“Knowing the Shepherd’s Voice” - John 10: 22-30
April 29, 2007
Dr. Michael C. Yarbrough

          In it, Jesus is a graceful, athletic figure reminiscent of the Greek god, Apollo.  Draped over his shoulder is a large, docile ram.  I am fascinated by it because it is so different from so many sentimental artistic depictions of Jesus.  This strong and confident “Good Shepherd” looks like he really could keep me safe.

          Jesus, the Good Shepherd is an image that has held great power for Christians since the debut of the Gospel of John in the second century of the Common Era.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has been portrayed in mosaics, frescoes, wood carvings, jewelry, stained glass, and statues to decorate our Christian worship spaces ever since.  The image resonates with us at some deep spiritual level because it defines a unique and powerful relationship we have with Jesus.  He is a shepherd who guides and protects.  We are his flock who follows.

          Less than a week after my second visit to Rome, Suanne and I spent a week in true “sheep country:” the Lake District of northwestern England.  We stayed in a little stone cottage that was surrounded by sheep pens, pastures and livestock paths.  One afternoon, we watched a shepherd and his dogs work his flock of sheep from our living room window.  On another night, a large flock was pastured under our bedroom window (it gave a whole new meaning to the phrase, “going to sleep by counting sheep”).

          Have you ever observed sheep?  Sheep get shaved and slaughtered, and are notoriously dumb – so I understand if you might not appreciate me or Jesus referring to you as a lamb in Jesus’ flock.

          In the lectionary today, Jesus confronted some religious critics.  They wanted him to make a declaration of who he really was.  In John’s gospel, Jesus, through words and actions, had already made that declaration – but they just didn’t get it.  Some people had met Jesus and believed.  Others met him, and discounted him as a fake – or a madman – or worse – a blasphemer.

          Why do some people meet Jesus – and recognize the Son of God right away?  Why do others slowly come to know him – in little increments – like a growing seed, or like peeling back layer after layer of doubt?  And, for me, the biggest question of all is: Why do some people never recognize him at all?  “My sheep know who I am and believe, and if they don’t – they’re not my sheep because they don’t know who I am and believe.”  Got that logic?  It’s a confusing answer.  It’s not very satisfying – but it’s what we get.

          When Jesus was gathering and teaching his disciples, he wasn’t given to debating philosophical questions.  He taught in parables that had hidden and double meanings, and spoke in words that sometimes almost seem like riddles.  If you’re in the flock, you’re one of his.  You hear his voice, and you know him and he knows you and won’t let you go.  When Jesus was gathering and teaching his disciples, he said, “Follow me.”  O.K. - - that’s a pretty safe “sheep” kind of thing to do.

          It sounds like you and I are not supposed to worry about who else is a part of Jesus’ flock – that’s the shepherd’s responsibility.  Our job is to make sure that we know the shepherd’s voice.

          Knowing Jesus’ voice isn’t nearly as easy as you might think.  This world is full of voices and they compete with the one (and only one) we should be hearing and following.

          With all the noises and voices around us, how do we know which one is his?  There are political voices.  There are secular voices of friends and family and radio and television.  Each voice gives us a message – asks us – begs us – promises us – something that does not reflect the heart and will of God.  We are assaulted with so many voices it makes our heads spin.  There is so much secular noise in our lives that its voices constantly shape our thoughts, attitudes, values, actions and decisions.

          Jesus once said, “My sheep hear my voice.  I know them and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)  To follow Jesus – to be a part of his flock – is to dedicate our lives to listening for his voice to speak – and listening to his voice for guidance.

          At Bread of Life, we affirm that in order to hear our shepherd’s voice, we have to dedicate ourselves to personal spiritual growth.  There are a number of ways for this growth to take place, but for Christians, several are paramount.

          Here at Bread of Life, we affirm that the Christian life is a life of prayer.  To be a follower of Jesus means that we find time everyday to pray.  Our shepherd yearns for daily time alone with us in silence where his voice can call out to us and to guide us.

          Most of us have a hard time setting aside time for daily prayer.  It isn’t that we don’t have enough time in the day to pray; it has more to do with choices.  We willingly give our time and attention to the other voices in our lives, instead of to our shepherd.

          A second way that we affirm the importance of prayer in our Christian lives is that we invite you to gather at Tall Oaks Conference Center twice a year for a Spiritual Life retreat.  Last weekend, nine of our adults spent about 20 hours in retreat with Jan Linn.  A retreat allows us to get away from work and house for a more concentrated experience.  In community, we work together on our own personal spiritual growth.  Several participants have told me what a valuable experience these retreats have been for them.

          A third way that we affirm the importance of prayer in our Christian lives is that we invite you to be a part of one of our Spiritual Life Groups.  These weekly groups of six to eight persons give us a structure in which we talk about our personal faith experiences, read, reflect, and pray together.

          Daily prayer – retreats – and Spiritual Life Groups – are three ways that this community of faith helps us to get acquainted with and learn to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd.  These are ways for us to know him – know his voice – to live under his watchful eyes – so that no one can snatch us out of his hands.

          Do you know sheep?  It is true that they get shaved and slaughtered, and are notoriously dumb – so it may seem like an insult to call you a lamb in Jesus’ flock.  But let me tell you something else about sheep.

          On that same trip to Italy and England, I also spent a month in the Holy Land.  While I was there, I was once traveling a road on the edge of the Judean Desert.  On each side of the road ahead of us, were shepherds with their sheep.  Each guided their flock to the center of the road where the two flocks intersected and mingled into one big bleating mass of wool.  Our taxi, and the rest of the traffic came to a standstill and drivers began pounding on their horns.

          Without hesitation, each shepherd crossed to the opposite side of the road and shouted at the mutton mayhem.  Slowly, sheep begin to make their way to the two roadsides until the two flocks reassembled with their shepherd on the other side.  As we continued our trip, I was reminded of a truth in Jesus’ teaching that people of Judea understood.  Sheep really do know the voice of the shepherd!  Can we say the same about ourselves?

          Know and follow the Good Shepherd’s voice.  Know that we are Christ’s, and he gives us guidance and protection and eternal life.

          Let us pray:

          O Loving God, Jesus has called our names.  Help us to hear his voice.  Teach us the intimacy of prayer.  We ask it in the name of our “Good Shepherd.”

Amen.