No Sentimentality Please!

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Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the good work You have begun in me. Continue it today, I pray.

Read JOHN 10:11-21

^[11] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ^[12] The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ^[13] The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ^[14] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- ^[15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. ^[16] I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ^[17] The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to 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 authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” ^[19] The Jews who heard these words were again divided. ^[20] Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” ^[21] But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Meditate

“None of the ransomed ever knew, / How deep were the waters crossed, / Or how dark the night that the Lord passed through, / Ere he found the sheep that was lost” (Elizabeth Clephane, 1830-1869). Thank God for the love that will not let us go.

Think Further

Today’s reading begins with one of the most-loved “I am” statements, as Jesus expands the “shepherd” metaphor, one steeped in Old Testament tradition. God is called the shepherd of Israel (e.g. Gen. 49:24; Psa. 23; Isa 40:11) and this metaphor is also used for both true and false leaders of God’s people (e.g. Isa. 56:9-11; Jer. 23:1-4; Ezek. 34; 1 Kings 22:17). The Greek term translated “good” can also be translated “noble” or “beautiful.” In other words, there is a sheer attractiveness about what Jesus as shepherd was offering. The “beautiful” shepherd is willing to die for the sheep, unlike the “hired hand” who abandons them at the moment of crisis (11-13). This picture should prevent us from sentimentalizing Jesus’ care for his sheep. It is a costly, dangerous care.

There is a mutual knowing of the sheep and shepherd, in the same way that there is a mutual love and knowledge between the Father and the Son (14,15,17,18). The Father’s love for the Son is linked with the Son’s death, because their mutual love willed that the world be saved. The amazing fact for most of us is that this “good” shepherd is going to bring other sheep (i.e. Gentiles) into his flock (16). There are moments in Jesus’ ministry when the focus seems narrowly on Israel (e.g. Matt. 15:24) but others, like here, when we see the vision first expressed in God’s call to Abraham (Gen. 12:3): the whole world will be blessed through the Shepherd laying down his life and taking it up again so that there will be “one flock and one shepherd” (16).

Once again his hearers simply do not know what to make of Jesus. But we cannot stand back in judgment on the Jews. What do we make of Jesus? The choice is unavoidable. Everything rests on our response.

Apply

Think of those you know who still need to make a response. Pray for an opportunity to share the Good Shepherd with them.

Closing prayer

Loving Lord, Your goodness and mercy follow me. I praise You for the assurance that one day I will dwell in Your house forever.

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