Sermon for John 10:1-10
Fourth Sunday in Easter
April 13h 2008
I love being a Lutheran. Martin Luther is one of my heroes. OK, I’ll admit he was a rather strange bird, sort of like most Lutherans I know. But one of the things I admire is his willingness to make a stand. Luther stood up to the most powerful organization in the world and said, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture or Reason I cannot recant. Here I stand!” Whoa! That took some guts and other things.
However, more than his courage I truly love the way Luther thinks and teaches us about God and our relationship to this God. His theology of the cross is about the only thing that makes sense in the wacky world. Even though this theology may at first glance seem as odd as we Lutherans. Through mostly the writing of the Apostle Paul, Luther came to the conclusion that we basically are in opposition to God. We think opposite. We act opposite.
For example, there is Life through the Cross. There is power in weakness. We receive by giving away. Like Jesus taught—we are first when we are last. Odd uh? Yet Luther points out there is so much hidden from us now, but will someday be made clear in the future. He uses the story of Moses, where Moses asked to see God, and God tells Moses to cover his eyes and then God passes through the rock, where Moses get a brief glimpse of the backside of God. The backside of God—or as Luther calls it the hidden God—hidden in the opposites of what we think and believe.
Once again odd, uh? Some even go as far to claim it is a little harsh, too much law, not enough gospel—good news. However, Luther is quick to point out—No way! Unless we understand the situation. Unless we know how serious the condition—we will never truly experience the solution—Jesus Christ!
So this morning, I’m going to try and say what a thing really is and examine two of the most well known passages of Scripture where we will hopefully learn that we do actually think and behave in opposites, and hopefully be fortunate enough to get more than a glimpse at the backside of God.
Some 3000 years ago a young shepherd boy named David wrote these words that are somewhat familiar to maybe close to 3 billion souls.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The second passage was written some 2000 years ago where Jesus says as clearly as possible to approximately 7 billion souls: “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate! Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Whoa! Never in want. Green pastures. Still waters. A revived soul. Rest. Right paths. Fear no evil. Comfort. A cup that overflows. Goodness and Forgiveness. And on top of all that: “Dwell in the house of God forever!” Oh my goodness, I want some of that! That’s what I call Gospel. Ah! I want some of that.
There’s a church camp song I don’t really remember, but it sort of goes like this: “I just want a be a sheep, baa, baa, baa. So you want a be a sheep, baa, baa, baa, baa. And here lies the problem. Here is the opposite. We don’t want to be a sheep…baa, baa, baa, ba. For the little I know about sheep, other than I love lamb chops and wool suits, I don’t think it’s an animal I really care to be associated with.
They’re not the most noble of beasts or even the smartest of creatures. Always wandering off, getting lost and in trouble. Sound familiar? I heard about an entire flock of sheep that followed each other right off the edge of a cliff. Yet don’t we sometimes follow the latest craze even if it means going over the edge.
These silly animals will eat themselves sick if you let them graze in one place too long, and they will starve and not go look for food if you don’t lead them to the proper pasture. Again, any semblance of anyone you know? From what I read, an entire flock can be spooked and stampeded by a harmless jack rabbit. Yet aren’t some of our fears more like a jackrabbit than real danger.
Sheep can die from exhaustion because they won’t lie down and rest. And they won’t rest unless they are unafraid, full, completely satisfied. Now this one really makes sense to me.
They can be ornery and stubborn animals, just like myself, and I don’t know about you, but I have never caught a whiff of a sheep that smells anything remotely close to something nice. Put bluntly, they stink! So you want to be a sheep, baa, baa, baa, baa?
Since the theology of the cross teaches that a good Lutheran must say what a thing really is? And we see things in opposites, then here’s a very good example of that.
Of course we don’t want to be a sheep, but looking at human nature, and to say what a thing really is, there’s not a whole lot of difference between me and a dumb sheep. They are quite helpless and definitely need someone to look after them. I’m sorry, I meant to say, I’m quite helpless and need someone to look after me.
“The Lord is my Shepherd.” He makes me lie down. He leads me. He revives my soul. He guides me. And Jesus says, “I am the gate to that Shepherd.”
You see, we are caught in a type of catch 22, a paradox, a conflict of interest—better yet, an opposite. We want green pastures, still waters, right paths, no fear, comfort, a cup running over, but we don’t want to be dependant upon anyone or anything for that abundant life, especially on a God who we feel only gives us a glimpse of his/her backside.
We definitely don’t want to be a sheep—weak, stupid, and vulnerable. After all, get this, get this the only purpose of a sheep back in those days, was to put clothes on somebody else’s back, provide a meal, and be a sacrifice to God. What a waste, uh? Or is it?
Think about this for a moment. The best selling books right now are not how to be like a sheep. The best selling books right now are self-help books. “Win through intimidation.” “Learn to control your own destiny.” “Positive thinking.” “The Purpose Driven Life.” We can overcome what ever ails us, only if we try hard enough. We are a strong people like an ox. And a proud people like the lion.
Even our country’s national symbol is the Bald Eagle. A symbol of strength and majesty. A symbol of independence. After all aren’t we are the home of the free and the brave. Yet, the truth of the matter points to something totally opposite. We are becoming a people imprisoned by our own fear.
So what’s the answer. We say what a thing really is! We give up our grand idea of independence. We for once pay attention to the back of our dollar bill, on which this strong nation of the free and the brave was founded, “In God We Trust.” Our Shepherd.
We need to seriously need to begin thinking in opposites and just admit the sometimes painful truth, and come to the conclusion that we are just like sheep, who have gone astray. We need a shepherd!
And Jesus comes and clearly shows you and I the face of God, not just the backside and says, “I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate! I came so that you may have life and have it abundantly.”
Now not hidden, but still opposite of what we think and believe.
You see, abundant life only comes through the process of becoming a sheep. A sheep whose only purpose is to be a sacrifice to God. A sheep whose only purpose is to provide for others.
Like I said, some may think the theology of the cross has too much law and not enough gospel, or good news. But I ask. Aren’t green pastures, rest, right paths, no fear, and a cup that runs over sounds like the best news one could ever hear? Don’t you desire an abundant life, satisfaction day after day? Of course you do. That’s a no brainer!
And the good news it is yours! The good news is all one must do is be willing to admit you are like a sheep. Can’t do it alone! Weak and not so smart? An honest, harsh gut wrenching confession of the truth. I am a lost, ignorant sheep. I need a Shepherd!
That’s it! That’s all we need to do! Then we listen, we listen for the guidance of God: Coming in those still and quiet moments through the power of the Holy Spirit. We begin to place ourselves in positions where God promises to work:
By devoting yourselves to teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and tons of prayer. Giving of your possessions and spending much time together in the church, breaking bread at home and eating your food with glad and generous hearts.
Then Jesus promises the opposite of what you think will happen. Then will begin to see and feel those green pastures, still waters, rest, right paths, no fear, a cup that runs over. Or simply put a life that lacks nothing. A life full of abundance no matter what the circumstances.
The Lord is my shepherd, and while I may be nothing but a lowly sheep, I will still live life, and live it abundantly, through the worship of God and the service of others. Gloria Dei’s mission!
Baaaa! Which in Sheep talk means Amen.
