Sermon by Geoff Serpell
John 10: 1-10
Both the Psalm and the Gospel readings today has to do with shepherding in some form or other.
Horse borne indigenous riders are much sought after to herd sheep in the outback these days but those of us familiar with the Bible, shepherding conveys a powerful image to the reader of the loving care of God for us, his sheep.
Psalm 23 gives us a prime example, where God is our shepherd, meeting all the personal needs we might have. It is a wonderfully comforting and encouraging image of the way in which God cares for us.
Shepherding in the Old Testament was an image used by the prophets to describe the way leaders of Israel were supposed to care for the whole community. It was also how the leaders were expected to behave. If you look up Ezekiel 34, their behavior was the opposite of caring.
In verse 11 of chapter 10 in John’s gospel, and I quote Jesus’ words:” I am the Good Shepherd”. This allows us to assume that Jesus is also the shepherd mentioned in the first 10 verses whose voice the sheep hear, recognize, and who follow their shepherd’s voice.
However, a close look shows that here, Jesus specifically says, “I am the Door, or “I am the gate”. This is one of the 7 times in John’s gospel that Jesus states: “I am”. Jesus is clearly saying that the sheep may safely pass through the gate or door following the good shepherd.
Let me recall the previous chapter where it describes Jesus healing the blind man and where the Pharisees flatly refuse to believe the man’s claim that he was healed by Jesus. They reject the man’s claim and kick him out of the church/synagogue.
Hearing about this, Jesus finds the man and asks him: “Do you believe in the Son of Man”. The reply is:” point him out to me sir, so that I can believe in him”.
Jesus said: “You’re looking right at him. Don’t you recognize my voice?”
“Master, I believe,” the man said, and worshipped him.
Jesus then said, “I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all things clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretence of seeing will be exposed as blind.”
Getting back to chapter 10, Jesus is explaining that if a person climbs over the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he is up to no good- a sheep rustler.
The shepherd walks right up to the gate and the gatekeeper opens the gate and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. They follow because they are familiar with his voice. They will not follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter,
Jesus told this simple story but know one knew what he was talking about. So, he tried again, “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for-will go freely in or out and find pasture. Any thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
So at this point, Jesus is not the shepherd, he is the gate or door, the means of entry for the sheep into safety and the means of exit out to the pasture.
Jesus is describing the leaders of Israel as the thieves and robbers who climb over the fence into the sheepfold to steal and destroy. They don’t really care for God’s people whose responsibility they’ve been given. Look again at how they treated the blind man. They didn’t believe in Jesus. They have no interest in entering through Jesus into eternal life. They are not acting like the shepherds concerned to lead God’s people to life in all its fullness.
However, the man born blind has recognized the voice of God in Jesus and what does he do? He worships Jesus and receives not just his sight but life. He enters through the door, into life in Jesus’ name in all its fullness, just as Jesus promised.
What does this say to us? It says that Jesus is the door that leads to God. It is through Jesus that we know God. By passing through Jesus, it is the door to receiving life-life in His name- a life of authenticity, a life of freedom and purpose. It is the real deal because it is founded on the truth that is Jesus.
As leaders, do we care for those in our charge as a good shepherd should? Do our people recognize the voice of the Lord in us? Does our leadership reflect the truth that is Jesus? Or do we do things our own way. A more selfish way, seeking our own advantage?
Are we listening for the voice of the one who is our shepherd? In a world full of competing voices, do we recognize the voice of God when it comes to us through Jesus.
Are we courageous enough to follow where that voice leads us? Trusting that where he is there is life?
May God help us not only to listen but also to recognize his voice that we may follow with confidence and find food for our souls. May we also help others, those sheep who are lost, to hear and recognize the voice of the shepherd that they too may find life, peace, and a safe place for their souls.
May we draw near to God through Christ, the door, and discover that there is peace, joy, and life in all abundance.
