Easter and Beyond April 29, 2018 the Good Shepherd” (John 10:1-18) “Following 1. Introduction: Laying down his life for the sheep A tourist in the Middle East observed with interest a shepherd putting his sheep into a sheepfold one evening. The sheepfold had only one opening and there was neither a door nor gate to enclose it. When the tourist noticed this, he asked the shepherd, a door or “Without gate, can’t the sheep escape? And what’s keeping predators from getting in and attacking them? The shepherd answered, can get in or get out at night because I am the door. “Nothing When the sheep are in the sheepfold, I lie across the doorway. No sheep can get out except over my body and no wolf can get in except over me.” This little anecdote nicely captures the message of the metaphor in this morning’s Gospel lesson. The larger context of this passage contains a beautiful mixed metaphor that describes Jesus as the Good Shepherd of the sheep and the Gate of the sheepfold. These two images are closely related and emphasize that Jesus both protects and gives life to those who follow him. On the one hand, Jesus is the gate for the sheepfold, guarding the sheep from thieves and robbers who try to sneak over the wall (10:1). Only the true shepherd enters through the gate and has access to the sheep (10:2). The sheep also enter through Jesus, the gate, and are saved and are given abundant life (10:9-10). Jesus is also the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep, protecting them from the ravenous wolves that wish to attack and scatter the flock (10:11-13). While the hired hand flees at the first sign of danger, the good shepherd stands his ground and risks his life for the sake of the sheep. Jesus, the good shepherd, also leads the sheep to green pastures where they receive abundant life (10:3-4, 9). The images of Jesus as sheep-gate and good shepherd are a source of great comfort to all Christians because they illustrate the loving care and the abundant life that we receive from our Lord. Our tendency, however, is to limit the Good Shepherd’s care to the confines of these
Easter and Beyond April 29, 2018 “Following the Good Shepherd” (John 10:1-18) 1. Introduction: Laying down his life for the sheep A tourist in the Middle East observed with interest a shepherd putting his sheep into a sheepfold one evening. The sheepfold had only one opening and there was neither a door nor gate to enclose it. When the tourist noticed this, he asked the shepherd, “Without a door or gate, can’t the sheep escape? And what’s keeping predators from getting in and attacking them? The shepherd answered, “Nothing can get in or get out at night because I am the door. When the sheep are in the sheepfold, I lie across the doorway. No sheep can get out except over my body and no wolf can get in except over me.” This little anecdote nicely captures the message of the metaphor in this morning’s Gospel lesson. The larger context of this passage contains a beautiful mixed metaphor that describes Jesus as the Good Shepherd of the sheep and the Gate of the sheepfold. These two images are closely related and emphasize that Jesus both protects and gives life to those who follow him. On the one hand, Jesus is the gate for the sheepfold, guarding the sheep from thieves and robbers who try to sneak over the wall (10:1). Only the true shepherd enters through the gate and has access to the sheep (10:2). The sheep also enter through Jesus, the gate, and are saved and are given abundant life (10:9-10). Jesus is also the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep, protecting them from the ravenous wolves that wish to attack and scatter the flock (10:11-13). While the hired hand flees at the first sign of danger, the good shepherd stands his ground and risks his life for the sake of the sheep. Jesus, the good shepherd, also leads the sheep to green pastures where they receive abundant life (10:3-4, 9). The images of Jesus as sheep-gate and good shepherd are a source of great comfort to all Christians because they illustrate the loving care and the abundant life that we receive from our Lord. Our tendency, however, is to limit the Good Shepherd’s care to the confines of these
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