He has a lamb draped over his shoulders. In his hand is the unmistakable shepherd’s staff. A flock of sheep surrounds him. His eyes seem to be looking for danger or searching for a safe place to give his sheep food and water.
I imagine that many of you have seen a picture or painting of the scene I just described. We know who the shepherd is and we recognize those whom the sheep and lambs represent. It is a picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. And it is a picture of us his sheep and lambs. When we see such a painting or picture we recall the fact that Jesus described himself as the Good Shepherd.
But perhaps we can see something more in the picture. Because Jesus is carrying one of the lambs from his flock we are reminded that he loves each of his sheep individually. When one of them needs special care he gives it. The sheep in Jesus’ flock aren’t nameless and faceless. No, he loves and cares for each one. And when one of them needs to ride on his shoulders for a while he picks it up and puts it there. In addition to that comforting truth the picture also reminds us that Jesus cares for the entire flock. He is leading, protecting, and providing for all of his sheep.
For our sermon on this Good Shepherd Sunday we will direct our attention to a part of God’s Word where we will receive an indirect reminder of Jesus’ care for the individual sheep in his flock and also a direct reminder of his care for the whole flock. We ask the Holy Spirit to increase our faith in our Savior through the words of John 21:15-19. (Read text.) Through this conversation between Jesus and Peter may we:
“SEE THE GOOD SHEPHERD CARE FOR HIS SHEEP”
I. He cares for the individual
II. He cares for the entire flock
These verses continue where our gospel lesson for last Sunday stopped. Peter, Thomas, (called Didymus), Nathanael, James and John, and two other disciples were together in Galilee. One night Peter said, “I’m going out to fish.” That sounded like a good idea to the other disciples so they all went with him. Unfortunately that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, a man that they didn’t recognize appeared on the shore. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They had heard those words before. When they did what the man said they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish in it. They figured out who was on the shore. John said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Immediately Peter wrapped his outer garment around him and jumped into the water to swim to shore. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish. When they landed on shore Jesus invited them to eat a breakfast he had prepared. After their breakfast Jesus had some work to do in the spiritual life of one of his disciples. Through his interaction with Peter we see Jesus at work as the Good Shepherd. We see how he cares for the individual sheep and for the entire flock.
I.
One of Jesus’ sheep was in need of some special care. At times he had been very stubborn and strong willed. Jesus had warned him that Satan was setting a trap for him. But Peter’s pride got in the way. He had boasted, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33) Well you know what happened. Before the rooster’s second crow Peter had denied Jesus three times. And as Jesus was being led off to another trial he shot a glance at Peter that shook his soul. Peter went out and wept bitterly over the sins he had committed.
The rip in the relationship between the Good Shepherd and one of his sheep had to be mended. We can’t say what Peter was thinking at this point concerning his denial. Since Jesus rose from the dead perhaps Peter was trying to gloss over his denial as if it were no big deal. After all Jesus was fine now. On the other hand Peter may have been wallowing in guilt. It might have been the kind of guilt that would haunt him all his life if it wasn’t addressed.
Obviously Peter would have liked to avoid the whole episode. But the Good Shepherd knew better. By asking Peter the question, “Do you love me?” three times Jesus was bringing him back to his three denials. It wasn’t easy for Peter. It had to be like torture for him. John was there and he recalled, “Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’” Even though it hurt Peter, Jesus was bringing healing to one of his sheep. Jesus wasn’t sticking it to Peter or rubbing his nose in what he had done. He restored and strengthened Peter by uncovering his guilt and providing forgiveness.
Although the verses we are considering show Jesus’ love for Peter we can also learn about the care the Good Shepherd gives to individuals by looking at the lives of the other disciples who were standing by the fire on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Thomas, the one called Didymus was there as well. Do you remember the special care that Jesus gave to him? Thomas wasn’t with the other disciples on Easter Sunday evening. He didn’t see Jesus and didn’t believe that his friends had seen Jesus. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it,” were his famous words. He has been known as “doubting Thomas” ever since. But one week later the Good Shepherd came to deal with the doubts that one of his sheep had. Nathanael was also there on the shore that day. Do you remember how Jesus called him into his flock? Nathanael had been searching for the Messiah. We aren’t sure if he was praying about the Messiah, or just thinking about him. But Jesus said, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” A sheep that was searching for the Good Shepherd was found by him. And we can’t forget about James and John. Those two sheep needed some serious shepherding from time to time. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus called them the “sons of thunder.” When the residents of a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy them. And remember how their mother asked Jesus to let one of them sit immediately to his left and the other to his right in his kingdom? The Good Shepherd did what was best for those two sheep as well.
