Jesus is the Good Shepherd--April 22, 2007 sermon

“Jesus is the Good Shepherd”
John 10:11-16
The Second Sunday after Easter
April 22, 2007

+ Grace, mercy, and peace be unto all of you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. +

John 10:14: “I am the good shepherd; and I know Mysheep, and am known by My own.”

PRAYER:
Lord God, our heavenly Father, we come to You giving You thanks that You are the Good Shepherd and that You care for us day by day. You provide us with everything we need physically, but more important You provide us with everything we need spiritually—forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Forgive us for the times we take things in life for granted, and help us to remember that we all we have is a gift from You because of the great love You have for all of us. And now may the words of my mouth and the meditation in our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who owns you, for He created you in your Mother’s womb through the seed of your Father, and blessed you with His gift of life.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and amknown by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One who guided you safely through your birth by the caring hands of birthcare providers, and blessed you with His gift of lifein this world.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who provides youwith pasture, first at your parents’ table and later at your own table, feeding you the food that nourishes and strengthens your body for all the days of your life.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who provides you with clothing for your body, at the first first when your parents bundled you up in love and now by your dressing of yourself in the wrap that covers you in modesty, protects you from the weather, and displays to the world the blessing of such clothing that The Lord Himself provides to you throughout your life.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who provides youwith shelter, first within your family’s household and later providing you with one of your own, which protects you from the heat and the cold, keeps you safe from wild beasts and wild men, and gives you a place that you can call your home throughout the days of your life.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who teaches you through your parents and your teachers to understand the universe He has created and to recognize your place in it, as a sheep living among goats. He teaches you how to serve both those in your own sheepfold and all who are outside of it, with your skills and your intellect,your body and your mind, working love toward your family members, your friends, the stranger--anyone whom God Himself brings into your life.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who owns you, His lamb, for He created you by the gracious work of Your Heavenly Father through the seed of His Word by the power of The Holy Spirit in the womb of Mother Church, and blessed you with His gift of everlasting life.“

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and amknown by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and he knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who led you to the quiet waters of Baptism at the hand of your Pastor, graciously and gently washing your wool in those grace-filled waters to remove the stain of your sin, giving you the gift of eternal life in the world to come.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and he knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who is with you in comes to rescue you when you have wandered away from Him, calling you gently back into His fold, that you might enjoy the life He has in store for you--life under God’s blessing now, and life with God forever.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who has the VoiceWho speaks to you, “I forgive you all of your sins,”and by His gracious proclamation to you all of yoursins are forgiven, and to you new life is given--evenlife in the world to come.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who guides you bythe rod of His Law and the staff of His Gospel, prodding you and pointing the way for you along the paths of righteousness--His righteousness--for the sake of His Saving Name. He provides the only way toGod--He is The Way--for it is solely by faith in The One Whose Name is Jesus that we are guided safely through the valley of sin and death sin not unto evil, but unto life everlasting.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and he knows you. And you know Him.
You know Him as the One Who invites you to come to His altar so that He may feed you with the very Flesh and Blood of the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world and your sin, and becomesone with your flesh and blood, strengthening you foryour walk through this life into eternal life.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and he knows you. And you know Him.
You dwell with Him now. And you shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

In Jesus name. Amen.

+ The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus, our risen Lord and Savior. Amen. +