Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18, Psalm 23

Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd, the Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.”

Jesus identifies himself to his disciples as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep and takes it up again.  Jesus speaks of laying down his life to his disciples early in his ministry with them, long months or years before that imagery becomes reality in the crucifixion and the resurrection.  From the early months of his ministry, Jesus wants the disciples to be alert to this understanding of what was to come.

Shepherds and sheep are frequent metaphors for our relationship with Jesus Christ whose discipline and guidance – his rod and his staff – bring us rescue and comfort.

Christians of the first century understood the vital role of the shepherd in protecting the livelihood necessary to this agrarian society.  To the people of first century Palestine, shepherds were smelly ruffian outcasts; but to their flocks of sheep, the shepherds were trustworthy, self-sacrificing protection AND wise, authentic guidance.

Jesus willingly lays down his life for his sheep; “No one takes it from me.”  Jesus says, “I lay it down of my own accord.”  Jesus has the power to take up that life again as he overcomes the wolves of evil and death, taking up that life again into eternal life where we, his sheep, are assured of our place with him.

Always, on 4^th Easter, our Gospel lesson presents the Good Shepherd imagery; we know this as Good Shepherd Sunday.  It is the day that I invite you to stand before the Good shepherd window, which now adorns our Parish Hall – the Good Shepherd window that has looked down upon this parish since the days of our A View location.

We gaze at the Shepherd who clutches his sheep in his right arm with tenderness and affection.  That image brings to mind the words of Christopher Reeve in the months after his tragic accident that paralyzed him from the neck down. A great heartache for him was the inability to take loved ones into his arms and cradle them near his heart. We all need to be gathered and cradled by our beloved, as this tiny lamb in the window is being caressed so tenderly near to the heart of Jesus.

This is the Good Shepherd who readily enters the sheep pastures of our lives – the mucky and mired up pastures, the barren overrun pastures.  The Shepherd is there in the blistering heat all the day long and in the biting cold throughout the night.  And, this is the Good Shepherd who celebrates with us in the green and lush pastures beside the calm still waters.  All the while, Jesus tenderly caresses us near to his heart.

This is our Good Shepherd who is vulnerable.  He chooses and is well aware that he puts his life between ours and that of the wolves that threaten to tear us apart.    Surrounding him, as we note in the window, are the “other sheep” who follow and listen to Jesus’ voice.  See the eagerness in their expressions.  In the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd there is one flock, one shepherd.  In the kingdom that is here now and the kingdom that is to come, we are united as one flock, embraced and protected by one shepherd.

Jesus says, “I AM the good shepherd.”  To the people of first century Palestine, shepherds were smelly ruffian outcasts of their communities; but to their sheepfolds, the shepherds were trustworthy, self-sacrificing protection and wise, authentic guidance.  God, through Jesus Christ, is our trusted, self-sacrificing protection and wise, authentic guidance – our Good Shepherd.  Jesus is the model Good Shepherd; he leads with a strong hand, yet he is kind and merciful; his power is expressed through humility and tenderness; his mission is meshed with God’s mission for the redemption of all creation.

The Good Shepherd willingly lays down his life for his sheep in keeping with the command of the Father – our creator.  Jesus willingly laid down his life for the redemption of all creation.

Jesus has willingly laid down his life for our redemption.