4^th Sunday of Easter at Epiphany on April 13, 2008

John 10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. ³ The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. ⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The Shepherd Leads His Sheep

A man went on an African safari deep in the jungle. The guide in front of him had a machete and was whacking away the tall weeds and thick underbrush. The traveler, wearied and hot, asked in frustration, “Where are we? Do you know where you are taking me? Where is the path?!” The seasoned guide stopped and looked back at the man and replied, “I am the path.”

We ask the same questions, don’t we? We ask God, “Where are you taking me? Where is the path?” And He, like the guide, doesn’t tell us. Oh, He may give us a hint or two, but that’s all. If He did, would we understand? Would we comprehend our location? No, like the traveler, we are unacquainted with this jungle. So rather than give us an answer, Jesus gives us a far greater gift. He gives us Himself. He is the Shepherd. He is the Path. He is the Gate.

Does He remove the jungle? No, the vegetation is still thick. Does He purge the predators? No, danger still lurks. Jesus doesn’t give hope by changing the jungle; He restores our hope by giving us Himself. And He has promised to stay until the very end. “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” “I am the way, the truth and the life.” “I am the gate for the sheep.” “I am the Good Shepherd.”

For some of you, the jungle has become a meadow and your journey has become a delight. If that’s the case, congratulations. But remember, we don’t know what tomorrow holds. We don’t know where the road will lead. You can be one blind turn from the hospital bed or the unemployment line, one turn from divorce court or an empty house, one turn from the cemetery. The way may seem clear now, but the next bend may lead you into the heart of the jungle. To whom do you turn for help?

Today we learn that Jesus leads. We follow. He is the Shepherd. We are the sheep. He speaks. We listen. Jesus the Good Shepherd will lead you out.

Many of us don’t have a clue about what it takes to raise farm animals. Though, you don’t have much experience dealing with white, fluffy animals, Scripture makes the comparison that you are the lambs and sheep and I am the undershepherd of the Good Shepherd. “We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 100) “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10) This little flock is the sheepfold I have been nurturing for almost exactly 4 years now.

In observing sheepfolds as a spiritual shepherd for 12 years, I have noticed that sheep can be divided into two distinct groups – “Near Sheep” and “Far Sheep.” Near Sheep are the ones who seem to enjoy being near the Shepherd. They're easy to spot because they're always at His feet, brushing up against His ankles. Near Sheep get those choice treats the Shepherd keeps in His pocket. If their fleece becomes matted, or if a thorn gets lodged in their hoof, the Shepherd's healing hand is always nearby.

Near Sheep are already there at feeding times, they're the first ones to the feed bin. They get the fresh water before it's been trampled and muddied by a hundred hooves. They have their favorite spot they like to sit in the pen. Near Sheep get loving nicknames and gentle pats on the head. Being close to the Shepherd is a safe place; with that rod nearby, no predator is likely to sink his fangs into you. All things considered, it's good to be a "Near Sheep."

Some Americans were visiting the famous biblical sites in Israel when they saw a group of sheepherders. A shepherd brought his flock of sheep into a round pen for the night. Then, a few minutes later, another shepherd brought his flock into the pen. Then, a few minutes later, yet another shepherd brought his sheep into the pen. There were three groups of sheep in the pen with no identifying marks among any of them. The tourists wondered how in the world they would separate their sheep the next day.

The next morning, a shepherd came over to the pen and made a comment to his sheep. One by one, the sheep filed out to follow him. Only his sheep followed his voice. The tourists said it was an amazing scene to see only that shepherd's sheep follow him and the others remain in the pen. What a picture of Jesus' words spoken centuries earlier. “The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

Hearing and responding to Jesus' voice is the key to having a two-way relationship with God. It is the difference between having religion and a relationship. Can you recognize God's voice in your life? Are you listening to the Shepherd's voice? Do you respond when He calls? Ask Jesus to help you increase your ability to hear. Give more time to spending quiet moments in His presence to hear His voice. He wants to be your Good Shepherd. He wants you to be His Near Sheep.

However, we have also all known "Far Sheep." Maybe at times we have been the “Far Sheep.” For whatever reasons, Far Sheep prefer the outer boundaries of the pasture. Far Sheep come lumbering in to feed not when they are called, but when they feel like it. But by the time they arrive, the grain and water are no longer fresh. They aren't happy about this.

Those little emergencies? The Shepherd faithfully makes his rounds to check on the Far Sheep, but they may have been hobbling about on a sore hoof for hours before He's arrived. They bellow at the Shepherd for not taking better care of them.

