Drawn to the Good Shepherd

Last week New Zealand made the headlines as a sheep that had eluded its shearers for five years was finally caught. The sheep was nicknamed “Shreck” because of its mammoth coat of wool. Sheared, the wool weighed in at 60 pounds, apparently enough wool to make about 100 suits. Can you imagine dragging around an extra 60 pounds everyday, year after year. Well, finally Shreck was unburdened and he seemed the happier for it.

Sometimes we can be like Shreck. At times we are reluctant to unburden ourselves. Spiritually speaking, many of us carry around burdens that we really were not meant to. We carry around fear and anxiety, insecurity and frustration. Sins and regrets also deeply affect us, our relationships with each other and with God, our heavenly Father.

That’s why Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). But like Shreck, many of us prefer to keep our problems to ourselves and we end up carrying a huge burden.

In our Gospel lesson, Jesus is confronted with the unbelieving leaders among the Jews. They ask Jesus if He is the promised One from God. But as Jesus confirms it with miracles, they refuse to believe. Jesus explains why: “You do not believe because you are not my sheep.” Now we would think it should be the other way around: “You are not my sheep because you do not believe.” But Jesus has it, “You do not believe because you are not my sheep.”

What Jesus seems to be implying here is that one must first be one of His sheep before one can believe in Him. It means that believing in Him is not something we decide for ourselves. It is something that must “happen” to us. Either we are His sheep or we aren’t. And that’s all there is to it.

Elsewhere Jesus teaches: “All that the Father gives me will come to me,” and “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…has enabled him” (John 6:37, 44, 65). From this it is clear that there is something God must do in order for us to even believe in Him. Think about it. Consider, if you will, the sheep I mentioned above. Shreck did not just decide one day that he had had enough of hauling all that wool around and thought it might be a jolly good idea to turn himself in to his shearers. No. The shepherd had to go out and catch that stubborn sheep and bring it to the pen.

Do you get it? According to Jesus, spiritually speaking, we human beings are no different than sheep. We don’t just one day decide that it would be a good idea for us to turn ourselves in to God for a spiritual cleanse. Consider, for example, why youa re here this morning. Some of you have made it a personal habit, a spiritual discipline, if you will, but if you search deeper, is it not true that you are here because of God’s gracious call, His drawing you to Himself? Did you not come expecting to receive His love, to be unburdened and uplifted in your faith? You feel something drawing you here? Then let God draw you.

But if God is the one who makes people His sheep, then is it not His fault when people do not believe in Him? And, making it more personal, if one day I don’t feel drawn to church, is it not also God’s fault, for not drawing me? No, it is not, because God gives everyone the opportunity to respond to His invitation by drawing them. There is a season in everyone’s life when the Holy Spirit calls a person to a deeper faith. If this call is stubbornly refused again and again, the opportunity will pass. For God’s Spirit will not contend forever with sinful flesh (Genesis 6:3; 2 Corinthians 6:2). So, when you feel God drawing you to Himself, you must respond. Then you will find your soul refreshed and gladness in your heart. From my experience, the longer you put off responding to God’s gentle tugging, the more difficult it will become to perceive His voice and to respond to it. But the more readily you respond, the more often you will sense His guidance and the greater your joy will become. Now, even as a Christian there are times when you will not feel God drawing you. In fact, I am sure we have all experienced times when we felt God had abandoned us. These are times when God allows your faith to be tested so it can grow and mature.

Let us then listen to what it means to respond to the call God has given us to be part of His flock. Jesus describes what His sheep do: They listen to Him and they follow Him. When sheep hear the voice of their shepherd, they respond to it. They do so, because they know his voice and they trust him. They trust him to lead them to lush pastures beside sparkling waters. When they hear his voice, they pay attention and are eager to respond.

That is how we respond to Jesus when we hear His voice: As He speaks to us in the Scriptures, as He calls us to His Table and as He pronounces His forgiveness. When we hear Him, we pay attention, expecting to hear something wonderful and to experience something we do not want to miss.

Sheep who hear their shepherd follow him where he leads them. Sometimes a shepherd has to lead his sheep through barren places in order to reach the next pasture beyond. In order for us to reach our permanent home we must also follow Jesus through some difficult times and places. It means humbling and denying ourselves. It means being brutally honest about ourselves. It means confessing our sins and striving to be found perfect in love as our heavenly Father, while struggling against the inclinations of our sinful nature. It literally means taking up our cross and following Jesus.

We do it because we trust our Shepherd. We trust Jesus for He is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. Jesus knows His sheep by name. We are not just a number, a statistic in some dusty logbook. Jesus knows us personally and gives each of us personal attention. Listen to the promises He gives His sheep; three promises:

“I give them eternal life.”

“They shall never perish.”

“No one can snatch them out of My hand/My Father’s hand.”

We notice when Jesus makes a promise, He does not deal in frivolity. Nor does He carefully measure His promises according to what we deserve. He freely gives the whole nine yards; everything! Eternal life. For if you have that, what more can you ask for?

But Jesus has more to add: “They shall never perish.” It may be possible that having eternal life, you might still squander it or lose it. Just like inheriting a fortune is no guarantee that everything is going to go well. You still have to contend with the taxman, inflation and thieves. Having the promise of eternal life is no guarantee that you might not lose or squander it. That is why Jesus adds, “They will never perish.” He will deliver on His promise, no matter what.

How does God guarantee it? He keeps us in His hand: “No one can snatch them out of My hand.” No matter what happens in your life, no matter what tragedy may strike, you are always in God’s hand. Nothing can take away what God has promised you. Not even your own sin, not death and not the Devil himself.

If this is true, does it mean that once I am a believer and saved, I am always a believer and saved? As far as God is concerned this statement of promise is true, for He is always faithful. However, that does not mean that God will protect you against your own will. If you should choose to give up your faith in Him, you expose yourself to serious spiritual danger. If you turn your back on Him you may lose all. But if you should let God draw you back, He is faithful and will protect you from all harm. And that is key. Clinging in faith to Jesus, you have all that He promises. He is your Good Shepherd who will seek you out and bring you home. Just let Him do His job within you and you will find true life. Amen.

Return to Trinity Lutheran Homepage