In the example of Jesus’ interaction with Peter and his history with the other disciples we see the relentless love that Jesus has for the individual sheep in his flock. He knows what each needs. He carefully addresses their fears and doubts. With loving discipline he steadily trains each of his sheep so that they are more obedient to him. He cements the bond between himself and his sheep by reminding them of his great love and constant care. The familiar hymn states these truths so well, “I am Jesus’ little lamb; Ever glad at heart I am, For my shepherd gently guides me, Knows my needs and well provides me, Loves me ev’ry day the same, Even calls me by my name.”
As I look at you the sheep and lambs of the Good Shepherd I am greatly comforted by the fact that he cares for each and every one of you as individuals. You might be able to put on a smiling face for me but he knows the pain you hide. All your fears are known to the Good Shepherd. Your hopes and dreams and the desires of your heart are known to him as well.
There are times when our Shepherd will confront the sins in our lives as he did with Peter. It may be uncomfortable for us and even painful. When we wander from him he may allow us to experience how bad life can be without him. If we are acting rebellious and stubborn he may have to employ tough love to get our attention. But in the end everything he does is for our eternal good so that we his sheep and lambs end up in the eternal sheep-pen of heaven. As you see the Good Shepherd care for his sheep see that he cares for the individual.
Before we move on to look at how Jesus cares for his whole flock there is one last thing I want you to consider in connection with our Shepherd’s care for the individual. Jesus made a prediction about Peter’s death. “‘I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’” The all-knowing Shepherd had every moment of Peter’s life in his hands. Peter would die as a martyr for gospel. But even then Jesus would be in control and receive Peter into glory.
What a comfort it is for each of us as individuals. Our Good Shepherd knows when our journey on earth will end. We have nothing to fear in the future. Whether we live to old age or die unexpectedly our times are in his hands. As the last verse of “I am Jesus’ Little Lamb,” says, “Who so happy as I am, Even now the shepherd’s lamb? And when my short life is ended, By his angel hosts attended, He shall fold me to his breast, There within his arms to rest.” Today I invite you to see the Good Shepherd care for his sheep. See him care for the individual sheep. Know that he cares for you personally.
II.
“Feed my lambs.” “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” Jesus had more in mind than just restoring one of his sheep. Peter would become a leader in the early church. Through his ministry little lambs would be brought into Jesus’ flock. The sheep of the Good Shepherd would be fed and cared for through Peter’s work with the Word and Sacraments. And through Peter’s mission work gentiles (the sheep of the other fold that Jesus talked about) would be brought into the fold of the heaven bound flock.
Jesus’ care for his sheep through Peter would also include the training of additional shepherds who would serve the flock. In his first letter Peter wrote about this to other leaders in the churches, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4)
Ever since that morning on the shore of the Sea of Galilee the Good Shepherd has used men like Peter to act as “under-shepherds.” The Apostle Paul, who is another example of the shepherds who have served the Good Shepherd wrote, “It was he [Jesus] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) To the elders of the church in Ephesus Paul gave this instruction, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28) Jesus continues to care for the sheep in his flock through those who are called to be overseers.
A little over two years ago the members of Abiding Word asked the Good Shepherd for a shepherd. He led me to accept your call. He brought me here to feed you and care for you in His Name. He entrusted me with your spiritual health and life.
But the task of feeding Jesus’ sheep and lambs goes beyond pastors. We extend calls to some among us to serve as Sunday school teachers. They are caring for the little lambs. Very soon we will be calling teachers for our Family Bible School coming up in July. That will be an opportunity for some of you to share in the work the Good Shepherd does. In three weeks we will be offering ChristLight for adults. We will extend a call for a teacher for that class. Once again the Good Shepherd will be working through one of the members of his flock to feed others in the flock.
There is another way that the Good Shepherd cares for the flock as a whole. He teaches each of us to watch out for each other. We know there is safety in numbers. When we see one of Jesus’ sheep wandering away we are all to call out warnings to him or her. “Come back to the flock!” we say. When one of us is wounded or worn down the other sheep help out with acts of service and encouraging words. Together we give of our time, talents, and treasures to carry out the ministry here Abiding Word. From the youngest lamb to the oldest sheep we make a commitment to each other to make sure all of us are being fed the pure Word of God. In that way the sheep look out for the other sheep.
On this Good Shepherd Sunday it is good for us to be reminded of the care Jesus gives us. Through Jesus’ conversation with Peter we see how Jesus cares for the individuals in his flock. He knew exactly what Peter needed to hear. The Good Shepherd restored Peter and empowered him to serve other sheep and lambs. Jesus’ does the same thing in our lives. He knows exactly what we need for body and for soul. In these verses we have also been reminded of how the Good Shepherd cares for the whole flock. He appoints shepherds to watch over the flock—to feed it and lead it. He uses all the sheep and lambs within his flock to shepherd one another. May we have confidence in Jesus care for each of us. May we also serve the flock in whatever way we can so that others receive care through us. Amen.
