The Good Shepherd Leads

Text: John 10:1-10

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

By this point in today’s service I’m sure you’ve realized that this is not simply The Fourth Sundy of Easter, but what we traditionally call Good Shepherd Sunday. The Propers have incorporated this shepherd imagery which points us to Jesus, our Good Shepherd. And our Gospel reading for today was once commented on by Martin Luther, saying that it’s a parable of the three different types of preachers and their teachings in the Christian Church for the purpose of determining which are the true teaching of the Holy Spirit. We all want good leadership which leads us in and out of green pastures. We vote to elect it, we apply for jobs hoping to work for it, and we go to school hoping to be educated by it. And most importantly we want it in the church. Which is why it’s important to identify these different types of teachings, because

IN THE CHURCH, AND IN OUR LIVES, WE NEED

THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO WILL LEAD US TO ETERNAL LIFE.

And that’s why we need to be able to distinguish between good and bad teaching. And good and bad leadership. The first type of teaching in today’s Gospel comes from those whom Jesus calls thieves and robbers. These are the preachers who are wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. They climb over fences into the sheepfold to deceive and steal the sheep. Jesus is referring to the false teachers of His day, and of ours. Outwardly they appear to be good and faithful, but they attempt to impersonate the voice of the Good Shepherd. And they impersonate with poisonous and deadly teachings, preaching cleverly devised myths and doctrines of human tradition and wisdom that appeal to the passions of the sinful human nature. These are teachings that will destroy your soul and end in eternal damnation.

There are too many of these deceptive teachings to name – but at the root is always the words of the crafty serpent in the Garden of Eden asking, “Did God actually say…” Once that question is asked, you know that there is going to be the outright denial of the authority of God’s Word.

As faithful, orthodox Lutheran Christians, we believe, teach, and confess that God’s Word as recorded in Holy Scripture is God’s very own divinely inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word. It doesn’t simply contain some of God’s Word – but it is all God’s Word in Law and Gospel. Not just the parts of Bible that you agree with or those parts that make you feel good. No. Every bit of it. Every dot and iota of the Bible is God’s authoritative Word.

And it’s by the power of the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word and Sacraments that your Good Shepherd makes you lie down in green pastures, leads you beside still waters, restores your soul, and leads you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake, bestowing upon you faith, forgiveness of sins, and eternal salvation. Through Word and Sacrament, He guides and comforts you through this present valley of the shadow of death, strengthening you in times of adversity.

And He doesn’t give His blessings just once, but His goodness and mercy are continually given to all who believe – not only in this life but in the life to come. Thieves and robbers say that the Bible was written by and for ancient and primitive people and has no value to us today. They say the Bible is on the wrong side of history. They say the Bible is full of misogyny, bigotry, prejudice, and injustice – so you should take what seems fair and useful and throw the rest out the window. But St Paul writes to the Romans that, “… such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

The truth is – God’s Word is the voice of the Good Shepherd. You hear the voice of the Shepherd in the proclamation of His Gospel. You hear the voice of the Shepherd in God’s Word wrapped in the waters of Holy Baptism. You hear the voice of the Shepherd in God’s Word wrapped in humble bread and wine in the Sacrament of the Altar. God’s Word is not like a buffet where you can pick and choose which parts you want and forget the rest. No. God’s Word recorded in the Bible is the whole council of God and it’s sufficient to make you wise unto salvation, training you to live a Christian life before God and your neighbor.

The second type of teaching comes from preachers who do not oppose Christ, but distort God’s Word so that the people trust in themselves for salvation through their own works and deeds. These preachers are thieves and robbers like the first group. To be a true preacher in the Office of the Holy Ministry, the preacher must be a gatekeeper for the Good Shepherd, keeping the sheep in shelter and safety, not allowing strangers to break in to murder, rob, and steal – and

opening the door so that the Shepherd may enter in. “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” Being a gatekeeper isn’t for the faint of heart. It means camping out at the door of the sheepfold so that no sheep can wander away at night unless it steps over the sleeping shepherd. And guarding that door at all times to ensure that no wolf can enter in to do harm to the sheep. Which is why St James writes, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways…”

