John 10:1-10 (NIV)
Picture with me an enclosed courtyard attached to a house. It has a wall of stone around it and a single gate. The courtyard acts as a sheep pen. There may be more than one flock kept there, and there is a gatekeeper to guard the entrance.
Only the shepherds are admitted through the gate. The purpose is to safeguard the sheep.
This was the picture Jesus’ listeners would have understood. Jesus was concerned about false leaders and the self-righteous, deceivers and frauds, those whose only interest is in themselves. If Jesus were talking to us today, it would be much the same. He would be just as concerned about those who take advantage of the vulnerable, and those who are simply oblivious to the needs of others in times like these, with little regard for the consequences or who they may cause harm.
We are in a time where we vacillate between our need to get back to normalcy and the health and safety of ourselves and others. On one hand, we hear reports of draconian measures taken against people who were clearly no threat to others, and we are incensed; on the other hand, we see those who disregard safe distancing and safety procedures. Likewise, we are incensed by blatant indifference to guidelines and rules meant for our safety. And we, the sheep of Jesus’ fold, are caught between our growing desire to get back to “the sheep pen” – our church – and doing the right things to keep the sheep safe. In the meantime, we thank God for those who put others first as they listen to the Shepherd’s voice and follow.
We have “sheep” doing just that, helping in ways ranging from medical care and first responders to supporting local businesses and producing much needed medical safety supplies. And of course, we pray. Every one of us can listen to and follow Jesus with prayer, praying for those who need to be saved from the stranger’s voice or from the “thief” who would rob them of their safety and life, even as we pray for fullness of life.
In a strange way, in our context, the “thief” and “robber” (vs. 1, 10) includes an invisible enemy that “comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” It destroys livelihoods and steals freedom to gather and worship, and tragically, it kills. Prayers…
And every day, as we pray and wait, we see the maps and statistics, the numbers being counted of those infected and those who have succumbed to the virus we fear. For us, it appears we have not reached our “peak” yet, but within a week or so.
In the face of these stats and numbers, Jesus uses a “figure of speech” (v. 6) to describe himself as the Gate. Whoever enters through Him will be saved, safe and will thrive. It is personal, for the shepherd calls the sheep by name to lead them out through the gate. This anticipates the following scripture (v. 14) when Jesus declares himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep.
There is an important message here during this time of “Covidity,” when we are feeling isolated, depersonalized, disoriented (the days seem to run together, don’t they?), and reduced in some ways to a statistic. Here’s what I mean…
A shepherd once offered this advice: Don’t count the sheep! He said that if you count them, they will not thrive. What he meant is that counting them turns them into a number, an abstraction, rendering each simply like any other.
It has been so easy in our culture up to this point to let paychecks and profits, schools and sports define our worth. So, what happens when those things are taken from us? Jesus tells us the truth, warning us of those things that want to rob us of our sense of worth found in Him, and reassuring us that those things do not bring the fullness of life, the abundant life for which our souls yearn.
Unfortunately, it can be hard to hear this basic message. That was Jesus’ frustration, for the people did not understand what he was telling them. Jesus wants our safety and wellbeing, and each person matters. We must remember that those statistics represent real people and families, some grieving, some hurting, some angry or depressed, some worried for their future and livelihood – and that Jesus offers himself as access into God’s loving care.
Taking his words to heart, we pray for those we know by name, for prayer in Jesus’ name is personal; and for those we do not know, we pray knowing there is an open Gate for whomever hears the Shepherd’s personal invitation to enter. We may not be able to be together in person, but our faith and our prayers are personal. That is a very different approach from counting sheep like some like to do when they tally their “How Many Got Saved” report. Besides, everyone knows that counting sheep puts people to sleep!
This is no time for sleep, but to stay alert for our Shepherd’s voice. Let us use this time to ready ourselves, through prayer and devotion, for the time when we are called through the Gate to go into the pasture of the world again where we can be witnesses to the full life Jesus brings. Amen.