Far Sheep see the Shepherd primarily as a service provider and a protector. They have come to doubt him, even though he is very good at both. Wolves and bears stalk the distant fence lines, and have snatched away more than one Far Sheep. At the edge of the corral, sadly, the sheep-talk is often about the Shepherd's failures. They don't believe the sheepfold is a very good place.

As an under-shepherd, I don't think anyone sets out to be a Far Sheep. It just happens. As sinful, selfish creatures, we begin to stray. Both Isaiah and Jesus described us as prone to wander. It's not good, but, like gravity, it's the natural direction of a human heart. And typically, Far Sheep don’t blame themselves. They blame the Shepherd.

“Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.” Older members will remember those famous words of Oliver Hardy scolding Stan Laurel. The audience members always laughed because they did it, too. The first stage of response when things go wrong is to look for others to blame. Second, you can always blame God for sending or allowing trouble. The darkest phase is when you realize how many of your wounds are self-inflicted.

Nobody made you down all those drinks or chase after that woman. Nobody made you make those worthless investments or argue with the boss. Nobody made you keep pulling that slot machine handle. Nobody made you flirt with that married coworker. When you finally realize it is you who is to blame, you ask yourself, “Why don’t I know when to shut up? Why am I crabby all the time? Why did I take that money when I didn’t even need it?”

We may stray into becoming Far Sheep, but we deliberately become Near Sheep. We desire to enter His gates with thanksgiving. We are determined to listen for the voice of the Shepherd. We fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. Talk to God and tell him the truth. We agree with the psalmist: “You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. (Ps 69:5) Humbling ourselves is good. The proud and arrogant don’t think they need God. Yet God can help the humble. And the more humble our spirit, the more likely it is that we will listen to God’s voice – a voice of forgiveness, affection and instruction.

Listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. Talk to Him. As we draw near to Him, we'll discover He's already drawing near to us. After all, we're talking about the Good Shepherd who, long ago, showed that He loved us so much that He laid down His life for the sheep.

On a trip to China , a pastor rode past Tiananmen Square in a bus full of Westerners. They tried to recollect the causes and consequences of the revolt. Their knowledge of history was embarrassing. One gave one date; another gave a different one. One person remembered a certain death toll; someone else disagreed. Through all the discussion, their Chinese translator remained silent.

Finally one of us asked her, “Do you remember anything about the Tiananmen Square revolt?” Her answer was solemn. “Yes, I was a part of it.” They quickly grew quiet as she gave firsthand recollections of the bloodshed and oppression. They listened, because she had been there.

We who follow Christ do so for the same reason. He’s been there . . .

He’s been to Bethlehem , wearing barn rags and hearing sheep crunch. Suckling milk and shivering against the cold. All of divinity content to cocoon itself in an eight-pound body and to sleep on a cow’s supper. Millions who face the chill of empty pockets or the fears of sudden change turn to Christ. Why? Because He’s been there.

He’s been to Nazareth , where He made deadlines and paid bills; to Galilee , where He recruited direct reports and separated fighters; to Jerusalem , where He stared down critics and stood up against cynics.

We have our Nazareths as well—demands and due dates. Jesus wasn’t the last to build a team; accusers didn’t disappear with Jerusalem ’s temple. Why seek Jesus’ help with your challenges? Because He’s been there. To Nazareth , to Galilee , to Jerusalem .

But most of all, He’s been to the grave. Not as a visitor, but as a corpse. Buried amidst the cadavers. Numbered among the dead. Heart silent and lungs vacant. Body wrapped and grave sealed. The cemetery. He’s been buried there.

You haven’t yet. But you will be. And since you will, don’t you need someone who knows the way out?

He is the One who has walked through this valley of death Himself. He knows the way because He walked through it with His own death on the cross. He is One who knows every inch of this valley. He will walk with us through this dark valley until we reach the glorious city of God , that new Jerusalem in heaven, where our glorious rooms await us.

Sheep know their shepherd and their shepherd knows them. It is amazing that a shepherd can walk right through a sleeping flock without disturbing a single one of them, while a stranger could not step foot in the fold without causing pandemonium. Sheep and shepherds develop a language of their own.

There is a language between we sheep and our Good Shepherd. It is a language based on love. Our Good Shepherd laid down his life for you. The Good Shepherd cares for you, His sheep. He knows you by name – love him. He calls to you – listen to Him. He leads you – follow Him. He has rescued you – be restored and refreshed by Him. He died and rose for you – believe in Him and be comforted by Him. He is your Shepherd-Savior who leads you to the green pastures and quiet waters of paradise. Amen.