What a Unique Commission!

4th Sunday of Easter, 4/26/15
John 10:11-18


What a Unique Commission!
I. To be the Good Shepherd
II. To lay down his life for the sheep


When writing a note or a paragraph, when sending an email or text message, how to you call attention to a word? There are many ways. You might make it bold or use italics, or both. You might change the color of the word, making it red while all the other words are black. You might increase the font size to the extent that the recipient’s eye will be immediately drawn to the word, so much so, that he or she will pay scant attention to all the rest of the words on the page. You can draw one or more arrows that point to the important word. And then there’s the method that is centuries old—the classic “NB” in the margin which stands for “nota bene” meaning “note well” perhaps accompanied by an exclamation point.

I’ve read this account from John 10 countless times, but as I did my preparation for this sermon one word stood out for me. Did any of them stand out for you? Maybe not. The words of our sermon text, as they are reproduced for you in your bulletin or service folder, all appear identical—same font, same color, no extra markings, not one indicator that any one of them is unusual or more worthy of our attention than any of the others. So, which one stood out for me? It’s in the very past sentence of our text. In this translation, it’s the word “command.” In other places of the Bible where it’s used, it’s often translated “commandment.”

And to me, that seemed out of place. In this section Jesus is speaking about his authority and his willingness to be our Good Shepherd. Suddenly the word “command” appears, leaving open the suggestion that Jesus might be doing this under duress, not of his own volition.

But there’s another nuance to this word. It’s similar to when we use the word “command” to indicate a commission as in a position in which something valuable is entrusted to someone. In the Miami Valley we hear this word used in that way every time a new general takes over the command of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The base with all its people and equipment and property and intelligence is being entrusted to someone so that this person can manage it to the best of his or her ability in the service of our beloved country. They are commissioned.

In this section of God’s word, Jesus is speaking about his commission. And what a unique commission it was and is! There’s none like it in all the world. On this Good Shepherd Sunday, let’s see what that commission is and what it means for us.

Part I.

When is the last time you met a shepherd? I’d be willing to bet that very few of us, if any of us, have ever met a shepherd. A few of us may have met people who raise sheep, but there’s a big difference between raising sheep and being a shepherd. Let me remind you that a shepherd spent his entire day and night simply watching over a flock of sheep. Not the most glorious or interesting vocations in the world. Perhaps you’re aware that even in Bible times, the position of shepherd was not prized. The ancient Egyptians considered such work beneath them. They despised shepherds. Even among the Jews, it was one of the lesser vocations in life. I suppose it might have been looked upon as one of those jobs you did if you couldn’t find anything else to support yourself and your family.

So why am I telling you this? Because Jesus takes that position and raises it to soul-saving heights. He takes what people throughout history have despised or at least don’t appreciate and elevates it and makes it a position and a concept that fills us with comfort and peace and security. With a heart full of love for us he states, “I am the good shepherd. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd.” We live in a world in which too many people only care about whom? Themselves. They don’t care what happens to others as long as they get what they want. Jesus is not like someone who is hired to do a job and cares only about a paycheck. As our Good Shepherd, he’s in it for us, not for himself.

So, when trouble or danger arises, when we’re threatened in any way, Jesus as our Good Shepherd staunchly defends us. If you were to read your Bible from cover to cover, you would meet countless times when the Lord used his power or his angels to avert disaster and harm for his people. He always works all things out for the good of those who love him. Chiefly he guards and keeps you spiritually. And what important work that is since Satan is on a never ending quest to bring you down—body and soul. But your Good Shepherd protects you.

Truth be told, he’s dedicated to doing whatever it takes so that you can remain as a sheep in his fold forever. Jesus is dedicated to making sure that you have life—real life—life with him forever. His highest aim is to make sure your faith is fed on the green pastures of his word and sacrament and to protect you from all harm and danger. Is there any other person in your life, in the entire world, who shares that same dedication to you? That’s what being your Good Shepherd is all about. It’s all about caring for you.

What refreshing news that is! On a daily basis you are forced to battle with people who simply want to use you for their own purposes, to fleece and cheat you, or who view you as an obstacle to their personal goal. But not your Good Shepherd! For him it’s all about you. And no one is forcing him to care all about you. It’s a commission he willingly accepted from his Father. It’s a commission he wanted to take on. What a unique commission—to be your Good Shepherd!

Have you ever considered your relationship with Jesus to be a burden? Your quick answer is probably, “Well, no, not at all.” But let’s dig a little deeper. Have you ever considered the opportunity to worship Jesus to cost you more time and effort than it’s worth? Has the opportunity to present your Good Shepherd with an offering ever been looked upon as if it were a bill or an obligation? Has an opportunity to serve Jesus or your fellow Christians ever been approached or done with anything less than a joyful and willing spirit? Those pretty much describe every one of us. So, we have a Good Shepherd who is all about doing whatever it takes to care for us, but too often our response is that Jesus is asking too much from us. I’m ashamed. How about you? Thank your gracious God that Jesus is still your Good Shepherd! What made him that Good Shepherd was his work as our Savior from sin, for all our sins including our woeful responses to his love for us. Take him at his forgiving word—your Good Shepherd is also your Lamb of God who sacrificed himself for you. And now he lives and reigns to be your Good Shepherd. That’s all he wants to be for you every day. What a unique commission!

Part II.

It seems to happen about once a week. We hear about another suicide bombing, usually in the Middle East. Scores of unsuspecting people are murdered or maimed by a crazed religious militant. And it boggles our minds. How could they do such a thing! Even little children are butchered. These bombers were on a death mission they had likely planned for days and weeks.

You probably have never thought of it in these terms, but Jesus, your Good Shepherd, was also on a death mission, one that differs from all others, one that is truly unique. He told his disciples, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” He had come into this world to die for his sheep. He was willing to do that. He wanted to do that. But that’s not what his people wanted him to do for them. When he refused to be the kind of earthly ruler they wanted him to be, when he wouldn’t use his almighty power to re-establish Jewish autonomy and a glorious Jewish kingdom, they turned away from him. They ended up crying, “Away with him! Crucify him!”

Even his own disciples stood in his way of being the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. When he declared to them that he was going to Jerusalem to do that very thing, Peter tried to deter him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” (Mt. 16:23). The last thing his disciples wanted for him was to suffer and die at the hands of his enemies.

But he still went through with it. He states, “The reason the Father loves me is that I lay down my life. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” How many people in the world would die for you, more than that, would suffer the punishment of hell for you? Your Good Shepherd would…and did! That was his mission in life!

But don’t miss the other part. He also stated, “I have authority…to take it up again.” A dead Good Shepherd would be useless to us, just a fond memory, no impact whatsoever on our lives today. But because of his resurrection from the dead, he truly is our eternal Good Shepherd. Nothing can change that! No one can even challenge that! Other heroes who have died are just that—dead and gone. But your Good Shepherd died and lives!

What a unique commission!

If Jesus were one of several good shepherds, you and I would have no reason to be here in worship this morning. Our worship of him would be as hollow and unneeded as hero worship always is. But we’re not worshipping a hero. We’re worshipping the only Good Shepherd there is—the one who laid down his life for you and then took it up again. And why? So that you could have the assurance in this life right now that you have life with him. In fact, you have eternal life with him. As you battle through each day, as you grieve over what trouble your own sins have brought into your life, as you look for someone or something to grab ahold of to help you each day of your life, look to Jesus, your Good Shepherd. He wants to be your Good Shepherd every day of your life. What a unique commission! Amen.