One Flock, One Shepherd

The Fourth Sunday of Easter

April 21, 2024

John 10:11-18

 “One Flock, One Shepherd”

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, as this Fourth Sunday in Easter is commonly called. It’s a beautiful and beloved image of our risen Savior. The Scripture lessons, hymns, sermon, prayers – everything today revolves around that image of our Good Shepherd. The appointed psalm for today is the familiar and much-loved Psalm 23, which we sang together. Together with John 3:16, Psalm 23 has some of the most recognizable words in all of Scripture: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…” It’s a go-to passage in the Bible for many people, and understandably often chosen for funerals. Many years ago, when I was working on a Master of Arts degree in Christian Education at Virginia Theological Seminary, most of the classes I took were in what was then called The Center for the Ministry of Teaching. High up on the wall was a banner that had been given to the director of the program. Rev. Dr. Locke Bowman. The focus of the banner was Psalm 23 with lots of different images and textiles incorporated into it. It all started at the top with the opening words of Psalm 23, but instead of the usual words, it read: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need…” I have thought about that a lot over the years. The opening words of Psalm 23 that we’re familiar with are spoken in the negative: “I shall not want,” but this version puts it in the positive: “I have everything I need.” I like that a lot. Today’s message focuses on how we, as the Body of Christ, are one flock under our one Shepherd, our risen Savior Jesus Christ, and in him, we have everything we need. May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

Sometimes – maybe oftentimes – instead of seeing one flock of our one Shepherd, we see many flocks and multitudinous denominations, which can be a point of great confusion. Instead of seeing unity and harmony in the one flock – even within our own denomination – we see disagreement, division, and discord. Instead of a spirit of cooperation and working together as one flock, we see suspicion and lack of charity. It can all be very disheartening. Of course, there are always going to be denominational differences within the larger Body of Christ. But when all is said and done, there is one flock, one Shepherd. That one Shepherd is our Lord Jesus Christ who has laid down his life for his sheep. He’s not some fly-by-night hired hand who’s just in it for the paycheck. He’s not going to run out on us in our time of need; when the wolf is at the door in attack mode. Our Good Shepherd has invested his blood, sweat, and tears – his very life – in us. By his grace alone, we are blessed to be the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. Our Good Shepherd promises to stand guard by his flock. Nothing can touch us without first having to go through him as the Shepherd. All of this gives comfort, hope and encouragement to us in our journey of faith. And who among us doesn’t need comfort, hope and encouragement?

Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel include one of his “I am” statements, and these are found only in John’s Gospel. These are “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35); “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12); “I am the gate” (John 10:7); “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14); “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25); “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6); and “I am the true vine” (John 15:1). Each time Jesus says, “I am,” he is using the same words that God spoke to Moses when he appeared to him in the burning bush, calling him to go and tell Pharaoh to “let my people go.” Moses questioned God: “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:13-14a). Jesus is making clear that he himself is that same “I AM” God. Moses, who was shepherding his father-in-law’s sheep, would soon be shepherding God’s people out of slavery into freedom. The same shepherding God who called Moses is the One who raised Jesus our Good Shepherd from death to life, and who promises to do the same for all who trust in him.

Several years ago, when our beloved former associate pastor, Rev. Dr. Ben Nass, passed away, his family presented his shepherd’s crook to me. This was a gift that the members of the Midweek Bible Class had presented to him, a class which Pastor Nass taught faithfully for many years,. It now stands in my office, a silent reminder to me of my own calling as the Good Shepherd’s under-shepherd here in the life of this congregation. In the real life of sheep and shepherding, the crook is used by the shepherd as a guide to direct the sheep, as well as a tool to grab hold of the sheep if needed in order to pull them away from danger. To this day, in many churches the bishop, or overseer, carries a ceremonial shepherd’s staff called a “crozier.” You know me as your pastor, and that is what God has called me to be in this congregation. The word “pastor” comes from the Latin and means “shepherd.” Although I may not use an actual shepherd’s crook in the course of mission and ministry, I do strive to guide and direct the flock to our Good Shepherd through his own Word. At times, I might need to use that same Word to grab hold of sheep in order to pull them away from danger. That’s what the Good Shepherd has called me and every under-shepherd of his to do. And so there is one flock, one Shepherd.

When all is said and done, the shepherd’s role is not just to make the flock lie down in green pastures and lead them beside still waters (Psalm 23:1-2), important as these things may be. The shepherd’s real role and true test is his willingness to lay down his life for the sake of his sheep. Not every shepherd will be willing to do this, but this is exactly what our Good Shepherd has done for us. And in doing this for us, won’t that same Good Shepherd also act in our best interests here and now? Won’t he also care for us, giving us what we need day by day? He has and he will because he loves his sheep. He promises that even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4), he himself will be with us, leading us from death to life. He tells us: “I know my own and my own know me” (John 11:14). Our Good Shepherd feeds his flock today with his Word and Sacraments. Our Good Shepherd receives us into his family through the cleansing waters of holy Baptism. Our Good Shepherd gives us his very Body and Blood in his holy Supper to strengthen us to listen to his voice and to follow where he is leading.

As our congregation comes together next Sunday for a pivotal meeting to consider proposed renovations and expansion to our church facilities, whatever the outcome and decision that will be made, in faith we affirm that there is one flock, one Shepherd, our risen Savior.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.