21 Apr SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2024

One commentary stated that the relationship between shepherd and sheep is one of mutual knowledge and love. I’m not so sure if I’d describe it that way. I think that anything deemed mutual implies that it, in this case, knowledge and love runs both ways. It would suggest that both parties would know each other to a similar degree such that either could exchange roles. Surely, that’s not the case between shepherd and sheep.

A shepherd knows the sheep in a similar way to how a parent knows a child. As a caretaker, the shepherd/parent understands the needs of his or her charges and sees to them. Whether there is reciprocation whereby the sheep/child meets the needs of the shepherd/parent is incidental to those dependent upon receiving care and is not of primary concern.

I mean in the 23rd Psalm, what role does the sheep actually play? They are followers who rely upon the shepherd for all of their wants and needs: a place to lie down, a location where good food is available alongside safe drinking water. The sheep relies upon the shepherd for rest and guidance which helps to secure the sheep’s safety and comfort. The only thing sheep really have to do is follow, remain with the shepherd, not stray or turn away. 

The shepherd is the responsible one who makes the sheep do what’s best. He or she thinks on their behalf, leads and restores them, guides and protects them through use of his or her knowledge, employing tools of the trade, bravery, forethought and vigilance. 

There’s almost a guarantee implied: If sheep act according to what the shepherd has in mind for them, they may dwell forever in goodness and mercy. In fact, goodness and mercy are character traits of the shepherd which promote the sheep to stand in good health. 

The apostle John writes, “We know love by what is done for us, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” There’s not one person alive on this earth who wouldn’t testify to the very same. “We know love by what is done for us, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” The very definition of betrayal, the exact opposite of love, is when word or speech does not match truth and action. 

Jesus loved in both word and deed. Like a good shepherd, he laid down his life for us, his sheep. After the fact, we can no longer act like sheep, expecting to be led, protected and cared for. We’ve been given what we need, the freedom to stop being sheep and step into the role of shepherding.  We are to become caretakers by taking care of our brothers or sisters who are still vulnerable like sheep, who are in need who would benefit from help, yet we refuse to help them. 

Just as a reminder, commandments are not suggestions. They’re more akin to military orders, non-negotiable requirements, that are so important to the success of the mission, that the commander God threatens court martial/ condemnation for our disobedience. John writes, “Our hearts know their duty and if we perform it as such, we will be rewarded with whatever we ask because we do what pleases God. Believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another. Then we abide in him and he in us by the Spirit he has given. 

Commandments are not suggestions.

That’s the secret. Obedience is impossible without possessing the Spirit which God alone can give. Think about it. Even Jesus received the Holy Spirit at Baptism as a provision, as encouragement which gave him confidence, which enabled him to begin a three year intense period of ministry that led to self-sacrifice, a journey to the cross that ended in victory. Abiding in God and receiving the Holy Spirit makes the difference between a good shepherd and a hired hand. 

The hired hand cannot claim to be the shepherd because he does not own the sheep. He does not possess the necessary bravery to fight off the wolf. He can only think of self preservation and is unable to consider the hapless plight of helpless sheep. He leaves them to suffer attack, brutality, being scattered in fear, and snatched into the jaws of predators nearby. He cannot care because he has not been empowered to do so by the Spirit of God given to those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ. It’s the only way we can love one another as we have been loved. 

Love is mutual. It entails intimate knowledge of the other. It is not a casual arrangement, but the willful taking on of responsibility. Love involves making a sacrifice which requires giving, choosing to give. 

Think about it. Jesus laid down his life not only for God’s chosen people, the Israelites, but for every descendant of Abraham who was the father of all nations. Jesus said, “They do not belong to this fold, but they belong to me. I claim to have them so I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice. There will be one flock, one shepherd. I don’t know about you, but hearing Jesus say that gets me pretty excited. I love the idea of unity, of being one flock under the care of one shepherd. 

Jesus shares the will of his Father. He knows that following the plan involves laying down his life and that if he volunteers to lay it down of his own accord, he will receive power to take it up again. Why or how is he so sure this is how things will go down? Because he has received this command from his Father. 

Commandments are not suggestions. They’re akin to orders, non-negotiable requirements so important to the success of the mission, that the commander threatens condemnation for disobedience, but also offers great reward for compliance. 

John might well have been writing about Jesus when he said, “the heart knows its duty and if we perform it as such, we will be rewarded with whatever we ask because we do what pleases God. Abide in him as he abides in us by the power of the Spirit he has given.”

What kind of God but our God offers to share such power? What kind of God but our God invites people to experience mutual love and knowledge knowing that being in relationship with us means we will never be the first contributors and will always be the primary recipients? Surely, the best description of us is sheep who stand to gain if we will but follow, remain with the shepherd, do what the shepherd says, not stray or turn away from instruction. 

Maybe that commentary was right after all. Love and knowledge are mutual between a shepherd and sheep, between God and his children. Love and knowledge require mutual understanding, self-awareness that goes both ways, an intimate exchange of care for the other. 

Love and knowledge are not in a casual arrangement, but involve the willful taking on of responsibility. Love and knowledge that is mutual involves making sacrifices which require growth, giving, and choosing to give. They involve obedience to commands for the sake of the mission, a mission bound for failure unless empowered by the Holy Spirit.

In the Book of Acts, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, knew how to answer the question posed regarding “by what power or by what name do you do this?” He said, “Let it be known to all of you and to all people that this man’s good health has come by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” 

I understand how that sounds. It sounds as if no other name under heaven, no one else whose name is given among mortals can save, and I believe that, but I hold onto what Jesus says, that there are others that belong to him whom he claims are not of this fold, but who will listen to his voice. I’m counting on it as much as an insomniac might try counting sheep in order to fall asleep. Let us pray.

Lord, you’ve clued us in on so many things today. For starters, that you care for us and always act according to your purposes, following the wisdom of your plans for righteousness to prevail and for eternal life as one flock to become reality. Empower us to mutually love and know our brothers and sisters, to abide with you, to take responsibility and give according to need. As we have received your Spirit, may we share and sacrifice in obedience to your commandments. In your holy name we pray, Amen.