Our Good Shepherd

Psalm 23; John 10:11-18; John 9

Every year, the fourth Sunday of Easter is Good Shepherd Sunday, with a portion of John 10 as the Gospel reading. Today, the Good Shepherd willingly lays down his life, gives up his life, for the sheep, unlike the hired hand who runs away in the face of the wolf.

 … Who, we might wonder, is the hired hand? For that, we look at John, Chapter 9.

Here, the story is about Jesus healing a man who was born blind and the various reactions to the healing. After the healing, some people are puzzled, with some believing and some disbelieving and skeptical. “Is he really healed? Is this even the same man?”

Some of the Pharisees claim that because the healing happened on the Sabbath, the healing must not be from God. Other Pharisees say that Jesus could not be a sinner, since he was able to do the healing. The parents of the man are hands off, saying he’s an adult and can speak for himself. The man himself says, “I once was blind, and now I see. Jesus must be a prophet.”

So, who, in this story, is really blind? The blind are those who deny that Jesus could give sight to the blind man. On to Chapter 10, where the blind are those who deny that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  

With Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the term “hired hands” refers to those who run away, who are scattered by the wolf instead of protecting the sheep, in other words, the leaders of Israel/Judah. In contrast, the Good Shepherd gives up his life in order to protect the sheep. Even more: the Good Shepherd welcomes more sheep into the fold that the hired hands reject as being unworthy of being in their flock.

So, Jesus is critiquing the leaders of Israel, telling them in clear terms that they have failed to protect and lead the people. Further, Jesus claims the Good Shepherd title for himself. The leaders must have gasped in dismay and anger, and continued planning to do away with this blasphemer. In John’s Gospel, this is Jesus’ intent.

… The image of God as the Good Shepherd is an ancient one. Written probably by King David 1000 BCE, Psalm 23 expands on the way the best shepherds care for the flock into an image of how God cares for the people known as Israel/Judah.

In contrast, many passages from the books of the prophets describe how angry God is that the leaders are not acting as good shepherds. Jeremiah 23 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter my sheep.” Ezekiel 34: “Woe, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?” Zechariah 10: “My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders.”

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus will lead God’s people to safety and provide for all their needs. Jesus the Good Shepherd will guide the people and the leaders along righteous pathways, so they have a healthy relationship with God. When the people trust God to guide them, God will protect them from all enemies.  When the people are led by God’s good shepherds, they will experience an abundance of goodness and mercy. More, as the Good Shepherd, Jesus will care for the flock, welcome outcast sheep into it, guide them with his own voice, and die protecting them from evil.

… My own experience with sheep is limited. I once spent the night with a friend who was a literal shepherd. It was lambing season, and we went to the barn to assist with a birth. One lamb came out, and Cathi handed it to me with a towel. “Here, wipe him off,” she said, as she waited for the birth of the twin.

And once, I was driving through the country and had to wait while shepherds moved sheep to another field. And I have seen sheep in fields as I drove by their field. That’s it.

I wonder how many of you have actual experience with sheep. Is this a helpful image to our mostly urban/suburban culture today? What might another image be for us?

In this university setting, I’ve thought of the Good Professor, with several of my own profs in mind.

I’ve thought of the Good Mother or Grandmother, with several women in mind.

I’ve thought of the Good Boss, with one woman in particular in mind.

I’ve thought of the Good Gardener, knowing that I am not one.

And that’s the point of naming Jesus as the Good Whoever. He is the best one of whatever image we play with. I’ve had good profs and just ok profs, a grab bag of good and so-so bosses, and I am myself an ineffective gardener. I had an imperfect mother, as I have been an imperfect mother, who would just the same have given her life for me.

Jesus is the best whoever we imagine, because he does it perfectly. It’s up to us to follow the Good Shepherd and do what he does, love one another, even if it means giving up our life in expressing that love.

… This week, I hope you will think about what it means to follow the Good Shepherd. As you ponder this, try out other images for God as the Good – whoever. I’ll be interested to hear what you came up with.