As a child did you ever play follow the leader? I did and I pretty much didn't like it unless I was the leader. It got really old, really fast otherwise. As adults, I don't think we much like playing that game either. And I'm not talking about playing the actual game with our kids. I'm talking about life. We tend to like being our own leader. We like to be in control of where we are going and what we are doing. Of course freedom is a value we hold dear in this country and freedom and equal opportunity are good values to uphold. But we have to be careful about hyper individualism. Take a look at something Jesus recognized.
As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (GNT)
Sheep without a shepherd. When faced with the problems of this world and what lies behind them, I think one could make the argument that we are just sheep without a shepherd. We are lost, worried, and helpless when it comes to fixing what ails us. The fourth Sunday in Easter is known as the Sunday of the Good Shepherd. On it, we always read or sing the 23rd Psalm. We read from John 10 about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Good = Morally excellent, virtuous, righteous. Shepherd = A person who herds, tends, or guides sheep. And it is used metaphorically as one who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group. So if one could argue that the main problem of this world is that we are sheep without a shepherd, one could also argue that we need a Good Shepherd. Not any shepherd, but a truly Good Shepherd. In John chapter 10, Jesus lays claim to that title. He says, "I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep." (v.14) He is truly good, because He is free from ego. He has no selfish motivation. He is truly good because He loves the sheep sacrificially. Their interest and well being is above His own.
Now if we all could be led by Jesus into loving the way He does, this world would be a much different place. It is in that sense that I believe that Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." It is not in an exclusive sense where only those who have prayed a prayer of agreement with a concept of a Jesus, the personal Savior Who will snatch them from the fire of Hell and set them on the path to Heaven, are saved. No. Jesus is the One Good Shepherd who truly can lead the world to salvation, and in fact is alive and is doing it.
Jesus also said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27 (GNT) Jesus identifies two characteristics of His sheep. First, they listen to His voice. Second, they follow Him. Both of these require faith. Notice that I said faith and not belief. There is a difference. Perhaps when we feel we are struggling with faith, we are really struggling with belief. I constantly struggle with belief. My theological beliefs have evolved tremendously and I'm sure will continue to do so. Yet, as I look at my life, I have come this far by faith. Why? Because faith is action. It is movement. It is faithfulness in following. Faith has more to do with the true meaning of belief. Look up the etymology of the word, "believe" and you will find that its root meaning is "to hold dear, love" as in "beloved." What motivates my faith are not ever changing concepts. It is rather an ever deepening love for the Good Shepherd who is willing to lay down His life.
How then do we come to know His voice and thus listen and follow? Unfortunately, I think we often read the Bible, and are taught to do so, in the wrong way. We construct systematic theologies based on various precepts and principles we think we have found in the Bible. Then we use what we have constructed as a way to cage in the Living Word. Jesus cannot and will not be jailed by our systematic theologies. Jesus jumps right out of those theological prison doors when we read the Bible and specifically the Gospels as a story. I don't mean as a fairy tale, but a story. Jesus himself did less "in your face" preaching and a lot more story telling. Why? Because a good story has a way of pulling us in. We suspend disbelief and find ourselves IN the story. We relate to various characters. In fact we ARE certain characters. And those characters always stand in some way relative to the story teller, Jesus Himself. At times, I have realized that I am the older brother in the Prodigal Son story left asking myself, am I going to join the party called God's Kingdom being thrown by my Heavenly Father, or am I going to stand outside in judgment? At other times, I have definitely realized that I am not Peter willing to jump out of the boat in faith. At other times, I have realized that I am the Pius Levite of the Good Samaritan story. On my way to doing "God's work" will I avoid the person most in need of compassion? The Good Shepherd's stories confront. They challenge. Most of all they show us the state of our hearts and call us to true repentance. Therefore they have the power to change our hearts so that we become like our Shepherd.
Let's not trap Jesus, the Living Word, inside of our man made ideas. Instead, let's allow the gentle voice of the Good Shepherd to tell us life changing stories and may we always seek to follow Him so we can hear His voice!
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