Easter 3 - Misericordias Domini April 14, 2024
John 10:11-16
Finding a Good Shepherd
V.11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Dear friends in Christ, this Sunday marks the Third Sunday of Easter - the Latin name being Misericordias Domini - the merciful heart of God Sunday. However, because of the unified nature of the selected readings for this Sunday, it has also come to be known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” For herein we see the beautiful promise of God from the prophet Ezekiel that He would come and be the Shepherd of His people–that He would search for and rescue His sheep, gathering them together and providing for them wherever they may be–no matter how lost they may be. He promises (Ezekiel 34:16), “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy.”
St. Peter (1 Peter 2:25) in our epistle writes how the people of God have been called to live in righteousness–forsaking their sin–repenting of it–and turning back to Jesus. “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” And of course, we have Jesus in our Gospel text (John 10:11), boldly declaring, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
So all three of our appointed readings for this day deal with shepherds and sheep, and the blessing that comes from having a good shepherd who loves and cares for the sheep. Indeed, the church is like a sheepfold–where all the disciples of the Lord congregate–and Jesus is the Good Shepherd who watches over His sheep and provides for them.
And the deep, abiding love of Jesus for His sheep goes even further. For He has instituted the beautiful relationship within His church of pastor and people. Pastor is the Latin word “shepherd.” For this is what pastors are called by Christ to do: shepherd His sheep–be an undershepherd of the Good Shepherd. This is a wondrous reality wherein Jesus has ordained specific men to be the people responsible for feeding His sheep with the very gifts of Christ–namely the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life and salvation. Pastors do this through the means appointed by Jesus to do so–the Word and the Sacraments. So, on behalf of the whole church (all the sheep), and by the command and authority of Jesus (the Good Shepherd), pastors (the undershepherds) preach, teach, baptize, absolve, and distribute the Lord’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist. What joy! Just as we have been blessed to witness this day at CLH with the Baptism of Abigail Anderson–the newest little lamb of Christ’s flock.
However, the Christian church in general (and our congregation in particular), is now wrestling with the situation of what to do when we might not have a pastor for a time–when the sheep will be bereft of an undershepherd. This situation will only become more common, sadly, in the coming years as many of our older pastors either retire or are called to glory, and we don’t have enough younger pastors coming up to fill in the gaps, as it were. “What are we to do?” we wonder. “Who is going to take care of us? Bury us? Baptize our grandchildren? Confirm our children? Hold our hand in the hospital? Preach to us? Teach us?” and the list could go on.
We may be tempted to think in the dark recesses of our hearts concerning our pastors who leave us, “He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” Of course, you KNOW that is NOT true. You know the love I, and so many other pastors, have for their congregations–their beloved sheep entrusted to their care. Yet we may still struggle with feelings of sadness, loneliness, even abandonment and despair. Some congregations are vacant not just for a few months, but YEARS! It is hard NOT to feel lost and abandoned by God when such situations arise.
Yet, beloved, that is why this particular Sunday in the church year, and its appointed readings, are so very important for us to remember ALL year long. For as great as the love is between you and me, your pastor. As great as the love that you have for me and I have for you–there is One who loves you more–and whom I know you love more than me–the Lord Jesus. You are His sheep–you know Him and He knows you–for you hear His voice and listen to it. You heed His Word in Holy Scripture–rejoicing in it as sheep rejoice in hearing the voice of the shepherd who cares for them. The sheep run–from wherever they may be–when they hear their shepherd call. Just so with you, beloved.
It matters not if it is I who is preaching to you, or another visiting pastor, or a newly called pastor into your midst. What matters is that the Word that is being proclaimed into your midst–into your ears–is the voice of your Good Shepherd–Jesus. And though we all struggle with fear over the unknown future–though we struggle with certain aspects of God’s Word–yet we know it is His Word–and so we heed it–we listen to it–and we rejoice in it. Be it proclaimed from the pulpit in church by a pastor, or when we read it day-by-day in our homes as we conduct our daily devotions. The Word is the voice of Jesus. He is speaking to you. He is telling you of His great love for you, no matter what. That He will never leave you nor forsake you. For “The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
No matter how often you may stray from the voice of your Good Shepherd–and boy will there be times when you do–just as every Christian struggles with temptation. No matter what sin you may commit against your Lord or your neighbor–rest assured in the love of your Good Shepherd. As Peter writes (1 Peter 2:24), “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” Jesus has died for all of your sins–every last one! And He has died for the sins of all of you–every last one! From little Abigail baptized today, to you and me, and every person on this planet.
