John 10:11-18 The Good Shepherd

Recently, Pastor Adam Hamilton conducted a survey at the church he serves, the Church of the Resurrection. This survey asked, “what are the top three emotions that you have experienced during this pandemic?” Maybe you can think about your own answer now.

The survey gave about 13 lists of emotions and also gave an option to write down own answers.

The result was pretty interesting. The younger generations from 20’s to 50’s gave similar answers. They felt anxious, uncertain, overwhelmed, and frustrated. The order was different for each group, but the younger people were more likely to report experiencing negative emotions.

Here comes the surprising part of this survey. From the older people, we are going to hear different outcome.

Here are the answers from the 60’s: Anxious, uncertain, and hopeful. Here is the answer from the 70’s: Hopeful, loved, anxious. And the 80’s: Hopeful, loved, and lonely.

The older generations are the vulnerable group to the COVID. We assume that older adults feel more anxious and worried. But that was not the case.

The older groups from 60’s to 80’s was more likely to be hopeful even in this COVID crisis, less likely to be anxious. Of course, every individual has different reaction. But I think that we can learn a great deal from this study.

Well, there was a clinical psychologist from Stanford University conducted a similar survey of a thousand adults across America. People would choose how they were feeling during the pandemic. The result was very similar to the Church of the Resurrection.

The findings showed that older people reported better emotional experience than younger people even during the pandemic. The older people were at greater risk, but they were more likely to report experiencing the positive emotions.

Now, you may be wondering why? Why did the older group experience the positive emotions? The study gave two primary reasons. First, the older adults tend to think about the present, and not worrying about the future. They don’t worry about what might happen in the future. They think about what will happen today. They are more interested in living in the present.

Second, they have lived enough crises in the past. “Whatever happens, God walks with me. I belong to God.” That’s their mindset. They became patient and resilient through surviving many adversities.

Pastor Adam Hamilton commented that they came to learn that crises don’t really get the final word. There were eight economic recessions since 1940. They survived the adversities, and they learned that God walks with them.

A crisis doesn’t always affect us in negative ways. Actually, a crisis can be a powerful teacher.

This is very hopeful study to us because we can trust God that he will teach us how to get through this COVID crisis. God will teach us his wisdom. We can trust that God will mold us and train us. We can still be hopeful and we can dream the dream again even in this COVID pandemic.

We can dream that this pandemic will make us stronger. It will produce character and endurance. When we survive this crisis, we will be different.

But it depends on how we deal with the present crisis now.

Unfortunately, not everyone will get the best out of a crisis. We have seen some people reacting with anger and frustration, even blaming on innocent people. The hate crimes have gone up during the pandemic.

Others struggle with depression and loneliness.

One medical report says that on any given day, about 25 percent of us are struggling with situational, seasonal, or chronic depression. Twenty-five percent. That’s a lot of people. The number may be higher during this difficult season.

Mental-health experts are calling it an epidemic. It’s not just the corona virus putting people in danger, but this virus of depression is also very dangerous.

You probably heard that the suicide rates have doubled or tripled or even quadrupled in last few decades among the young people.

One study says that people born in the last five decades are up to ten times more likely to deal with depression than those born in the 1930s, 1940, or 1950s. It is really sad news for all of us.

But why is this happening in our society? Why do more people get depressed in these days? The experts said that the increasing pace of life, stresses, and responsibilities in the global economy are causing this trend. Not to mention bad news, unbearable burden on our human souls, emotions, and relationships.

This is why we need to help those who are vulnerable. They need an antidote of hope, a vaccination of love. How can we help them? Today’s passage provides a remedy: Listen to the shepherd. We need to be trained to recognize the voice of our Lord, our shepherd, not the voice of hatred, shame, guilt or discouragement.

Jesus said in verse 11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

We don’t need to listen to the voices out there trying to discourage us or drag us down. Jesus is calling our name. Jesus is telling us something that we need to hear every day: “I would give you everything, even my life. I am the one who truly loves you. Listen to my voice. I am the one who can give you life.”

The background of today’s passage is in previous chapter, Ch. 9. It’s the story of the man born blind. This blind man was one of the most vulnerable people in his community. Although he needed care and encouragement, the religious leaders ignored him thinking that he was a sinner. But Jesus healed this man. Jesus took care of him like a shepherd tendering the flock.

But the religious leaders didn’t believe what Jesus had done and tried to discredit Jesus. They thought that God would never bless a sinner like the man born blind. So, they questioned this man and his family.

