Many of you know my undergraduate degree is in history and I love the stories of times long ago. It’s always been fascinating to me how people once lived, the things they did, the things they valued, what they built, how they thought, and (of course, as a pastor) what they believed. Some of these great stories from history are utterly timeless. They embody values that humans have continued to embrace and hold fast across the generations. We wonder could we do as they once did.
Could we forgive as the black people of South Africa did after the end of the brutal regime of Apartheid? Could we rebuild our lives the way the Jews have in the wake of the Holocaust? Would we have the courage of the Civil Rights movement in this country or of Gandhi and his efforts to bring India independence?
Or could we sacrifice our lives for the sake of our country as have so many in the countless wars throughout history? Would we stand fast even knowing there would be no hope of escape or return home? I am reminded of the valor of the Spartans at Thermopylae, who stood up to impossible odds in the defense of their city. Could we do that? Could you? Could I?
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Today is the fourth Sunday of Easter and, in the tradition of the Church, this is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” We recite the 23rd Psalm. We read of the Good Shepherd texts from the OT and from the Gospel of John. And we do this every year. But in our modern perspective, we may not realize just what sort of person it took to be a shepherd in the ancient world. They were far more than the usual day laborer, despite the long hours and lousy pay they received. This was a job that demanded everything of you. It was not for the timid.
Shepherds were often slaves and if they were not, they were the bottom of the ladder for paid laborers. You were tasked with keeping watch over a flock of sheep, to care for them, to protect them, to keep them out of trouble. This could be a tall order. Domestic sheep are, as many of us know, pretty dumb (that makes them docile and easily controlled.) But because they are docile, they have almost no defense against predators. The only thing standing in the gap between them and a hungry wolf is the shepherd. Many of us have pets who’ve gotten out of hand from time to time and we’ve been scratched or bitten by an angry (or frightened) cat or dog in the course of being pet owners. A cat weighs at most 10 pounds. Most dog breeds at around 50 or 60. A wolf is 120 pounds of teeth, claw, and muscle and you get to stand between it and its dinner. Have fun.
Thankfully, predator attacks were rare, but that didn’t make things easier. You stayed with the sheep 24/7. You slept with them, ate with them. If it rained, you were in the rain. If it was cold, you shivered along with them (or more than them. Each of them has a nice wool coat.)
You had to be dedicated to that kind of work. You’re the primary line of defense between those animals and anything and everything Mother Nature could throw at them. We don’t think of shepherds as being badass, but they really were. Those soldiers at Thermopylae could learn a thing or two from the tenacity and dedication of the typical shepherd.
And perhaps, so could we.
Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. It’s an apt metaphor. Like the shepherds of his day, he stands as the line of defense between us and all that life throws at us. Life takes an ill turn? He’s there to lend his strength and hope, to remind us that he loves us and will take care of us. Illness, job loss, heartbreak, disaster, financial difficulty, fear, worry, it matters not. He remains steadfast. He leads us to the still waters and stands by our side through thick and thin.
And when death comes calling, stalking us like a wolf?
Well, he stands in the gap and embraces the death of the cross for our sake. He dies so that we may live. He gives his very life for the sheep, for us. He makes the ultimate sacrifice to save us.
What God would do that for his people? One that loves us beyond words, who cares for us without regard of himself. We are the apple of God’s eye. Yes, we’re dumb, docile, prone to wandering off in foolish ways. But we are precious to him and he will do anything to see us safe, even give up his life.
You want to talk love? That’s what it looks like. You want to talk dedication. That’s what it looks like. You want to talk commitment and tenacity? That’s what it looks like. You want to talk courage? Well, that’s what it looks like.
All for you. All for me.
What can this world truly do that God is standing fast against? As St. Paul once wrote, if God is for us, who can be against us? As the prophet Isaiah once said, “no weapon formed against us shall prosper.” We have the Good Shepherd. We have Jesus, the one who gave everything to protect his sheep. To save us. Have no fear, my friends. This is who stands by us in life. Our shepherd. Forever. Amen.
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