Psalm 23; Acts 2:42-47; John 10:1-11
I really appreciate the people who keep the church’s sign current. They make sure the community is aware of what is going on at the church and they often post amusing and inspirational messages. And, occasionally they help the pastor in preparing the sermon. This week, as I was walking up the hill, I saw the words on the sign again and I felt a moment of inspiration. I hope you all read the sign anytime you are passing by the church. But, in case you missed it, the sign today reads “The Great I AM Still Is.” Actually, the sign may require a bit of explanation. When Moses encountered the LORD in the burning bush in the wilderness he asked God, what is your name; and God replied, “I AM WHO I AM.” God’s answer may sound odd to us today, but God was not offering a simple moniker. God was describing who he is; God is the source of all being, God is the source of all that is. This is how God described himself to Moses and to us – God is The Great I AM who causes all things to exist.
The reason I bring this up is that it is relevant to today’s reading from John. Several times in John’s gospel, Jesus begins a sentence with the words “I am.” For example, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life,” “I am the light of the world,” and in today’s reading Jesus says: “I am the gate” and “I am the good shepherd.” But, this is much more than Jesus comparing himself to bread or light or to a shepherd. In those verses Jesus is making a very specific claim. Think back to Moses and the burning bush. What is God’s name? “I AM.” In effect, Jesus is saying, “The I AM who spoke to Moses is speaking to you today.”
The other thing we need to keep in mind as we read this passage from John is the image of the shepherd. The people of Israel had been shepherds since before there even was a nation of Israel. The patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all shepherds, they all kept flocks and understood what it meant to care for sheep. King David, Israel’s greatest king and a man after God’s own heart, shepherded the flocks before he was called to shepherd God’s people. Later, in Ezekiel, God condemned the rulers who abuse the people they were called to shepherd; and, promised, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.”
I think you are getting the picture. This passage from John is not really about shepherds or sheep pens or robbers who climb over the walls to steal sheep. This passage is about God coming in the person of Jesus Christ to care for his children. This is about the Great I AM who is our Good Shepherd.
In this passage Jesus tells us several things about the Good Shepherd. First, Jesus tells us that the Good Shepherd calls his own sheep by name. There is great power when someone calls us by name. Alice and I had the privilege of being with our daughter, Debbie, and her husband Mark when they named their son. He was just a few minutes old when they held him close and called him by name, when they called him Timothy for the first time. When a nurse is trying to get a patient to respond they often call them by name because a person will respond to their name when they might not respond to anything else. And, when Jesus appeared to Mary on the first Easter morning, she recognized him when he called her by name. Our names are our most valuable and most personal possession; we are outraged when someone misuses or steals our name. And here Jesus says he knows our names and he calls us by name. This is no “y’all come;” this is Jesus saying, “Stephen,” please come and please follow after me. The Good Shepherd calls his own sheep by name.
The next thing Jesus tells us about the Good Shepherd is that he leads us out. One of the shepherd’s jobs was to lead the sheep to a place of safety; a place of green pastures; and a place of still water. The Good Shepherd “leads me beside still waters” and “makes me lie down in green pastures.” He “leads me in right paths.” The world is a complex place; and there are many “wrong paths” we could take. Yet, there is one who knows the right paths and can lead us to the good places, Jesus, our Good Shepherd. The truth is that Jesus does want us to find the take the right paths and find the green pastures. He calls us by name and through his word and example he shows us the way to live life to the fullest. The Good Shepherd leads us out.
Jesus also tells us that the Good Shepherd goes on ahead of us. I know Jesus wants me to follow in the right paths. I also know that I have a way of wandering off down the wrong paths. I seem to be able to find the “valley of the shadow of death” all on my own. Yet, when I find myself there I also find that Jesus is there too; he is there to guide and protect me. I know Jesus did not lead me to the dark places, but he is there when I need him most. And, when life overwhelms me and turns dark, when the world seems to turn against me, I find that the Good Shepherd is still with me. Even when my enemies surround me, I look and the Good Shepherd has prepared a place of sanctuary for me. The Good Shepherd goes on ahead of us.
So, how do we respond to the Good Shepherd who calls us by name; who leads us out; and who goes before us? Well, this may sound obvious, but I believe the first thing we need to do is listen so we can hear what God is saying to us. I do not know about you, but my hearing does not seem to be as sharp as I remember it being. And, I sometimes complain that people mumble and the background noise is too loud. Now, some of that may be true, but the real reason is probably that I am not paying attention. Too many things, like phones, and television, and the internet want my attention. Where this gets serious is when the one talking is the Good Shepherd. I believe Jesus is calling me by name; am I listening? I know for me, and perhaps for you as well, that I need to carve out time away from the distractions so I can hear what God is saying to me. Fortunately, it is easier to find quiet places here at Linganore. Sometimes, especially on a winter evening I cannot hear any sounds. That is a start, now I need to turn off all of the devices. So, the Good Shepherd is calling us by name. Is anyone listening?
I believe that we need to follow where the Good Shepherd is leading. So, where might that be? Well, the psalmist tells us that the Good Shepherd wants to lead us to a place that fills our soul and a place where we can love our Shepherd. Now, some may think that looks like a nice retirement village; but, I think it may look more like a downtown soup kitchen or a thrift shop that needs volunteers. I believe that Jesus know that we are filled when we give ourselves in service to others. I believe the best meals are not the rich food we eat in solitude but poor fare shared with a friend. So, I believe the Good Shepherd is leading us to a very good place; a place where we can use our skill, talents, and gifts to serve others. So, the Good Shepherd is leading. Is anyone following?
I believe that sometimes we find ourselves in dark places. Sometimes we get their because we refuse to choose the right paths. And, sometimes it seems forces beyond our control carry us to the valley of the shadow of death. But, however we got there, I believe that the Good Shepherd has gone before us and is already there. In those moments I believe we must trust and allow God to guide and protect us. The way forward may not be clear; we must trust God to guide us. The way forward may not be easy; we must trust God to protect is. The Good Shepherd has gone before us into the dark places and is ready to help. Is anyone ready to trust?
The Good Shepherd is calling. Are we listening?
The Good Shepherd is leading. Are we following?
The Good Shepherd has gone before us. Are we trusting?
Amen.