Here is this man’s answer to them. John 9:30-31, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

He was truly changed from the inside out. But because of this, the religious leaders expelled him from the synagogue community. It showed that they were uncaring and indifferent.

Jesus was different. He searched this man after he heard that this man was excommunicated and found him like a shepherd searching a lost sheep. Jesus revealed who he is and blessed him. This man was filled with joy. He worshipped Jesus and accepted him as his lord.

Now, in chapter 10, Jesus compared himself with the religious leaders who didn’t care for the people. He said that he is a good shepherd. A good shepherd cares for the sheep. A good shepherd would nurse the sick sheep back to health. A good shepherd would take a full responsibility to save the sheep from any danger. A good shepherd would risk own life.

Our word ‘good’ doesn’t quite catch the full meaning of the word John had written here. For us, ‘good’ can be moralistic. But the word John used can also mean ‘beautiful,’ ‘noble,’ and ‘worthy.’ What Jesus was doing as a shepherd was just a beautiful work. It couldn’t be found anywhere else.

Most shepherds in those days worked for others. They were hired by the owners to take care of the flocks. Which means they didn’t have to risk their lives to save the flocks from any danger. They were not responsible for attacks from wild animals. The hired hands were less inclined to care about someone else’s property.

They rarely had a real attachment to the sheep. They didn’t have to invest their time and emotion to get to know the flock.

On the other hand, Jesus has a real attachment to his people. He said in verse 14, “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.”

John used a trinitarian language to describe the intimate relationship of the shepherd and the sheep. Just as the Father God knows Jesus and Jesus knows the Father, Jesus knows us.

Jesus knows our name and our voice. He knows our gifts and our needs. Jesus tenders our pain and celebrates our joy. He leads us. He cares for us.

Also, it means that Jesus is concerned for those at risk, those who are vulnerable. His voice comforts us. His voice will teach us that we belong to him.

But the question is do we know his voice? Do we even listen to his voice? There are many voices out there trying to get our attention. Many distractions lure us from the path.

Sheep are very unique animals in terms of herding. Comparing to the cows, cows are herded from the rear with shouts from the cowboys. Bu that doesn’t work with sheep. If you stand behind sheep making noises, they will just run around behind you. They actually prefer to be led. Cows can be pushed. Sheep must be led.

So, the relationship is very important for a shepherd to lead sheep. Shepherd must earn trust from sheep. Once their relationship is settled; sheep feel secure just to hear the voice of the shepherd. The shepherd’s voice is key to lead the flock. “I know my own and my own know me.”

One of the key elements in discipleship is listening to the shepherd. How do we listen to the shepherd? What we do in Christian worship is to listen to the shepherd’s voice. We hear that voice through scripture, sermon, and sacrament. In moments of silence and through the sound of music. And through the words of prayers and hymns.

I know that we are just following the hymns with humming. But you can read through the words on the hymnal. In this worship, we are being trained to recognize the shepherd’s voice.

Our discipleship requires that we follow where he leads us. Jesus wouldn’t shout behind us to force us to move. He will lead us in front of us.

What would Jesus tell those who are still struggling with the COVID crisis? I mean those who are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and depressed? Those who are scattered around. Those who are feeling isolated.

Our good shepherd will probably tell them, “Slow down a little bit. I will lead you. This is not the end. You will get through this. When you come out of it, you will be different. You will be more faithful. You will be stronger. You will be a caring and loving person than ever before. Remember that you are not alone. You belong to me. You belong to this flock. Follow my lead. I will lead you to the green pasture.”

I am sure that when we hear his voice, we will start dreaming again. A better future is coming ahead of us.

When we slow down and start listening to the voice of our shepherd, he will help us to learn from this crisis. He will teach us that we can’t take anyone or anything for granted. We should come to worship with thankful heart. Tell others how thankful you are. He will teach us to be more attentive to others.

He doesn’t expect us to sit down where we are. He doesn’t expect us to stay in our comfort zone. We follow his lead.

Jesus mentioned that in this passage that he would bring the other sheep that do not belong to the fold. He said in verse 16, “So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

God’s community is open and inclusive. Jesus embraced the outcast, the oppressed, and the overlooked. The community that John envisioned was open and celebrated its diversity as a gift from God. He envisioned multiple churches united in their loyalty to Jesus Christ.

We can do this together in following our shepherd and listening to his voice. When we come out of this crisis, Mount Vernon will be stronger and more faithful than ever before. Thanks be to God. Amen.