I am the good Shepherd

Monday, March 23

Psalm 89:1-18
Jeremiah 16:10-21
Romans 7:1-12

John 10: 1-21

It is interesting to drive throughout the countryside in Norway where I live during the summer.

The landscape is dotted with sheep with their lambs. When driving in a car, one can encounter silly sheep basking on the side of asphalt roads in the summer sun with their lambs. Norwegian sheep farmers are unusual, in that they do not actually shepherd their sheep. Instead, they set them out in nature to fend for themselves and hope for the best. Needless to say, there are considerably fewer sheep when they are to be gathered in. Many sheep and lambs become victims of wild animals and traffic because they have no-one to protect them. The sheep of Norway lack true shepherds that are willing to care and protect them. They merely seek to profit from what remains of them at the end of the summer. In some ways that is what Jesus is saying about the spiritual shepherds of Israel.

The image of the good Shepherd was familiar to all the Jews. We read in Psalm 23 that, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want". The same is said of God almighty in Psalm 80.

The Jews were waiting for a messianic shepherd to lead the people Israel. If one reads Ezekiel 34 we see that the leaders of Israel are judged by God for their failure to serve, protect and care for their people. Because of their neglect and exploitation of the flock the Lord speaks through his prophet saying:

Ez. 34:11

" 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

Jesus pronounces the same judgment of the leaders of Israel in making a contrast between himself, the true shepherd and the thief and wolf (the evil one) or the hired help (the Pharisees).

Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd who is willing to lay his life down on behalf of the sheep. He contrasts himself with those who merely want to exploit the flock, and those who have no true interest in caring for it and leave it open to the attacks of vicious predators.

Jesus describes himself as the gate as well - He is the only way into the safety and shelter of the fold.

The flock recognizes the voice of the true Shepherd, who will lead them into safety and rich pasture. In Him is the only true source of life in all its fullness.

Jesus speaks of those who were not considered part of the flock of Israel - that he would gather them into the fold in order to create one people. Were are part of that group of sheep that he has sought out and drawn in under his saving care.

He is our good Shepherd. In him we find the source of abundant life. Life in its fullness.

Pastor Linda

The Shepherd and His Flock
1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
19At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"
21 But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"