Jonah Albrecht

Good Shepherd Sunday

4/21/24

John 10:11-18

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Leadership often defines the success or failure of an intended goal. Good leadership can stand tall in the face of danger or difficulty and secure victory out of the jaws of defeat. On the other hand, poor leadership can have every advantage and still find a way to throw it away; often for the sake of their own glory or gain. Such is the case with a man named Gideon Pillow. Pillow was appointed as Major General during the Mexican-American war by his friend, President James K. Polk. Pillow first showed his ineptitude by having his men entrench on the wrong side of the fortifications the Americans had set up. Then, at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, Pillow’s actions were the failure of an overall American victory. This didn’t stop Pillow from telling tall tales about his efforts. In the Civil War, Pillow was a General in the Confederate army. After he successfully pushed back an advance by General Grant, he didn’t press his advantage, but escaped the fort at night and left a subordinate general to defend the fort and ultimately surrender unconditionally. At every turn, Pillow’s motives were for himself and himself only. His actions put the lives of his men in danger.

This sort of leadership is not only found in the army, but throughout society, and, yes, even the church. How many times are church leaders, who are supposed to be shepherds of God’s flock, found to serve their own interests and not the interest of the church and its people? This is the kind of failed leadership Jesus is addressing in John 10. He calls out the church leaders for their failure to care for the sheep, and He sets up Himself in contrast to them as the Good Shepherd. This morning let us consider how the Good Shepherd Leads by Love.

When you think of the Good Shepherd, I’m sure most of you think of Psalm 23. In that Psalm, David proclaims a psalm of praise to the Lord who is his Shepherd, the one who takes care of him and protects him. Jesus identifies Himself as the same Shepherd. He is the one who leads His flock to green pastures, still waters, who protects them with His rod and His staff. This is why He calls Himself the Good Shepherd because only He fulfills these needs of His flock perfectly.

In the Old Testament, God entrusted this shepherding to the priesthood. They were to teach the people, lead them in worship, and offer the sacrifices for their sins and point them to the Messiah who would be the One Sacrifice for all. Over the years, there were faithful priests and not-so-faithful priests. God sends a strong indictment of the priesthood in Hosea 4: Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; 2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. 4Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

The priesthood as well as many prophets sought their own well-being instead of the spiritual well-being of the people. The people lacked knowledge because the ones who were supposed to teach them and warn them failed to do what the Lord commanded them to do. This continued even in Jesus’ day. Though the people were more dedicated to the worship of the true God, the Pharisees continued to pursue their own interests: validation of self-righteousness, be praised by men, and things like that. They brought darkness over the eyes of the people because they did not teach as the Lord had commanded them.

What about today? Do we find the same disease among the “shepherds” of God’s flock? Absolutely. If you take the time to look, you will find these so-called leaders who get entrapped in sexual immorality, embezzlement, looking the other way when scandals hit close to home, and so on. What’s the problem? They are just like everyone else, right? Yes, leaders of the church are sinners just like everyone else and do bad things. Yet, they are, as Jesus calls them, hired hands. They have a calling to proclaim the Gospel in its truth and purity; to shepherd the flock of God as the Good Shepherd would: with love and care for their souls.

Paul emphasizes the qualities that ought to be present among overseers and deacons in 1 Timothy

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Why is so much emphasis placed on the qualities of leaders in the church? Because of what Jesus says: He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. Plenty of wolves are hungry for the downfall of the church and the people within. Satan will bring scandals, dissentions, and so many other attacks to try and find a crack in the foundation. A failure to follow the Good Shepherd in leading His flock, is opening the door to the pen for the wolf to devour as much as he wants.

Who doesn’t find themselves failing to live up to the standard that God expects? What can we do, but humbly repent of our sins and ponder the comfort that comes from being in the flock of the Good Shepherd. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Jesus is different from every other leader in one important way: He always leads by love. How well do you know your family? Your father and mother or brother and sister or your children? You might well know everything there is to know about them, and yet your Savior knows you even more. His knowledge of you, His precious lamb, is as intimate as the relationship between Jesus and the Father. Think about that. Your Shepherd knows you as well as one person of the Godhead knows another person of the Godhead. He knows your internal struggles, your weaknesses and your strengths. He knows your joys, your desires, and your plans. There is nothing that is hidden from your Good Shepherd.

Ultimately, He knows of your need to have a deliverer from the wolves of sin and the devil. The Good Shepherd doesn’t just know of the weaknesses of your flesh just because He is God. He endured the same temptations and trials you go through. He was tempted to deviate from His Father’s plan. He was tempted to not go to the cross, but He resisted every temptation. As your Good Shepherd He did not flee and leave you to fend for yourself as other “hired hands” have done. Instead, He continued forward. Even though it would cost Him His life, Jesus lay down His life so that you could be safe and secure in God’s flock.

Your protection from the Accuser, Satan: Sins forgiven because His righteousness covers you. Your protection from sin: You have an advocate with the Father who intercedes on your behalf to grant you forgiveness. Your weaknesses, struggles, and failures? You have an answer for those too. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9 ESV)

This is why Jesus is the Good Shepherd. As well as He knows you, He protects you. As much as He loves you, He provides for you. Do you really deserve this goodness and mercy that Jesus offers as the Good Shepherd? No, and I don’t either. Nonetheless it belongs to you. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

The longer you ponder the promises from God concerning the benefits of the Good Shepherd, the more awe-some it becomes that this was given to you completely free without any payment required. No one could force Jesus to do anything He did not want to do. All the events on Maundy Thursday night and all of Good Friday; none of that happened without His willing. He alone had the authority to give up His life. He alone took the penalty for our sin. He alone had the authority to take up His life again. He rose again to show that the payment processed and there is nothing left to pay. All that is left is to receive the life and salvation that comes from calling upon His name.

Not only did Jesus’ resurrection assure each of us that the Father accepted His payment for our sin, but it means that we do not follow a dead shepherd, but rather one who lives forevermore. Jesus lives to be your Good Shepherd even now! Through trial and tribulation, through joy and sorrow, the Good Shepherd continues to lead His flock by love. Amen.