John 10:11-18

“I Know My Sheep”

            Do you ever get nervous about the future – not sure what the next day has to offer but pretty sure that it won’t be something good? Do you ever get scared – like you need protection or security of some kind but not sure where you’re going to find it? Do you ever feel misunderstood – like no one gets where you’re coming from or what you’re trying to say? Do you ever feel isolated – like no one has time for you or for what you’re going through? Do you ever feel all alone – like no one cares about the struggles that you face every day; much less ever offers to help you through them? Do you ever feel like no one even knows who you are – not even your spouse or your parents or your best friend?

For those of us who have ever felt that way – and who of us hasn’t – God’s Word has some comforting and reassuring things to say to us this morning. This morning our Good Shepherd stands before us and he confidently says, “I know my sheep.” In the sermon text before us this morning from the Gospel of John, Jesus says to you – he says to me – 1.) I know who you are. 2.) I know what you need. This morning Jesus reminds us that he knows us better than we even know ourselves. With Jesus as our Good Shepherd, there is no need for us to be nervous about the future, to ever get scared, to ever feel misunderstood, to ever feel isolated or to ever feel all alone. This morning, and always, our Good Shepherd is there to put his arm around us in his Word and to quietly, yet confidently, remind us, “I know my sheep. I know who you are. I know exactly what you need.” The sermon text this morning is the Gospel reading appointed for today from John chapter 10.

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 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; I know my sheep and my sheep know me -- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father -- and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life -- only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.

1.      I know who you are

God has blessed me with five children. It’s safe to say that I know who those children are – but I’m not just talking about their five names and their five faces. I know their personalities. I know their interests. I know their idiosyncrasies. I know their mannerisms. I know their likes and their dislikes. I know what makes them sad. I know what makes them happy. I know what makes them afraid. I know what gives them security. And, no surprises here, each one of them is different. They each have their own qualities, their own interests and their own personalities. I know who they are. I know exactly who they are. And, unfortunately, because each one of them is a chip off the old block, I also know that they are sinners. I know that they each have their own ways of misbehaving – who of us doesn’t?

When Jesus says, “I know my sheep,” we need to remember that we can’t hide anything from him – nor should we. When Jesus says, “I know my sheep,” we need to remember that we are not the fluffy, white, cute, cuddly sheep that make nice teddy bears. When Jesus says, “I know my sheep,” we need to remember that we are dirty, smelly, prone-to-wander, intensely stubborn sheep.  By nature that is who we are – and Jesus knows it. He knows that our righteous acts are stained with proud, hypocritical, what-can-I-get-out-of-this attitudes. He smells the unfaithfulness that emits from us when we don’t give our best effort at work or when we come grudgingly to church or when we fall short in our roles as spouses, parents and children. Let’s not kid ourselves. Jesus knows exactly who we are. He knows that the sins that we commit up here (in our heads) and in here (in our hearts) – even if no one else does.

He knows who we are and he loves us anyway! “I know my sheep . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep . . . no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” During Holy Week Jesus was in complete control. From Gethsemane to Calvary, from courtroom to courtroom, beating after beating, nail after nail, Jesus was in control. Jesus was in control of the entire situation. Through it all, our Good Shepherd was showing his willingness to lay down his life for us his sheep. Through it all, God was fulfilling the words of the prophet Isaiah. “All we like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way. And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Jesus laid down his life so that our guilt and our sin could be piled on top of him.

But Jesus is our Good Shepherd not simply because he laid down his life to pay for our sins. Jesus is our Good Shepherd because he was able to take that life up again. Jesus said, “I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” We’re still celebrating Eater. I pray that we’re still celebrating Easter – even though all of the lilies are gone, I pray that we’re still celebrating Easter . . . we’re still celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Why? – Because his resurrection gives punch and credence to passages like these. Isaiah 1, “Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.” 2 Corinthians 2, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ.” We no longer stink! We are no longer covered in filth! We have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb! We are holy and righteous before God through faith in Christ. As the psalmist declares, “We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. It is he who made us, and we are his.”

2.      I know what you need

We are his! Is it any surprise that he knows us? “I know my sheep,” Jesus said. He knows who we are – redeemed and forgiven sinners – but he also knows what we need. A shepherd who actually took his job seriously knew what his sheep needed. He knew when they needed to eat and when they needed to drink. He knew when they needed to go out to the pasture to graze, when they needed to be led to the streams to drink. He also knew when they needed to be brought back into the pen for safety. He knew that there were wolves out in the wild looking to devour his sheep. He knew that they needed protection.

Our Good Shepherd knows what we need. Hebrews 4, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Our Good Shepherd knows exactly what we need. He has been in our shoes. He is able to sympathize. He is able to understand. Not only does he know our needs; he is also able to meet our needs. Paul said in Philippians, “God will meet all your needs according to the glorious riches in Christ.”

Our Good Shepherd meets our spiritual needs in the Means of Grace – the Gospel of Christ in both Word and Sacrament. When we need assurance of our salvation he says, “Take and eat.” When we need to be reminded that our sins have been paid for he says, “Take and drink.” When we doubt our membership in his family he points us to the font and says, “You were baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” When we need comfort or motivation or guidance in our lives of faith he directs us to his Word where he gives us all of that and so much more.

Our Good Shepherd also knows our physical needs. Nothing can happen to us in this life with out his knowledge or permission. Nothing! If God feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field, will he not also feed and clothe us? Of course he will! So, as our Good Shepherd encouraged us in his Sermon on the Mount, let’s not worry about the things that our gracious God knows that we need. He will give us everything that we need in life. In reality, doesn’t he gives us so much more than we need? He is our Good Shepherd. He knows us. He knows who we are. He knows exactly what we need. And he will provide it. Amen.