     The Good Shepherd willingly went into death.  The Good Shepherd definitively walked out of death.  Death did not take Jesus; Jesus took death.  He lives, and he lives to faithfully protect and guide his flock.  He speaks to you so that sin, death, and the devil cannot harm you.  Listen to your Good Shepherd and follow him closely. 

      Even as you listen to your Good Shepherd and follow him, you may still feel like your life is out of control.  Jesus may lead you through hardships.  A Good Shepherd may have to lead his flock through rough and rocky terrain to get them to where they need to be.  The sheep will prefer a softer path, but the softer path may not lead to the place you need to be.  So, if Jesus causes you to struggle, drains you of your strength, and makes you wonder if you can even go on, Jesus remains in control.  Listen to him and follow him closely.

     You know your Good Shepherd.  He cares for you.  He guides and protects you.  If he leads you through difficulties, Jesus uses them to discipline you.  Just as your muscles get stronger only when you put strain on them, so also your faith is strengthened when Jesus lays a cross on you.  But he remains your Good Shepherd.  Everything he does is for your good.  Rather than trust your fears, your hardships, or your lack of control, listen to your Good Shepherd.  He did not make you his own to neglect or deceive you.  Follow him closely; for only Jesus provides comfort which cannot be destroyed by problems.  Only Jesus makes promises which cannot be overcome even by death.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He lives and reigns forever, and he lives and reigns for you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.