Following the Leader
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
John 10:11-18
10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
10:12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away–and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
10:13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
10:16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
10:17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Notes:
- Many of us remember the familiar children’s game-Follow the Leader. To play that game well, one must be observant and also learn to listen to the leader.
- Today’s passage follows two parables describing Jesus—one where he is the gate and a second that highlights the connection between the shepherd and the sheep, implying Jesus and his followers.
- The text is filled with Old Testament images of God as shepherd—all this pointing to the fact that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises, and Jesus is indeed the good and exemplary shepherd. Not only is Jesus the good shepherd for which Israel has waited (as opposed to bad leaders that the prophet Ezekiel 34 harshly criticized), he is also the gate by which the sheep enter into God’s presence. Jesus himself is life (John 14:6) and he leads the way to life because he lays down his own life to protect the flock.
- Jesus is the good shepherd, not the good cattle herder. Cows need to be pushed. Sheep prefer to be led.
- This passage does not talk about assistant shepherds or under-shepherds, though pastors and ministers may see themselves that way! This pastor is comforted in knowing there is one shepherd and we all are the flock.
- We should be inclusive as Jesus was—reaching out to the outcast, downtrodden, and oppressed. We are all in need of new life and reconciliation with each other and with God, offered through Jesus’ resurrection, regardless of our tribe or affiliation.
- Sometimes we go astray. We wander into unsafe situations. There are many voices vying for our attention and sometimes we get fooled or distracted. Jesus continues to be there going before us. Leading.
- The relationship between the sheep and the shepherd is based on what the shepherd does, on the shepherd’s character— not just on what the sheep do or how they respond or don’t.
- May we work towards perfecting our skills at playing Follow the Leader, observing Jesus the best shepherd and learning to hear and obey his voice. Amen.