The fourth Sunday of Easter each year is known as Good Shepherd Sunday, and on this day each year, we read or sing the 23rd Psalm and we read a section from the 10th chapter of John. It’s a long, complex parable in which Jesus describes his role as the shepherd of God’s people. Now, this parable comes right after John tells the story of Jesus’ healing of the man who was born blind, so there’s value in briefly reviewing this story, to give us context.
The once blind man is called before a tribunal of temple authorities on three occasions to testify to his new found vision—they even call the blind man’s parents to testify to his blindness, yet still the Pharisees—the temple authorities-- cannot or will not believe that the healing was done by Jesus. They even throw the newly sighted man out of the synagogue because he tells the tribunal “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. ... Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (John 10: 30-33) Jesus later comes across some Pharisees who question him about this miracle and Jesus tells them they are in essence being willfully blind to the truth right before their eyes. Jesus was never shy about calling out the religious officials on their hypocrisy. And from this story, John leads us directly into Jesus’ telling of the “Good Shepherd” parables.
The image of the Lord God as shepherd is an ancient biblical concept, dating from even before the writing of the infamous 23rd Psalm. So of course all those who were Jewish would have known this psalm and understood the implications of what Jesus was saying. Jesus telling them that he is the good shepherd has no doubt caused some consternation and concern because the conclusion we can draw from that means that --- Jesus is Lord. And this, coming on the heels of the miracle of the man born blind receiving his sight, well, no wonder the Pharisees had their ‘knickers in a twist’ as my mother would have said! From their perspective, this was blasphemy.
So, it’s now a day or so later, and this takes us to when our gospel reading for today starts. Jesus is walking in the temple, on the festival of the Dedication, also known as Hanukkah; and the temple officials are there too, probably many of the same ones who had heard of his healing of the blind man, and his telling of the Good Shepherd parable. They have gathered around him and ask him to flat out tell them if he is the Messiah—the Saviour sent from God. They want a simple yes or no answer, which Jesus doesn’t give them. Jesus responds saying: “ ‘I have told you and you refused to believe me. The things I do by my Father’s authority show who I am. But since you are not my sheep, you don’t believe me. My sheep know my voice and I know them. They follow me.’ ” (vv 25, 26 CEV)
If they wouldn’t believe who he was, because of the amazing miracles he did, Jesus simply saying, “Yes, I am the Messiah” really wouldn’t have changed their thinking or their belief in him, in God and how those beliefs could impact their lives. They were not a part of the flock that belonged to Jesus, they truly wouldn’t be able to hear his call to them to change their lives, to follow him and the way back to becoming truly the people of God.
Because sheep really do know their shepherd’s voice.
Let me illustrate: In our earlier years of farming, when my husband Hugh was away for a sale or the fairs, I would do the chores. So the sheep didn’t see me on a really regular basis, I was the back-up chore person. From time to time, we’d have lambs on the front pasture field, but they also required grain, so on the way to the barn to do chores, Hugh would call out to the lambs. They knew his voice and they would run into the barn, in fact they’d beat him there. So, when it was my turn to do the chores, I’d call out too—trying to mimic his way of calling; and the sheep would either run the other way, or ignore me. Even if I wore exactly the same colour of coveralls and ball cap, I couldn’t trick them. Now, after a week or so of doing chores, many—but not all of them came to associate my voice with their food, and would come to the barn when I called. And when Hugh would come back from wherever he’d been, give them a holler on the way to the barn—and they’d come a running! All this to say, that sheep really do come to know their shepherd’s voice—in fact don’t forget it even after a time of absence. So the image of Jesus as Shepherd actually is a good one, especially when you understand a little something about the ways of sheep!
But you know, there is more to being a Christian, than just saying yeah, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God come to save us. Those who are part of Jesus’ flock, those who are Jesus followers, listen for Jesus’ voice, and hear Jesus’ call to follow him, hear the call to eternal life in Christ. Jesus told the Pharisees that those who follow him belong to him (vs 26) and cannot be ‘snatched away’ because they were given to him by his Father. (vs 30)
Now, these verses, ‘those who belong to Jesus’ and ‘those whom the Father has given to Jesus’ are loaded phrases. Because where does your head go when you hear that? Well, for me, my mind goes to the reverse, so what about those who don’t belong—those who don’t believe or follow Jesus? Are there really some whom God hasn’t given to Jesus? Are there then some who are predestined to be out of the flock, predestined not to be saved? Are non-Christians destined for eternal damnation? Is that what Jesus meant? These are questions that have been discussed by theologians for centuries, certainly since the time of the reformation, and John Calvin’s time specifically. There are specific groups of Christian denominations who really believe that is so, using scriptures like these to justify and explain the reason for thinking this way.
Well then, what do Anglicans believe? So, where do we go when we want to know what Anglicans believe? A good place to start is the 39 Articles of Religion, the basis of Anglican theology since the reformation in 1571. Written by Thomas Cramner and Joseph Ridley Recall where we find them? Right -- in our BCP-starting at page 698. Article 17 is titled: ‘Of Predestination and Election’. Interestingly, this 17th article is the longest of the 39 Articles, which would indicate the importance of it at the time of the writing of these articles. The language is archaic and difficult to understand, so I won’t read the whole thing for you. But the final line from the 17th article says that telling non-Christian people that they are in essence sentenced to eternal damnation is “a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation.” In other words this is like saying that non-Christian believers, the so-called destined to be ‘out of the flock’ people, are abandoned to a life of faithlessness and hopelessness, abandoned by God, left to the worst evils of society—the work of the Devil. And that, for Anglicans, is completely against our belief that in life -- and even in death, there is always hope, that life in Christ is always available to anyone who chooses to come to Christ. That is the Easter message, the message of Christ’s death and resurrection—even in the midst of unimaginable evil and death; there is life and hope in God in Christ. God never abandons anyone; we are always being called to faith in the love of God, and for Christians, that love is expressed through the life of Christ. Jesus calls us to the life he came to earth to teach us and show us. No one, irrespective of what they’ve done is predestined to a life abandoned by God—Father, Son or Holy Spirit. No-one is irredeemable, Christ is available to all.
And interestingly, I think that the words of the 23rd Psalm, when you take it apart and really look at it, tells us that too! I have a couple of slide that offer a neat little analysis of the 23rd psalm, that I thought you might appreciate.
23rd Psalm One Liner Responses
The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance!
For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil ----- that's Security!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Comfort!
Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me -----that's Safety!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies------that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -----that's Refuge!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!
Truly, God loves us and provides for us plentifully!
And God never stops calling us, even when we turn a deaf ear!