Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 119:145-176
Jeremiah 25:30-38
Romans 10:14-21
John 10:1-18
John 10:1-18
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
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. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The 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. 12The 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. 13The 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— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I 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. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No 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.”
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Over the years I have heard numerous teachings on this passage. Let me share some of the things I remember.
· Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. For most of us, this is an image that is basically positive. For the folk of his day, it was an image that was oxymoronic. You could be Good. You could be a Shepherd. You could not be a Good Shepherd. When it came to the social hierarchy, shepherds were very near the bottom of the list. They were almost seen as social outcasts. Their job made them ritually unclean and they weren’t often thought of as the most honest of persons. Thus, for Jesus to say he was a Good Shepherd would definitely have caught the attention of those to whom he was speaking.· Even within the ranks of shepherds there were some differences. If you were a poor shepherd, then you would be relegated to watching the sheep yourself. If you were a person of some means, then you could hire someone to watch out after the sheep for you. This was not always the best of scenarios. The hired man, had no vested interest in the sheep. All he wanted was a pay check. Thus, when things got rough, the hireling would often duck and run leaving the sheep on their own. Jesus, though makes it clear that he is no hireling. That he will stand and defend the sheep and protect them and care for them. He further makes it clear that the sheep will know his voice and respond to it. He lays down his life for his sheep. This is the Father’s plan for him. One aspect of this passage that hits close to home is the hireling nature of ministry. I would like to suggest that many lay folk treat pastors and other staff members as hirelings to do the jobs that they do not want to do. Most pastors and staff members, though don’t act as hirelings and run when the going gets tough. But this sort of dynamic is not good at building up the faith of the laity. If they do not feel that they own the ministry, then they will not become as engaged in it. As a result, their spiritual life is weakened.
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Prayer: Lord, I am one of your sheep. Let me hear your voice and respond to it.
