Focus: Join Christ, the Good Shepherd, and remain part of his flock.
Function: To encourage the people to follow Jesus as the Good Shepherd and to stay with him as his sheep.
Text: John 10:22-30
When I consider the public profession of faith of 11 young individuals, I feel like we are attending a feast. It’s a feast, a joy, a celebration to witness your public declarations
· that you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation
· that you commit yourself to guide and shape your life by the Word of God
· and that you indicate your desire to be a vital and vibrant part of Christ’s community, the church.
Our baptisms--as signified today in Emma’s baptism--set us apart as members of Christ’s flock, the church. And today, the entire church celebrates Christ’s work within your hearts. Today is truly a feast day!
The scripture reading from John 10:22-30 places us in the context of another feast—the Feast of Dedication. The Feast of Dedication centered on the temple of God rebuilt in Jerusalem. Jesus and his contemporaries testify to the centrality of God in their midst. For the temple signifies God’s relationship with his people Israel, and underscores his presence among his people.
At this Feast of Dedication, a number of hostile, religious leaders challenge Jesus’ ministry. They want to know who he is; they are mystified by Jesus’ origin or identity. Earlier, we learn from John’s gospel that Jesus had revealed himself as the “Good Shepherd.” Now we notice that Jesus reveals his divine origin by pointing to his miracles and by saying that he and the Father are one (in essence). And the Lord Jesus challenges his audience—us included—to join him as the Good Shepherd and to remain part of his flock.
So, in light of the text which draws us into the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and in light of today’s feast in our sanctuary, I want to make three observations. These observations all begin with the imperative or command, “Be.” Here’s the first one:
· Be Awestruck and Humble: It is possible that some of us may be thinking that our profession of faith is our work, our decision, and our prerogative or choice. In some way, of course, it is: you had to decide whether to sleep in this morning or come to church. We prepared ourselves for this service; thus we do express our will as we sing the songs of faith and as we profess our faith in Christ.
However, not one of us can produce trust or faith in Christ within us. Apart from the Spirit of God, no one can express faith. It is the Holy Spirit who creates and stirs faith within us, and he does so through his divine energy and the very Word of God. That’s why I say: be awestruck and humble!
In the text, the Lord Jesus makes it very clear that faith is God’s gift to us. All who profess faith in Christ Jesus are Christ’s sheep. And Jesus says that it is his heavenly Father who has given Jesus his sheep. The gift of faith, expressed also today, originates with God the Father, is centered in God the Son, and is wrought or worked in our hearts by God the Spirit.
Jesus says: “My Father, who has given (my sheep) to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Be awestruck and humble! Why?
Because God is at work in your life. God loves you. God draws you to himself and God gives you a solid identity. And that leads me to my second observation:
· Be Who You Are: I think that it is fair to say that all people—children, teenagers, and adults alike—struggle with who they are, how to conduct themselves and how to see themselves. Every stage of life comes with its own challenges of identity. For example, at one time I was a child; then I became a teenager, and I had to do a lot of sorting out. Then I became a young adult and got married. Thus I had to come to grips with being a husband pursuing a career; then later on I became a Dad. And so it goes.
Figuring out who you are is a life-long journey. Now there are all kinds of ways to handle this identity thing. Many people define themselves by the culture, pop culture, movie stars, models and the like. But here’s where you and I today need to frame our identity: frame it, place your identity in the context of Jesus and his sheep. Be who you are that Jesus says who you are: you and I are his sheep.
Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is part of the Good Shepherd’s flock. We are Christ’s sheep. Jesus underscores our identity by pointing out the characteristics of his sheep: “My sheep listen to my voice,” says Jesus.
In Jesus’ days there were many shepherds tending flocks. It was common knowledge then that the sheep of a flock knew the calling voice of their shepherd. They would only respond to the voice of their particular shepherd—not to the voice of a stranger. The sheep know the voice and the scent and even the touch of their shepherd. And likewise, the good shepherd knows you and me. As Jesus says: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them.”
Be who you are. Listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. Do not listen to the glamorous voices of this world, but listen to Jesus’ voice. That, of course, means that you take seriously the Word of Jesus—the Word by which he guides us throughout life.
Be who you are. That also means that we must follow Jesus. “(My sheep) follow me,” says the Lord. We follow Jesus in the work place, at school, at home, wherever we go. What the church and world need today is men and women who stand up for Jesus, and who are not ashamed to identify themselves as his followers. Show your colors. Be who you are! Join the Good Shepherd and remain part of his flock. Here’s my last observation from the text:
· Be Assured: Being assured means that you put stock in Jesus’ words; that you trust in Jesus’ power; and that you draw from Jesus’ benefits. Jesus says: “I given (my sheep) eternal life and they shall never perish.” I’m 56 years old. I can’t believe how fast time is flying by. The other day, I reflected upon how many people I have known and who are no longer with us today—those my age, and younger, as well as older. The list I came up with is staggering and yes, I know, incomplete. As a pastor I have stood at many gravesites and was forced to contemplate the shortness of life.
But be assured! Jesus gives us eternal life. This gift and assurance of eternal life comes with enormous comfort and stability. Death is not the end of life as we know it today. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross and in the tomb and in heaven today, death is nothing more but a gateway into eternal life. And when Christ comes again at the end of time, he will raise and reconstitute our bodies in such a way that we shall live with him on the renewed creation forever and ever. Be assured. This is part of the gospel.
Jesus emphasizes that we, as his sheep, shall not be robbed of this gift of eternal life. The devil cannot rob us, the wolf cannot seize us, the thief cannot take the treasure of eternal life from us. For anyone who believes in Jesus Christ is being held in the hand of God the Father and Christ the Son. No one can snatch us out of the hand of God. Be assured.
Do not be fooled, however! You marked your journey of life with a profession of faith today! We must nurture that faith, and grow in that trust, and declare that commitment every day. For if we don’t, we become like wandering sheep, or stubborn goats, going our own way. It is true that no one can snatch us out of the hand of God. It is also true that you and I can sneak away and willfully go our own way—and in the process get lost. This is why the Good Shepherd calls us to follow him all the days of our life.
So, here it is: join the Good Shepherd and remain part of his flock: Be awestruck and humble; be who you are; and be assured.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.