The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

Misericordias Domini, the Third Sunday of Easter – 5/4/2025

John 10:11-16

Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer – St. John’s Lutheran Church of Oakes, ND

That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our Gospel lesson from the tenth chapter of the holy Gospel according to St. John with special emphasis on verses fourteen through sixteen which read as follows:

[Jesus said,] “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”[1]

Thus far the Scriptures.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There’s something deeply comforting about the image of a Jesus as a Shepherd. Maybe that’s why the Twenty-Third Psalm is one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”[2] It brings to mind green pastures, quiet waters, safety, and peace. But Jesus doesn’t just call Himself a shepherd. He calls Himself the Good Shepherd. And then He says something no ordinary shepherd would ever say.

Listen again to Jesus, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  Now think about that for a moment. Imagine you're a shepherd. You’re guarding your flock and along comes a wolf. What’s your job? To protect the sheep, yes, even to kill for them. To die for them? Not really. Because if the shepherd dies, the sheep are in even more danger. A dead shepherd leaves the flock scattered and vulnerable. A good earthly shepherd tries to survive the attack, not become a martyr. But Jesus says, “I lay down My life for the sheep.” Not as a last resort. Not accidentally. Rather, intentionally.

Jesus the Good Shepherd Who Dies for the Sheep

No earthly shepherd would make this kind of decision. He might fight to protect his sheep, but dying for them would mean the loss of the entire flock. That's not good shepherding. Even more, it is foolish to expect that a shepherd to give up his life for the sheep as humans are infinitely more valuable than sheep. But Jesus is not like other shepherds. He is the Good Shepherd. And what makes Him good is not the quality of His shepherding, rather, it is because He dies for them. But His death doesn’t leave the sheep abandoned. In fact, His death saves the sheep.

He says a few verses after our reading today that, “No one takes My life from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.”[3] The death of our Lord is not a tragic accident; it is the result of a perfect, divine plan.  God Himself had prepared this rescue. The Shepherd would die, not because He was overpowered by the wolves of sin, death, and the devil, but because He chose to give Himself for His sheep.

That means you, dear friend in Christ. Jesus knows you. And He chose you for salvation. you. He knows your sins, yes, even the ones you hide. He knows your guilt, your wandering heart, your tendency to wander from His care and the sheepfold of His church, and He still says, “These are My sheep. I will die for them.” He lays down His life on the cross, not for good people, not for obedient sheep, but for us. For sinners. For wanderers. For those who don’t deserve it. That’s what makes Him good. And that’s what makes us safe and earns us a place in the protection of His sheepfold.

The Sheepfold of the Church

But where are we gathered as His sheep today? The obvious answer is that sheep belong in the sheepfold. Jesus, unsurprisingly, speaks of a sheepfold, a place where the sheep are gathered, protected, and fed. What is that for us? That’s the Christian Church.

Now when I say “Church,” I don’t just mean some unknowable thing. I mean congregations like this one right here. The Christian Church exists in real, local, physical congregations. Places like this one, where the Word of God is preached, the Sacraments are administered, and the voice of the Shepherd is heard.

Martin Luther gave us a helpful list compiled from the Scriptures. These are called the seven marks of the Church.[4] You might recognize some of these:

• The preaching of the Word

• Holy Baptism

• The Lord’s Supper

• The Office of the Keys (confession and absolution)

• The Office of the Ministry (pastors)

• Worship and prayer

• The holy cross (suffering from being faithful to Christ)

Where these things are found, there the Church is. That is to say, we can recognize that the church is there. That’s the sheepfold. That’s where the Shepherd gathers His people. And dear friends, you are part of it by faith in Christ.

When you were baptized, the Good Shepherd claimed you. When you come to the Lord’s Supper, He feeds you with His very own body and blood, sustaining you in Him. When you hear His Word, He calls you by name to Himself in forgiveness and grace. You are not alone. You are part of His flock.

Other Sheep… One Flock

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He says something remarkable in verse sixteen: “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd.”[5] Now what does that mean? It means there are believers outside this visible congregation. Outside of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Even outside Confessional Lutheranism. Wherever the voice of Jesus is heard and believed, there are His sheep.

That doesn't mean that doctrine doesn’t matter. It does. What we believe, teach, and confess really matter, because it's about Jesus and His gifts. In other words, it clearly shows that  Jesus is still gathering His flock. He is still calling. Still seeking the lost. Still drawing people to Himself through His Word.  And here’s the promise: There will be one flock. Not many, not scattered, not divided, one.

Right now, the Church is scattered across time and space. But on the Last Day, when Christ returns, He will gather all His sheep into one visible, eternal flock. There will be no denominations, no divisions, only unity in the Shepherd’s voice. And we will be together forever with Him.

Confirmation and the Church

Today, we get to see a small picture of that unit, because today we are having Confirmation for three young members of our congregation. To our confirmands: Today is not about showing off how much you’ve learned. It’s not a graduation. It’s a about making a confession of who Christ is, what He has done, and what you will cling to until death or the return of the Lord. You are standing before this congregation to say, “I believe in Jesus. I trust my Good Shepherd. I will follow Him.” And that’s no small thing. In a world full of wolves, that is, spiritual danger, false teaching, temptation, you are saying, “I will remain with the flock. I will listen to the voice of my Shepherd.”

And dear confirmands, we rejoice with you. You belong here. Not just today, but every day. This is your sheepfold. This is your family in and through Christ. So stay close to Jesus. Keep coming to His Word. Come to His Supper. Confess your sins. Receive His forgiveness. You are not alone. You are part of the flock. And your Shepherd is good.

To the rest of the congregation: these young people are watching you. They’re looking to see if this faith is real. Let your life be a testimony, not of perfection or moralism, but of faithfulness. Keep listening to the Shepherd’s voice. Encourage one another. Stay close to the fold.

Conclusion

A shepherd who dies for his sheep? That’s Jesus. A sheepfold where the Shepherd still speaks and feeds and forgives? That’s the Church. Other sheep not yet here? Jesus will bring them.

Because in the end, there will be one flock, one Shepherd. And He is good, so good that He laid down His life for you.

In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

 The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] John 10:14-16 English Standard Version. All subsequent citations from the Bible are ESV.

[2] Psalm 23:1

[3] John 10:18

[4] Luther, Martin. On the Councils and the Church. Luther’s Works, 55 vols. ed.s Jaroslav Pelikan and Helmut T. Lehman, (Philadelphia: Muhlenberg and Fortress; St. Louis: Concordia, 1955–), 41:148.

[5] John 10:16