The real Shepherd

 

John 10:1-10

 The Shepherd enters legitimately.  The gatekeeper knows the Shepherd.  There is a bond, a relationship built on trust.  The Shepherd knows the sheep and the sheep know the Shepherd.  They trust the Shepherd enough to follow the Shepherd.  Strangers they do not trust.

 Jesus called Himself first the gate for the sheep.  Whoever enters by Jesus has life.  Those who pose and whose intentions are selfish or destructive are not the gate that leads to life and the things of life.  They bring destruction and not life.

 There are thieves who take instead of give.  They pose as shepherds and servants in order to get what they can at the expense of the sheep.  They teach falsely in order to exploit or manipulate the sheep.  They claim special knowledge or spiritual connection so that they can control the sheep and gain some status over others.  They take everything they can for themselves.  They leave in their wake lives that are deflated, full of despair and destruction. 

 It is important for the sheep to know the Shepherd, to hear the voice of the shepherd and know it when they hear it.  They need to hear the voice of the one who will lead them to life and the things of life.  They need not to listen to the voices that call them to walk away from the shepherd with messages that sound good and pleasing, but do not represent the truth.  What is the voice of the one claiming to represent the shepherd saying?  Is it consistent with the teachings of the Shepherd, the commandments of the Shepherd?  Does the voice call one to actions consistent with the actions of the Shepherd?

 There are a lot of voices out there.  They may sound pleasing or say things that support the foolishness of the sheep, rather than call the sheep to a better, more sustainable way for them.  They may tell the sheep things that justify their foolishness, rather than challenge them to follow the better, more sustainable way for them and those of other flocks.  They may make promises to please the sheep with things that seem too good to be true.  Believe them.  They are too good to be true.

 Jesus, the gate to life, life abundant and life forever for the sheep calls us to the living of Agape Love (committed action on behalf of the stranger, enemy and the most vulnerable).  Jesus, the gate to life for the sheep, calls us to resist the evils of empire – the evils of Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status.  Jesus, the gate to life for the sheep, calls us to resist the hatreds, hubris, complacency and apathy of empire.  We are called to follow the Shepherd, the gate to life for us, to life, life abundant and life forever. 

 The sheep hear His voice, the one who knows the sheep by name, and follow the gatekeeper to life to life.  We are a flock.  We are not individual, but community.  We are together the sheep of the one who leads sheep to life.