5.7.20 - The Good Shepherd Recap

The readings get more interesting as we get closer to Pentecost. This coming Sunday is no exception: There are many rooms (some translations say mansions) in my Father's house? And he tells the Apostles they will do greater works than him? What's going on here?

Below is the Recap from Monday if you weren't able to make the meeting.

Maranatha!

Ron

The Gospel reading from John is often called the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-11)

In the previous chapter (9), the man born blind was healed by Jesus; he was then questioned by the priests and Pharisees and rejected by the Old Covenant authorities. When Jesus hears this, he seeks the man out and brings him to faith in him as the Messiah. Jesus accuses the Scribes and Pharisees of being the ones who are "blind" and then tells them the story of the Good Shepherd.

There are many references in the OT to shepherds and sheep, and some particularly tough language directed at the Temple priests – the “shepherds” of Israel – who had failed to take care of the God’s people. Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Micah prophesied that the Lord God would personally to take over the shepherding from them. From Ezekiel 34:

Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds pasture the flock? You consumed milk, wore wool, and slaughtered fatlings, but the flock you did not pasture. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the stray or seek the lost but ruled them harshly and brutally. I am coming against these shepherds. I will take my sheep out of their hand and put a stop to their shepherding my flock, so that these shepherds will no longer pasture them. I will deliver them from every place wherever they were scattered on the day of dark clouds. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD.

This helps explains why Jesus was so critical of the Pharisees and Sadducees. What’s also important about this is that it says God will come Himself to replace these shepherds. It is another clue about who Jesus really is.

A couple of points:

• Shepherding in the western tradition beckons the image of the sheepdog that comes around the sheep from behind, barking to keep them together. In the more ancient eastern tradition, the shepherd walked ahead of the sheep and the sheep followed. There was more trust than fear (it was also more of a life career!). The shepherds used their voices and developed sounds and calls that the sheep would became accustomed to, similar to what people do with their pets today.

• Many towns had a “sheepfold” (a fenced-in enclosure for the protection of sheep) in the center, so that shepherds passing through could keep their sheep there for the night. An attendant would typically watch over them and water them. Even if two shepherds came at the same time, the would both keep their sheep in the sheepfold. In the morning, a shepherd could separate his sheep simply by calling them. They knew his voice.

READ John 10:1-11

1. When our Lord declares “all who came before me are thieves and robbers” and “strangers,” he was also referring to the idolatrous leaders Israel and Judah who led his sheep to their demise in 722 BC and 587 BC; and to the illegitimate (unholy) leaders since those times, up to and including Herod.

2. Who are the sheep? The people of God. The human race.

3. Who is the Gate? Who is the Gate-keeper? Think of the gate being to heaven. Jesus is the gate, and Jesus is the gate-keeper. Just as love is a noun and a verb, think of Jesus being the gate and gate-keeper in the same way.

4. Jesus says, “I AM” the gate, twice. What does I AM refer to? “I AM” is the name of God that He gave to Moses from the burning bush (Ex 3:14). All Jews understood this identification of God. When Jesus says, I AM the Gate, he is saying He (God) is the gate to heaven.

5. Jesus is the only gate. Some think this sounds restrictive or exclusive. Does it set too high of a bar? Jesus actually sets the bar very low. It’s a lowly gate. Whoever wishes to enter it must be lowly (humble). Jesus first showed the way by emptying himself of his pure divinity and become one of us. The bar he set was love, forgiveness, and humility. In addition to setting the bar low and showing us the way, he gave us the keys, paid the entrance fee, and sent us the HS to us in case we got lost. Can anyone really say this gate is too difficult to enter?

6. Jesus says his sheep recognize his voice. What is the meaning of this? Jesus is implying that we are a bit blind (or preoccupied/distracted) such that he has to call or shout to keep our attention. To warn us of the imposter shepherds who are trying to enter the sheepfold to steal your life away. Also, the more we develop our relationship with God, the more we will recognize his voice calling us in the events of our lives and through the people around us.