And never give in to the lie of the devil which seeks to drive you to despair over your sin. His lies that may lead you to think that Jesus’ blood isn’t enough–or that Jesus doesn’t want you back. Damnable lies! Hear the word of the Lord (1 Peter 2:25), “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” No matter who you are, what you have done, where you have gone–the Lord Jesus calls you back as your Good Shepherd. His Word calls you to repent of your sin and to look to Him and His cross as the answer for your sin. His blood has come and washed away every spot, every wrinkle, every stain of guilt and shame. For His blood is a cleansing tide poured out upon you in your Baptism. Your sin has been paid for–by Jesus’ suffering and death. His wounds have made you whole. His blood has washed you clean.
Therefore, as our first Communion hymn (LSB 735:1) so beautifully puts it, “Have no fear, little flock; Have no fear little flock, For the Father has chosen To give you the Kingdom; Have no fear, little flock!” You have nothing to fear, come what may. For you have the Lord Jesus as your Good Shepherd. He who promises to walk beside you and carry you all your days. He who feeds you and nourishes you and provides you with everything you need for both body and soul. This Jesus is your Good Shepherd. You are His sheep. You belong to Him. So we can joyously sing along with our second Communion hymn (LSB 740:1), “I am Jesus’ little lamb, Ever glad at heart I am; For my Shepherd gently guides me, Knows my need and well provides me, Loves me every day the same, Even calls me by my name.”
Beloved, you have been baptized into the name of the Triune God. He knows all there is to know about you–from the number of hairs on your head–to your deepest fears and sorrows–your greatest joys and blessings. He knows you. And He calls you by NAME! You, like Abigail, are His beloved baptized child. Jesus, your Good Shepherd, has suffered and died for you on the cross. And He is now risen from the dead to comfort you with the gift of everlasting life and righteousness. You are His sheep. And HE is your Shepherd. Now and for always. For Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
John 10:11-16
Finding a Good Shepherd
V.11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Dear friends in Christ, this Sunday marks the Third Sunday of Easter - the Latin name being Misericordias Domini - the merciful heart of God Sunday. However, because of the unified nature of the selected readings for this Sunday, it has also come to be known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” For herein we see the beautiful promise of God from the prophet Ezekiel that He would come and be the Shepherd of His people–that He would search for and rescue His sheep, gathering them together and providing for them wherever they may be–no matter how lost they may be. He promises (Ezekiel 34:16), “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy.”
St. Peter (1 Peter 2:25) in our epistle writes how the people of God have been called to live in righteousness–forsaking their sin–repenting of it–and turning back to Jesus. “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” And of course, we have Jesus in our Gospel text (John 10:11), boldly declaring, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
So all three of our appointed readings for this day deal with shepherds and sheep, and the blessing that comes from having a good shepherd who loves and cares for the sheep. Indeed, the church is like a sheepfold–where all the disciples of the Lord congregate–and Jesus is the Good Shepherd who watches over His sheep and provides for them.
And the deep, abiding love of Jesus for His sheep goes even further. For He has instituted the beautiful relationship within His church of pastor and people. Pastor is the Latin word “shepherd.” For this is what pastors are called by Christ to do: shepherd His sheep–be an undershepherd of the Good Shepherd. This is a wondrous reality wherein Jesus has ordained specific men to be the people responsible for feeding His sheep with the very gifts of Christ–namely the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life and salvation. Pastors do this through the means appointed by Jesus to do so–the Word and the Sacraments. So, on behalf of the whole church (all the sheep), and by the command and authority of Jesus (the Good Shepherd), pastors (the undershepherds) preach, teach, baptize, absolve, and distribute the Lord’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist. What joy! Just as we have been blessed to witness this day at CLH with the Baptism of Abigail Anderson–the newest little lamb of Christ’s flock.
