Jesus "I am" the Good shepherd and the Gate

Jesus "I am", the Good Shepherd and the Gate Psalm 100; John 10: 1-16 When we hear or see the news on one of the many media access points open to us or perhaps we think on our own experiences of life and we consider some of the decisions that are made by people in positions of authority and power, then I'm sure that at times we're all led to shake our heads and wonder just how seriously they're taking their roles of leadership, be they secular or spiritual. Because far too often, it seems, decisions are made, courses of action are chosen, which only appear to benefit certain people. Whilst the views, or the well-being, of the many are simply ignored. Of course the truth is that it's easy to criticise, and that if we were ever to find ourselves in the shoes of those who lead us, then we'd probably appreciate their efforts more. But then it's also true that there are without doubt those leaders who abuse their positions of trust. This has always been the case and, because we live in a fallen world, it always will be. The nation of Israel was no different. Even though its leaders, who were responsible for spiritual as well as temporal matters, would have been very much aware of the great responsibility that they'd been given, who they'd received that responsibility from, and, indeed, to whom they were ultimately responsible ... that is, of course, the Lord God Almighty whose people the Jews were. They'd have known, in other words, that they must lead the people in a way that was honouring to God. Although the truth was that, down through the years, so many of the leaders of Israel had failed to do that. And this was still the case in Jesus' day. And indeed the words of Jesus that we read from John chapter 10 come in response to some outright opposition from some of the leaders of his day ... some of the Pharisees. In chapter 9 of John Jesus had healed a man who was born blind. But there was a problem here for the religious rulers because he'd healed on the Sabbath and this was something that was forbidden under the Jewish law, as they interpreted it, because it was classed by them as working on the Sabbath and that wasn't allowed. Well they carried out a full investigation of the incident, interviewing both the parents of the man who'd been healed as well as the man himself. And when they couldn't get anything substantial to pin on Jesus, they threw the man out in disgust, not recognising the hand of God at work here nor, if truth be told, particularly caring about it. And so in response to all this Jesus began to speak of the shepherd and his flock... the shepherd and his ways would have been very familiar to them because there were plenty about and indeed their whole history was steeped in sheep farming. But then the Palestinian shepherd had a different way of doing things to a shepherd in our own country today. Not for him the relative comforts of our shepherds; because the sheep weren't to be found grazing close by whilst the shepherd lived and slept in the farmhouse. No he'd have been on constant duty, living and sleeping with his flock which, because of the sparsely grassed land, had to be constantly on the move seeking out fresh pasture. Also there were many dangers for the sheep. With no protective walls or fences the flock, grazing out in the open fields, would be under constant threat from wild animals such as wolves, as well as from thieves who were out to steal them. So the shepherd had to be ever vigilant, day and night, so as to protect them. And he'd have had tools to help him in his task: he'd have had a sling which when used skilfully would send stones winging accurately over long distances such as the one used by David against Goliath. As well as a staff which was a wooden club often studded at the end with nails that could be employed against both wild beasts and robbers. And finally he'd have had a rod, or shepherds crook, which had a curved head and was used to catch and pull back from possible danger any straying sheep. The rod was also laid across the mouth of the sheep pen at night by the shepherd at a height that regulated the flow of the sheep going into the pen, so that he could examine each one to check that they'd not picked up any injuries during the day. And if they had then he'd tend to them, putting ointment on any cuts and bruises. And so then, in view of this way of life, it's not surprising that the relationship of the shepherd to his sheep would have been very different to what we're used to. He'd have known his sheep by name and they'd have known his voice, following him as he went ahead of them taking them to and from pasture. Although actually a friend on Shetland, who was a sheep farmer, did have something of this kind of relationship with the sheep in the croft around the farmhouse I remember, going out and calling to them and using their names so that they came running to him ... but I suspect that that is quite unusual. Shepherds, then, in biblical times, good shepherds, were special men who'd have had the characteristics of being constantly vigilant, with fearless courage and patient love for their flock. And so it's not surprising that the Old Testament is full of references to God as the shepherd of his people. There's psalm 23 of course, "the Lord's my shepherd, I shall not be in want" it says, but other psalms, too, cry out to God the shepherd. For instance psalm 80, "Hear us, O shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock", and psalm 100 that we read from: "We are his people, the sheep of his pasture". Neither is it surprising that, when God gives others responsibility over his people, they themselves are referred to as their shepherds. Because this shows how much was expected of these shepherds of God's people by him. And the fact is that those who, early on, were chosen to be leaders by God were shepherds, men who had the right qualities for leadership. There was Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob's sons, as well as Moses, who led the people from Egypt and who had tended his father in law's sheep for forty years; and of course there was David, the great Shepherd King. But sadly, as we've suggested, when we look at the history of God's people found in the Old Testament, we discover that, whilst there were those who were faithful to God, many began to forget their God given responsibilities until we read the prophet Ezekiel, in chapter 34 of that book, declaring God's word of judgement upon the shepherds of his people because they were failing in their duties and saying: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not the shepherds take care of the flock?" The truth was that they'd been looking after their own interests before those of the people. And so, continuing to use shepherd language, Ezekiel tells them "You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost." And what is the result? Like sheep that haven't been cared for, the people have