7. Elsewhere, Jesus says that if one of 99 sheep goes astray, the Good Shepherd will leave the 99 and go after the one. However, nobody really did that and Jesus’ listeners would have said to themselves, “That's crazy, who would do that?” Answer: They’re right, humans would not. But God would. That is the point.

8. Jesus says the Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep; but again, Jesus’ audience knew darn well that shepherds don’t do that. If they were attacked by wolves, the “good” shepherds would save what sheep he could, but no more. A bad shepherd would just run away. But what shepherd in his right mind would lay down his life for his sheep? Answer: Jesus would. And will. He is also sharing with them what God’s perfect love looks like.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

Peter's Inaugural Speech after Pentecost

1. Who is the author the Acts of the Apostles?

Luke. Acts is like Part 2 after his Gospel.

2. Who is Luke?

An educated Greek physician and oft-disciple of Paul’s.

3. Recall that prior to this, Peter’s probably hadn’t strung together more than 4 coherent sentences in a row. After his encounter with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, he was on fire and converts 3000 people. Not bad for his first sermon.

4. In the reading, Peter tells the people of Jerusalem, "Repent and be baptized." What does "repent" mean?

Answer: Repent means to turn your mind and heart in a different direction: away from your old, selfish ways and towards God.

5. What is Baptism?

Answer: It is Christianity’s “rite of initiation.” It is our acceptance into the New Covenant.

6. What was the “rite of Initiation” into the Old Covenant?

Answer: The Hebrew rite of initiation into the Old Covenant, beginning with Abraham, was circumcision. If you recall, circumcision happens when the Jewish child reaches 8 days old (i.e., Jesus). This also partly explains why baptism of infants has always been accepted by the Church.

7. Did the Jews baptize in the OT?

Answer: Yes, the Jews also had a form of baptism, which is how John the Baptist got his name. But the Holy Spirit was missing until Jesus came, so the act of baptizing in those days was pure symbolism. The Holy Spirit transformed baptism. As with everything else in the OT, baptism it was elevated/completed/ fulfilled in the New. As John himself said, “I baptize with water… but the one who comes after me … will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire!” (Lk 3:16)

Baptism was codified as a sacrament in Jesus’ final instructions to the Apostles before his Ascension in Mt 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” These last words are exactly what the priest must say in Baptism.

Since most Christians were Jews in the beginning, Jewish circumcision continued; but as more Gentiles began coming into the faith, it became a hotly debated topic until the Apostles and leaders of Jewish Christians finally met in 48 AD (now referred to as Council of Jerusalem). It was decided circumcision would no longer be required since it was tied to the Old Covenant. In the New Covenant, it was faith and baptism that were necessary. Peter made the final ruling. (Acts 15)

Any meaning of the Good Shepherd for us today?

The Good Shepherd showed us how to live. We should therefore learn to be both good shepherds and good sheep.

What is a good shepherd?

First (and always), we should look to the how the first Good Shepherd (Jesus) lived, treated people, and loved others. He also lived a life of prayer.

How might this affect the way we raise our families?

How might this affect our work?

What is Servant Leadership?

When I was first learned of servant leadership, it wasn't easy. It involved a lot of false starts, trial and error, and definitely some prayer. But I could tell that, in spite of the difficulties, things in the workplace were improving. Moreover, I found out that many of my difficulties were my own shortcomings: a lack of patience, open-mindedness, etc. I started out thinking that this process was all about helping other people – and it was; but it was equally about helping me. God’s pretty smart.

Nowadays where I work, the #1 job of every manager is to remove obstacles in the path of the people they supervise. And #2, #1 can only be done with the involvement and contribution of the employees being affected. In effect, servant leadership turn the organization upside down by requiring leaders/managers to be in the service of those they are in charge of. It works.

What about becoming good sheep? Where to begin?

Some suggestions…

Play fair

Be honest

Don't complain

Don't gossip

Keep your word

Don't condemn people -- leave that up to God; instead, pray for them (while you pray for your own shortcomings)

Offer to help others, especially those you don't like

Be helpful in the community around you

Suffer with humility

Give credit away for all the good things that happen to others or to God

Take credit for everything all the bad things that happen

It is fascinating trying these last two.