This is most certainly true. I stumble in many ways. I’m no more perfect or holy than anyone else here this morning. And like you, I depend on the Shepherd to feed me, “… by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Yet, for the sake of good order in the church, I’ve been called into the Office. Sometimes I wonder why, but I never take that calling lightly. And here’s the warning for the gatekeeper and the sheep alike: any parish pastor who does not rightly divide Law and Gospel, does not purely proclaim the Gospel, and does not preach Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of your sins, life, and salvation, is no better than a thief and a robber. Any pastor who allows you to trust in your own works, reason, and strength rather than trust in Christ alone – that man is no better than a thief and a robber. In fact, he’s a hinderance to the Gospel, and restrains the sheep from coming to Christ, and he will be judged accordingly.

The faithful gatekeeper and pastor is nothing more a servant of the true Shepherd, Christ Jesus –who is Himself the third type of Preacher, Teacher, and Leader. The gatekeeper has no power of his own. He can neither create faith nor grant salvation by his own accord. Our Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit does all the work. The gatekeeper is merely the servant of the Shepherd who warns the sheep of thieves and robbers and their false and deceptive teachings. The gatekeeper doesn’t proclaim his own word but the Word of the true Shepherd, providing the place and opening the door for the true Shepherd in preaching the Law, calling you to

repentance – and then – pointing you to Christ who alone can forgive your sins with His

Holy Gospel and save you from sin and death. The gatekeeper opens the door for the true

Shepherd in faithful preaching and teaching where Christ feeds His sheep in Word and Sacrament, granting His gracious gifts of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  For the true Shepherd alone can lead the sheep to green pastures, beside still waters, restoring their souls, and leading them in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.

The undershepherd also reminds the sheep that God’s Law and good works toward your neighbor are His good and gracious will for your life. Even though you cannot keep His

Commandments perfectly – and – knowing that your works and deeds don’t merit you

forgiveness or salvation, God still requires you to do your best. Being renewed by the Holy

Spirit, every Christian is obligated to do good works. You are to keep the Law –but not trust in it. Faith in Christ alone will keep and comfort you in His pasture. Jesus says: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Of all the sayings and promises of Jesus, this may be the most misunderstood and abused. Prosperity preachers use it to say that Jesus will make you healthy and wealthy. But Jesus’ words here are not about having an abundance of treasures, an abundance of happiness, or lack of sorrow in this life. Abundant life is about living out the faith that Christ died for you to have. And living out that faith means trusting in the Lord for all things, even when this life doesn’t feel to you like the life you’ve been promised in eternity.

Jesus says to you, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” Jesus Himself, and He alone, is both the true Good Shepherd – and – He is also the Door. As the

Door is opened to you, you hear the preaching of His Word and administration of His Sacraments though which He comes to you and makes Himself known. Just as a first century Middle Eastern shepherd cared and tended his flock, Christ Jesus cares and tends for you in His Word and Sacraments. By the power of the Holy Spirit working through these means, the true Shepherd guides and leads, feeds and keeps you in this life and the life to come.

When you follow the lead of the Good Shepherd, like newborn lambs you daily grow to know His voice in knowledge and faith. You’re strengthened to endure trials and tribulations while you bear fruits of faith. Like teaching, serving, and helping others in acts of compassion and good works and deeds. It’s possible that the comparison to a sheep could be insulting. Much can be said about the lack of intelligence and defensive capabilities of a sheep. But our Creator gave sheep a special trait. They have great ears. For all the sheep lack in other ways, they have discerning ears. They’re sensitive to subtle differences in sound, allowing them to identify the calls of other sheep and the presence of predators. They recognize their shepherd’s voice while discriminating against all others who pose as shepherds.

The Lord is your Good Shepherd. You shall not be in want. In Christ you have abundant life right now, whether it looks like it or not. When the Shepherd speaks through His Word, the door is opened and you hear His voice, freeing you from the fear and terror of sickness and death in this life and comforting you so that you look to Christ for all your needs.

“[Jesus is] the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the

sheep.” And as we also heard this morning from 1 Peter, “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.” May that be great comfort to you, that your Good Shepherd leads, and guides, and saves, even today. And it’s all because…

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.