been scattered and become, as it were, food for wild beasts. And so as a result, says God, "I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock" and then, pointing to the long promised Messiah, God says "I myself will search for my sheep and look after them." A promise that echoes that found in Isaiah Ch. 40 verse 11 where we read that "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those who have young." And so the people had waited expectantly and longingly for generations for this shepherd who would fulfil God's promises; suffering under repeated poor leadership until there came the day when, as we read in our passage from John's gospel Jesus declares for all to hear: "I am the good shepherd", announcing that he is the Messiah sent by God, given the authority by God to gather his sheep to himself. Unlike these false leaders who've led the people in the past, men who have claimed to see whilst in fact being blind to the ways of God, men who were in reality nothing but thieves and robbers, he, Jesus, is the true shepherd. And what comforting words for those aware of their lost-ness, of their need for guidance and of a shepherd to lead them through this life! Because Jesus the good shepherd brings comfort strength and rest to a weary people. But then he offers so much more besides, and three things in particular, about which Jesus tells us here Firstly, Jesus offers a personal one to one relationship with himself. There were two different types of sheep pen used by the shepherd for his sheep. The one Jesus was referring to verses 3 and 4 of our passage was the type found in a village, where sheep belonging to different shepherds would have been kept overnight grouped together, whilst the shepherds were at home. It would have had a gate on it that was locked until a shepherd came and took his flock away by calling them out from amongst the rest, because they'd know his voice and so would respond to his call. Similarly, Jesus says, because he knows his sheep and they know him, they'll also respond to his voice. So that, although his people will find themselves as part of their calling mixed in with others who don't know him, and although at times they may feel that they're being cut off from him, the fact is that he's always close by and will in his time call them out with his recognisable voice. Therefore, when we are his, we can be bold as God's people in an alien land, confident of our security in Christ. The converse of this, of course, is that those who know the good shepherd's voice won't follow the voice of the stranger. In fact their automatic reaction will be to run away from him. And this surely is a word of encouragement for those of us who have friends and family who are young in the faith and who we feel concern for as we see them surrounded by the many false paths and temptations that the world offers and yet we feel powerless to help. Don't worry, says Jesus, trust in me and in my Word, bring them before the throne of grace in prayer. I am the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. If they've found their salvation in me then I know them, and they know me, and they will hear my voice. Secondly Jesus offers us a life that's rich with opportunity, a life that's fulfilled. For many people young and old, indeed perhaps especially as one gets older and the years begin to slip away, a major driving force is to live a life that is satisfying and worthwhile. And although ideas of what such a life might amount to will differ widely, from pure pleasure seeking to total self-denial, the reality is that so many 'so called' paths to the good life only prove to be dead ends, promoted by those who are hired hands and care nothing for the sheep. But Jesus the Son of God, sent by the Father to be the shepherd of his people, brings the true way to a life that's worthwhile and satisfying ... this is the life he offers to his sheep, his children, to you and me. Because, says Jesus, anyone who enters through me, the gate, "will be saved" and "will come in and go out and find pasture" (verse 9 of our passage). And here Jesus is using the picture of the second type of sheep pen that was to be found in those days, one that would be out in the open grassland. This was a smaller pen, one which the shepherd would have used more often, putting just his own sheep into it at night. And, unlike the village pen, it wouldn't have had a gate so that the shepherd would have lain across the opening at night in effect making himself the gate so that he himself would be the means by which his sheep would be saved from the dangers that existed outside and also the one who allowed them in and out. And so Jesus reveals himself to us as one who's in control of his people for their safety, protection, and up-building. But as one also who allows them, and indeed encourages them, to go out into the world, to live out the lives that he's planned for them. Always intending for them to return to the fold for the rest and strengthening which will enable them to go out again. Whilst giving them the confidence that, when they are away from the pen, he'll be leading them. And then, thirdly and lastly, Jesus the good shepherd offers to be the shepherd of all peoples. The Jews had generally envisaged a Messiah who'd be their saviour alone and yet Jesus' words were (verse 16), "I 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." As a result when, by God's grace, we respond to the call of Christ Jesus, the Good shepherd, becoming Christians, then we become part of a worldwide family, part of a single flock where differences of gender, race and colour are irrelevant. From whom, as we listen to and obey our shepherds voice, we'll be able to receive all the benefits of being in such a position ... benefits of solidarity, of fellowship, of mutual support and much more. And there are implications for outreach here as well of course. Christ is bringing in those not of this sheep pen, his voice goes out to them. But the channels of his message are his children, the body of Christ which is the church as they live obedient lives, as they preach, teach, declare and explain the truth of the gospel. And this is our responsibility, this is to be our loving response to the love that we've been, and are being, shown by the Good Shepherd, the one who came into this fallen world to have a one to one relationship with all those who hear his voice, and by grace respond to it, wherever they may be. So, if we are his, let's remember always that we are but sheep who've found their shepherd. And let's run from all false voices and instead rest in and rely only on him. Let's constantly practice our faith, through studying his word, through prayer, through fellowship, through obedient living. Because it's only then, in the midst of a frequently hostile and noisy world whose leaders so often will take us down false trails, that we'll recognise his voice, and so in safety come in and go out and enjoy "life to the full". Amen