A few verses before our gospel reading began today, Jesus described himself by saying, “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” (John 10:9) Clearly, a gate is a very inanimate description of function, but just a few verses later Jesus uses another I AM statement to describe himself as the good shepherd. The inanimate function takes on the image of a pastoral person. It is the person whose voice is recognized by the sheep, who come and go safely through the gate, from the safety of the sheepfold to living in the ‘world’ where there are dangers.
This shepherd is good. The shepherd’s goodness is described as both knowing the sheep and being known by the sheep, in contrast to the hired hands who merely provide a function without the true dimensions of care that are expressed by knowing and being known. The hired hands ultimately only care about themselves.
How many worldly influencers – hired hands – speak into our lives but ultimately only care about themselves? How much marketing wants us to simply buy their product so they can make a profit or have us understanding ourselves based on an image they are trying to get us to buy into? What other hired hands do we put our trust into – corporations, governments and celebrities?
Many of these things have a function, and they are not all bad, but they should not be elevated to the level of shepherd in our lives. Jesus has our needs in mind, but we ask ourselves, especially in times of pandemic and isolation, where are you now, good shepherd? I admit I don’t know what to make of this particular period of history we are navigating, but I know history is replete with much brokenness and devastation. I also know Jesus never promised life was going to be easy; he did promise the peace of knowing his presence.
So, I settle into the stillness of his presence and bring it all to him, knowing that I am fully known. And, in the stillness, I know the voice of the one who knows me. And, as Saint Paul writes, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, no rulers, nor things present, not things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38)
Jesus never promised life was going to be easy. Jesus did promise us salvation through him and the gift of peace in the midst of it all.
Have you ever experienced the saving, liberating love of God? Have you ever experienced being known and cared for by Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd?
Jesus gave his life for you that you may know the gate of salvation and the beauty and freedom of knowing his voice. He will give you rest.
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