However, the Christian church in general (and our congregation in particular), is now wrestling with the situation of what to do when we might not have a pastor for a time–when the sheep will be bereft of an undershepherd. This situation will only become more common, sadly, in the coming years as many of our older pastors either retire or are called to glory, and we don’t have enough younger pastors coming up to fill in the gaps, as it were. “What are we to do?” we wonder. “Who is going to take care of us? Bury us? Baptize our grandchildren? Confirm our children? Hold our hand in the hospital? Preach to us? Teach us?” and the list could go on.
We may be tempted to think in the dark recesses of our hearts concerning our pastors who leave us, “He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” Of course, you KNOW that is NOT true. You know the love I, and so many other pastors, have for their congregations–their beloved sheep entrusted to their care. Yet we may still struggle with feelings of sadness, loneliness, even abandonment and despair. Some congregations are vacant not just for a few months, but YEARS! It is hard NOT to feel lost and abandoned by God when such situations arise.
Yet, beloved, that is why this particular Sunday in the church year, and its appointed readings, are so very important for us to remember ALL year long. For as great as the love is between you and me, your pastor. As great as the love that you have for me and I have for you–there is One who loves you more–and whom I know you love more than me–the Lord Jesus. You are His sheep–you know Him and He knows you–for you hear His voice and listen to it. You heed His Word in Holy Scripture–rejoicing in it as sheep rejoice in hearing the voice of the shepherd who cares for them. The sheep run–from wherever they may be–when they hear their shepherd call. Just so with you, beloved.
It matters not if it is I who is preaching to you, or another visiting pastor, or a newly called pastor into your midst. What matters is that the Word that is being proclaimed into your midst–into your ears–is the voice of your Good Shepherd–Jesus. And though we all struggle with fear over the unknown future–though we struggle with certain aspects of God’s Word–yet we know it is His Word–and so we heed it–we listen to it–and we rejoice in it. Be it proclaimed from the pulpit in church by a pastor, or when we read it day-by-day in our homes as we conduct our daily devotions. The Word is the voice of Jesus. He is speaking to you. He is telling you of His great love for you, no matter what. That He will never leave you nor forsake you. For “The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
No matter how often you may stray from the voice of your Good Shepherd–and boy will there be times when you do–just as every Christian struggles with temptation. No matter what sin you may commit against your Lord or your neighbor–rest assured in the love of your Good Shepherd. As Peter writes (1 Peter 2:24), “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” Jesus has died for all of your sins–every last one! And He has died for the sins of all of you–every last one! From little Abigail baptized today, to you and me, and every person on this planet.
And never give in to the lie of the devil which seeks to drive you to despair over your sin. His lies that may lead you to think that Jesus’ blood isn’t enough–or that Jesus doesn’t want you back. Damnable lies! Hear the word of the Lord (1 Peter 2:25), “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” No matter who you are, what you have done, where you have gone–the Lord Jesus calls you back as your Good Shepherd. His Word calls you to repent of your sin and to look to Him and His cross as the answer for your sin. His blood has come and washed away every spot, every wrinkle, every stain of guilt and shame. For His blood is a cleansing tide poured out upon you in your Baptism. Your sin has been paid for–by Jesus’ suffering and death. His wounds have made you whole. His blood has washed you clean.
Therefore, as our first Communion hymn (LSB 735:1) so beautifully puts it, “Have no fear, little flock; Have no fear little flock, For the Father has chosen To give you the Kingdom; Have no fear, little flock!” You have nothing to fear, come what may. For you have the Lord Jesus as your Good Shepherd. He who promises to walk beside you and carry you all your days. He who feeds you and nourishes you and provides you with everything you need for both body and soul. This Jesus is your Good Shepherd. You are His sheep. You belong to Him. So we can joyously sing along with our second Communion hymn (LSB 740:1), “I am Jesus’ little lamb, Ever glad at heart I am; For my Shepherd gently guides me, Knows my need and well provides me, Loves me every day the same, Even calls me by my name.”
Beloved, you have been baptized into the name of the Triune God. He knows all there is to know about you–from the number of hairs on your head–to your deepest fears and sorrows–your greatest joys and blessings. He knows you. And He calls you by NAME! You, like Abigail, are His beloved baptized child. Jesus, your Good Shepherd, has suffered and died for you on the cross. And He is now risen from the dead to comfort you with the gift of everlasting life and righteousness. You are His sheep. And HE is your Shepherd. Now and for always. For Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.