Good Shepherd Sunday -- May 11, 2025
 

          One of the characters in the Peanuts comic strip named Linus is usually pictured carrying an old, tattered blanket.  That blanket has become a part of his character as he uses it to do a variety of things.  Linus has been seen wrestling with Snoopy over the blanket, hiding underneath it, and using it to defend himself against bullies.  It would seem odd to see Linus without his blanket.  In fact, in one series, Lucy tried to break Linus of his dependence on the blanket, but failed.
          Fiction can often be seen in real life.  It isn’t unusual to see little children carrying around a “binky,” his or her favorite blanket.  Although it may look like it needed to be thrown away long ago, that child simply won’t allow it.  They feel safe when they have their blanket, and they will have quite a tantrum if you try to take it away from them.
          Christians have their own version of a “security blanket.”  It isn’t an old, beat up blanket from our childhoods.  Our “security blanket” actually has the ability to protect us and give us true peace.  Our security blanket is faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  This Sunday has been subtitled “Good Shepherd Sunday,” and our text today will show us that we can feel….
   
          Jesus was being confronted by a group of unbelieving Jews.  John wrote, “Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.  The Jews gathered around him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense?  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’”  When Jesus had earlier referred to himself as the “Good Shepherd,” the Jews had accused him of being “demon possessed and raving mad.” (Jn. 10:20) They were now laying in wait for him, wanting to trick him into saying something that would discredit him in front of the people.
          But Jesus saw through the mock sincerity of their request and answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe.  The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.”  Instead of finding comfort in the miracles that Jesus did, these Jews were threatened by them.  They didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but the miracles were difficult to ignore.
          Believers do not share that same fear of Jesus.  Jesus pointed out that “My sheep listen to my voice.”  The picture of sheep listening to their shepherd would be very familiar in this farming community.  Sheep learn to recognize the voice of their shepherd and it makes them feel safe and secure.  They can graze in the fields without feeling afraid of a predator.  Shepherds were known to sit under a tree in the field and sing songs to comfort their sheep with the sound of their voice.
          God knows that we live in a world that is full of danger.  There are so many “voices” that are calling to us and trying to convince us to follow them.  Many are the disguised voices of evil that threaten our souls and would only lead us to destruction.  An enemy lurks around every corner waiting to catch us in a moment of weakness.  It can be a daunting thought to realize that if even one of those voices convinces us to listen to them, our eternal safety would be compromised.
          The different religions found in the world today represent the voices of the enemy.  Many of these same voices were calling for the people of Jesus’ time to follow them.  They are often gentle and seemingly harmless, offering temporal and eternal rewards to all who listen.  False religions can sound reasonable and appealing in the promises that they make.  We can understand how they fool and deceive millions.  The devil is very good at designing false teachings that aren’t easily recognized and that betray the true consequences that await any who adhere to them.
          We have a Good Shepherd constantly watching over us, like sheep grazing in a field.  The comforting voice of our Savior assures us that all is well.  His Word speaks to us with the power of dynamite promising protection against our enemies and care for our every need.  Whatever it may be that poses harm or danger and makes us feel uneasy or afraid is under the divine watch of our Good Shepherd.  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (1:3,4)
          Jesus hears those voices calling out and making false promises.  He knows the dangers that they presented and counters them with his gentle, yet powerful, voice of the Gospel.  “Come to me,” he invited, “and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28) He commands his followers to “Love one another” (Jn. 13:34) by sharing the words and promises that he has spoken as we watch out for the eternal welfare of one another.  Preserving his Word for us by its faithful use is how the Good Shepherd speaks to us today. 
          The voice of Jesus in his Gospel has called us to be sheep in his care.  It is a good place to be.  Isaiah wrote, “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” (40:28) There are often times when we feel that the battle against sin just never ends.  The temptations to sin and the consequences of sin are our unwanted daily companions.  We should be impressed by the devil’s relentless nature and wary of his slick deceptions.  But we do not need to be afraid.  Isaiah continued, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faith.” (40:31)
          Such sure and certain words find their source in the wisdom, power, and love of our Good Shepherd.  He calls us to himself and we listen to his voice because we know that we are…
   
          Jesus calls us into his care so that he can use his power to protect us.  He said in our text, “…I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”  There are dramatic examples in the Bible that show us that our Lord can do whatever needs to be done to protect us.  Jesus showed his power over nature by stilling the storm on the Sea of Galilee and providing water from a rock.  He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf.  He raised the dead and rose himself from the dead, just as he had promised.
          The miracles of Jesus are quite impressive.  No one else could do the things that he did.  Most importantly, no one else could save us from our sins through the dramatic miracle of his resurrection from the dead.  The salesman says, “Trust me,” but his words often have no power to deliver the promises that he makes.  Agreements and contracts between people provide some levels of confidence but are often broken or contain small print that limit what they offer.  The words of Jesus, though, are filled with divine power.
          Jesus assures us that he can do everything that he has promised.  He can provide our “daily bread” as well as a “heavenly feast” that will go on forever.  He shows the confidence that his heavenly Father has in him in that he placed the eternal well-being of the world in his hands.  Jesus said in our text, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and my Father are one.”  The power of God the Father, shared with his Son, 100% guarantees us that we are safe in the arms of our Good Shepherd.  Those in the care of Jesus will never be victims of the devil.
          We try to surround ourselves with the things that can protect us.  We put smoke alarms in our homes and locks on our doors and windows.  We seek the advice of financial analysts for our investments, doctors for our physical health, and mechanics to keep our cars running.  We attend seminars and read articles on the internet to try to better understand how to take care of ourselves and our loved ones.
          If we spend that much time and energy on the 70 or 80 years that we may spend on the earth, we should be just as concerned about the eternity that we all face as well.  Jesus calls to us to use the Word and Sacraments to guard and protect our faith.  He promises that his Gospel works.  It will never return to him empty, but will accomplish what he sends it to do (Is. 55:11) – to create and strengthen faith.  Rest safely in the arms of Jesus by committing to regular church, Bible class, and Sunday School attendance.  Get your daily does of God’s power at home through devotions.  Speak to your Good Shepherd in prayer, laying your cares and concerns at his feet.
          Linus never gave up his blanket, and we should never give up our security blanket, our faith in our Good Shepherd.  God bless us as we live in the constant care of Lord, in his divine power that will lead us to eternal life.  Amen.