Good Shepherd Sunday brings with it images of Jesus, kind and loving shepherd, with a lamb draped over his shoulders. The psalmist reminds us that the Lord is our shepherd and the we will not be in want. Peter recalls the death and resurrection of Jesus and reminds us Jesus is the “shepherd and bishop of our souls.”
It is tempting to lapse into pastoral thoughts about the relationship between shepherd and sheep, how the shepherd lovingly attends to every need of his precious flock, as if they are pets.
But the passage John gives us today really doesn’t leave much room to indulge those thoughts. When this discourse took place Jesus was in the temple, wrangling with members of the Sanhedrin (whom John labeled “Pharisees” or “Jews”) because they had just excommunicated a man for being healed on the sabbath day. John 10 is more an indictment of false shepherds than anything else.
The prophets warned of these guys. Isaiah spoke of clueless shepherds who cannot understand, who look to their own way (Isaiah 56:11). Jeremiah lamented dull-hearted shepherds who had not sought the Lord (Jeremiah 10:21). Ezekiel criticized shepherds who fed themselves but not the flock (Ezekiel 34:2).
By Jesus’ time shepherds were mostly held in low esteem because it was assumed they were up to no good when they took their masters’ flocks out of sight for grazing. They were often accused of stealing lambs, taking the wool, and slaughtering the choice sheep for their own enjoyment. For Jesus to compare the prestigious lawyers of the Sanhedrin to shepherds would have been a put-down.
The passages from the Prophets that Jesus invoked employed a different image of shepherds. There a shepherd is seen as one who has a responsibility to care for God’s people, seen as God’s flock. Clueless, vulnerable sheep need an attentive shepherd to care for God’s sheep. Leading to green pastures and still waters, protecting from predators, and grooming for market.
The prophets applied the shepherd metaphor more often to kings than anyone else. Their authority carried with it the responsibility to govern with God’s interests in mind. They were to attend to the people with righteousness and justice, and protect them from predatory advances of enemy nations. But the image could be applied to anyone who had responsibility to lead and care for others. One who was a shepherd had a stewardship to which he was held accountable.
When Jesus referred to himself as the door, he called attention to shepherds’ common practice of building a sheepfold, or fenced or walled structure in which to gather the sheep at night. One of the shepherds would function as door, keeping sheep in, and predators and thieves out. Only the ones recognized as legitimate shepherds would be granted access to the sheep through the door.
Jesus was addressing the failed stewardship of the Sanhedrin, evidenced by their callous ejection of a man just because he had been healed on a sabbath day. He called them to task and held them accountable. They were false shepherds, and had gained access to the sheep by deceitful means. He announced transition into a new leadership. That is why he said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
I think Jesus invoked a stinging passage from Jeremiah 23. “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” Jeremiah warns. “You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. I will attend to you for the evil of your doings.” Jeremiah goes on to prophesy that God himself will gather the sheep, and set up new shepherds to care for the sheep, and they will fear no more. A branch of righteousness, a king to reign and execute justice would be raised up, and his name would be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The Jews knew what Jesus was talking about. John says there was division among them as Jesus spoke. Some said he had a demon and was mad. Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Good Shepherd Sunday has more to do with authority than anything else, and particularly the responsibility of those in places of authority to carry out their stewardship as a shepherd cares for sheep. This means family authorities (parents), church authorities, and civil authorities.
Pray for those in authority. For bishops, pastors, and other church leaders. For parents, teachers, and employers. For government officials and law enforcement personnel. Pray that they lead with the heart of the Good Shepherd, who cares for the flock.
It is tempting to lapse into pastoral thoughts about the relationship between shepherd and sheep, how the shepherd lovingly attends to every need of his precious flock, as if they are pets.
But the passage John gives us today really doesn’t leave much room to indulge those thoughts. When this discourse took place Jesus was in the temple, wrangling with members of the Sanhedrin (whom John labeled “Pharisees” or “Jews”) because they had just excommunicated a man for being healed on the sabbath day. John 10 is more an indictment of false shepherds than anything else.
The prophets warned of these guys. Isaiah spoke of clueless shepherds who cannot understand, who look to their own way (Isaiah 56:11). Jeremiah lamented dull-hearted shepherds who had not sought the Lord (Jeremiah 10:21). Ezekiel criticized shepherds who fed themselves but not the flock (Ezekiel 34:2).
By Jesus’ time shepherds were mostly held in low esteem because it was assumed they were up to no good when they took their masters’ flocks out of sight for grazing. They were often accused of stealing lambs, taking the wool, and slaughtering the choice sheep for their own enjoyment. For Jesus to compare the prestigious lawyers of the Sanhedrin to shepherds would have been a put-down.
The passages from the Prophets that Jesus invoked employed a different image of shepherds. There a shepherd is seen as one who has a responsibility to care for God’s people, seen as God’s flock. Clueless, vulnerable sheep need an attentive shepherd to care for God’s sheep. Leading to green pastures and still waters, protecting from predators, and grooming for market.
The prophets applied the shepherd metaphor more often to kings than anyone else. Their authority carried with it the responsibility to govern with God’s interests in mind. They were to attend to the people with righteousness and justice, and protect them from predatory advances of enemy nations. But the image could be applied to anyone who had responsibility to lead and care for others. One who was a shepherd had a stewardship to which he was held accountable.
When Jesus referred to himself as the door, he called attention to shepherds’ common practice of building a sheepfold, or fenced or walled structure in which to gather the sheep at night. One of the shepherds would function as door, keeping sheep in, and predators and thieves out. Only the ones recognized as legitimate shepherds would be granted access to the sheep through the door.
Jesus was addressing the failed stewardship of the Sanhedrin, evidenced by their callous ejection of a man just because he had been healed on a sabbath day. He called them to task and held them accountable. They were false shepherds, and had gained access to the sheep by deceitful means. He announced transition into a new leadership. That is why he said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
I think Jesus invoked a stinging passage from Jeremiah 23. “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” Jeremiah warns. “You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. I will attend to you for the evil of your doings.” Jeremiah goes on to prophesy that God himself will gather the sheep, and set up new shepherds to care for the sheep, and they will fear no more. A branch of righteousness, a king to reign and execute justice would be raised up, and his name would be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The Jews knew what Jesus was talking about. John says there was division among them as Jesus spoke. Some said he had a demon and was mad. Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Good Shepherd Sunday has more to do with authority than anything else, and particularly the responsibility of those in places of authority to carry out their stewardship as a shepherd cares for sheep. This means family authorities (parents), church authorities, and civil authorities.
Pray for those in authority. For bishops, pastors, and other church leaders. For parents, teachers, and employers. For government officials and law enforcement personnel. Pray that they lead with the heart of the Good Shepherd, who cares for the flock.
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP)John 10:1-10 (4 Easter A 2014)
No comments:
Post a Comment