Sermon for April 25, 2021 – Fourth Sunday of Easter

“What’s it really mean to claim Jesus Christ as our ‘Good Shepherd’?”

Let us pray. Holy and risen One, we give you thanks for your presence in this time and place, and within each one of the places we have gathered this morning. Help us now to open our minds, our hearts, our whole lives, to receive the gift of your living Word for us this day; and may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

Given the Collect Prayer that we said together at the beginning of the service, Psalm 23 as our psalm, the Gradual anthem and the singing about the little lamb, and now the Gospel Reading – you shouldn’t be surprised that today is sometimes referred to ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’; and we’ll explore that notion of Jesus as a shepherd more fully in a few minutes.

But to lead into that, there’s a few things I want to take note of in the first and second readings. The first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles – in the section just before today’s reading, it is the early days after Jesus’ resurrection. Peter and John, two of the key apostles, meet a lame beggar as they walk into the Temple, and they heal him in the name of Jesus. It causes quite a stir and it gives those two apostles the opportunity to preach and teach about the crucified Jesus being resurrected – and that he gives healing and new life to all – promising the people resurrection over death. Well that proclamation gets Peter and John in trouble with the religious authorities of the day. They are detained – they’re arrested – and then they are questioned by the high priest and his associates.  And that’s where the reading today picks up.  It gives the opportunity for Peter, once again, to witness to the risen Christ. So he says, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” So invoking the name of Jesus gives power to the one who believes, and he is healed in Jesus’ name.

In the second lesson – the First Letter of John – also mentions the name of Jesus. We read, “And this is God’s commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” So once again, invoking the name of Jesus by the one who believes, releases the power of the risen Christ. But it’s not just the literal name of Jesus that is intended here; but believing that Jesus is the divine Son of God, risen from the dead, and now reigning as Lord. It is this lordship – this power over, and defeat of, all evil – even death itself – that the apostles tap into, when they invoke Jesus’ name.  And the result is this healing.

So now, we move to the Gospel Reading and this passage from John’s Gospel begins with these words, “I am the good shepherd.” That statement is packed with meaning. Throughout the Scriptures the Hebrew name for God can be translated - “I am.” And in John’s Gospel, every time Jesus uses those words ‘I am’ his divinity is being revealed. He says, “I am the light of the world. I am the bread of life. I am the way, the truth and the life.”  And now – “I am good shepherd.”  Now shepherding was the quintessential occupation in Israel.  Perhaps this is a little less true for us today, but maybe in the last century – you know 50 – 80 years ago – it would be a little bit like ‘grain farming’ for people on the Prairies. That was the quintessential occupation. Not everyone did it but that’s what we recognize and that’s what we identified with. And you notice in the Old Testament that David is viewed as the ideal king. In fact, Jesus’ human lineage traces back to David.  And what was David’s occupation?  He was a shepherd.  You see, Israel’s leaders – kings, high priests, rabbis, were referred to as Israel’s shepherds. Shepherds were leaders amongst the people, entrusted to lead Israel, the People of God, on behalf of Israel’s great shepherd – God.

Now through the centuries, especially in the last few centuries, the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd has become revered and much-loved; and it’s often portrayed in art in, I think, one of a couple of ways at least – either as a heroic young man rescuing one stray sheep from some dangerous cliff and returning him to the other 99, safely, or there’s a very pastoral scene in the artwork and Jesus is gently leading several fuzzy little sheep in some green pastures with a pool of beautiful blue water nearby. Now these images are comforting and they do help us to appreciate an emotional attachment to God, and to strengthen our sense of being loveable to God.  But it can leave us with this kind of cute, warm, comfy image of Christ. I brought along a cute little stuffed sheep (plush toy sheep) here, to give you the idea of what I’m referring to. It’s because then, when we read or sing of pray Psalm 23, we’re tempted to carry over this kind of warm cuddly, image to our interpretation of the Psalm – often robbing it of its profound and powerful meaning.

So let’s take a look at Psalm 23 and let’s use the text that we sang today from Common Praise – it’s on p. 4 in your service bulletin – and I invite you to follow along. Now of course the other symbol of a shepherd is a crook.  This (small wooden cane/crook) is the closest thing I could come up with. I suspect that it was from a Christmas pageant at some point here – and possibly a staff as well.  Both of those things are mentioned.  And I would suggest that I think this is a more helpful symbol for us than our adorable plush little lamb. So let’s take a look at what is really being said in Psalm 23.

In the first verse we read, “The Lord’s my shepherd.” This is the one you look to, to lead your life. This is who you follow. And then it continues, “I’ll not want: he makes me down to lie in pastures green; he leadeth me the quiet waters by.”  This is not so much a romantic statement. It means – this is who I trust to meet my needs in life. This is whom I take direction from to have what is necessary for living. We continue in verse two: “My soul he doth restore again.”  When I have been mentally and emotionally destroyed; when I am so distraught that I’ve given up hope, God restores me – sets me back again on the right path – because I belong to God, and what happens to me reflects on God.  In verse three we read, “Yea, though I walk through death’s dark vale,” or, in some translations, “the valley of the shadow of death.” That could be the horrors of addiction. It could be the heartbreak of betrayal or the agony and self-loathing that can lead to suicide; or even for us right now – the menacing threat of Covid 19.  And the Psalmist continues, “for thou art with me and thy rod and staff me comfort still.”  The word that we translate in modern English - ‘comfort’ – is not really the equivalent to being, sort of, tucked under a warm comforter. It’s closer to “strengthen and preserve life”.  And it makes sense because that rod that’s referred to, the shepherd used to fend off wild animals. And the staff – the hook on the staff – he used to grab me and yank me back onto a life-giving path and out of danger. In verse four, we read, “My table thou hast furnished, in presence of my foes; my head thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.” Even when I am being threatened, people trying to shame and dishonour me, or destroy my life, God – you still provide for me – you still honour me, you protect my worth and guarantee my value. And then, in the final verse we read, “Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me.” God’s grace will not abandon me. God’s goodness and mercy will always be near – always be available regardless of the situation we may be in.  And finally, “And in God’s house for evermore my dwelling place shall be.”  There will always be a place for me with God. It will always be home.  No one can rob me of my residency with God.

Now that explanation may not sound quite as emotionally lovely, but ultimately the Good Shepherd doesn’t only care if we feel good!  The Good Shepherd is serious about protecting you and me from evil – from forces that will destroy us – and leading us into the fullness of the abundant life that God desires for us.  Sometimes that means being rescued by Christ’s rod. Sometimes it means plucked off of a dangerous path with Christ’s crook around our necks – may not be pleasant at the time – but ultimately it saves us.

So, think about what you mean when you claim ‘the Lord is my shepherd.’ Realize the submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in and over your life. Embrace the discipline required to follow Christ. But then, enjoy the assurance of eternal life with God – fulfilling the beautiful purposes for which you and I were created and being grasped by the love that knows bounds – and no end.

Amen.