The Gospel comes from John 10, a very controversial chapter. Here in this chapter you hear the “I AM” declarations. He says “I AM the door.”, “I AM the Good Shepherd.” He also states “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father”. Christ is declaring His divinity and also His equality in Godhood with the Father. These are bold statements. For if this was spoken from any other mouth this was heresy which most likely end in death and even though Christ is God Him stating that He was led to His death.
The words Christ spoke here are still controversial to the world. Who is Jesus? You can see that the world puts out that He was a great teacher, He helped revolutionize social change, He was an alien, but saying He is God is where many draw the line. Nope He cannot be. The denial of His death and resurrection even though historically and factually it happened is something that the world cannot handle. Even in the Gospel reading right after the selection it says:
Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Why can’t the world see Christ for who He is? Sin. Sin has separated the world from God. It has separated you from God. Even when God was amid all these people they could not see Him for who He was. When the Word is taught rightly and purely those without the Holy Spirit cannot understand them or they rage against them.
However, those who see and hear correctly are given life-giving water, food and drink that can satisfy the soul completely. For in that Word you are given Christ. This is what today is for you. This is what God does for you every Sunday. He comes to relieve you, to remind you, to forgive you, and to bless you. He comes to give you that very life giving water, He comes to feed you with His flesh and blood because He is both man and God, He is the 2nd person of the Godhead. This is what you hear today in the Gospel and the peace that comes along with it.
He declares “I AM the Good Shepherd.” Why is this so valuable to you? Again, it is Christ saying that He is God, but also a God that takes care of His flock. He takes care of His people. In Ezekiel you hear that Christ Himself will search for His sheep and will seek them out. He promises to rescue you from all places where they have been scattered on a a day of clouds and thick darkness. He promises to bring you into your own land and He will feed you with good pasture. He will seek the lost and will bring back the strayed, bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. How is this all possible? Only through Christ’s sacrifice. It is by His death and resurrection that He has made you part of His flock. It is through Christ that the lost, the strayed and the injured can be welcomed into the fold and made whole. He laid down His life so that you would be covered by Him, that you would be fed by Him, that you can rest in Him.
As your Good Shepherd He also leads you in the way. In 1 Peter 2 He leaves you an example so that you might follow in his steps.
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Peter wrote this to the Christians in exile in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. This letter is to you as well here in America. Do not sin, The sin that you are struggling with, that sin that you cannot shake, repent and believe the Good News that it is forgiven for Christ’s/the Good Shepherd’s sake. Do not have deceit in your mouth. Jesus Christ who brings the truth has made you His children. Therefore, speak only truth. Let your words reflect your faith. Who did Christ entrust Himself to? The Father. So you to trust in God for all things. Even when things seem to be going wrong, when things seem hopeless, or there looks like no good answer trust in Him. Jesus did this in the wilderness, He did it in the Garden of Gethsemane and He did it on the cross. Let His will be done.
Christ continues to lead you in His way. You are continually being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit and the Spirit continues to put to death the deeds of the body. He works in you so that you will bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
However, when you do sin, when you do speak deceit, when you don’t trust in God. Repent! Knowing full well that Jesus suffered for you. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
This church has the name of the Good Shepherd. This is a great reminder that He always has you under His care. That He is your Shepherd and He does lead you. He does send you Pastors like me in His stead, but He is true Shepherd of this congregation. Know that even in the times that don’t seem ideal or when your way seems unclear He still leads you. He will continue to feed you and give you rest. Be strengthened and have joy knowing that He calls you His sheep and you do know Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you. As long as this church professes the Word and administers the sacraments rightly you know that God is with you, that this church is part of the Good Shepherd’s flock. Trust in His will whatever happens and you know you will be taken care of. Rest and have peace in Him. The joy that He is your Shepherd is knowing that He has already purchased you, you have already been bought by His blood.
The Good Shepherd tends His flock. He does not let idly sit by and rest, but He is ever vigilant. He faces the wolf, He defeats the wolf so the sheep will not scatter. He continually seeks out those that wander off. Have confidence that He will lead them back. He continually helps those that are injured and heals them, He continually gives the weak strength. You are those sheep. You know people that are those sheep. Continually pray for this church and those that have left. He is the good Shepherd. He will give hope to those that are losing it. Remember, he said,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
The cross is the prime example of that strength. The world and the devil saw that as the weakest and that is God’s greatest victory. Do not fear for Christ is with you. He is the cornerstone and from His foundation nothing built upon it can be shaken. Yes, earthly buildings may fall or close, but His church, His people, His bride remain lifted up by the the Bridegroom, the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Here in this ark, this church, as you journey to His land, the land He brings you to know that He is with you. Yes, just like in the wilderness the Israelites faced hardships, yet God was always before His people. He dwelt with HIs people. He has given you His Spirit so you too have the Lord always before you and dwelling with you. He leads you to green pastures to lie down, He leads you beside still waters. It is the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, that Has and continues to restore your soul. Evil and death you do not have to fear for He is with you. His Word, both Law and Gospel give you comfort. Here He prepares a table for you, where you can eat and drink of Him and find restoration. It is by His sacrifice you have been anointed as the chosen people of God. It is because He continues to lead you and reside with you that goodness and mercy will bless you all the days of your life. He has laid down His life as the good shepherd for you so that you can dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
SDG.
Pr. Daniel Holm
John 10
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 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; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
1 Peter 2
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Ezekiel 34
11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.